What a difference 60 years makes!

Sunday 27th May 11am -5pm Derwent Dam
A celebration of 60 years of access and conservation work undertaken in the Derwent Valley.

FREE Event with hands on activities for the whole family, including drystone walling and woodland crafts.

Come and meet the National Trust team and find out what we have been up to. This event is being run in conjunction with the Peak District National Park Authority and Severn Trent.

The Hidden Peak

This year the National Trust in the Peak District has teamed up with Votwo and Pete Collins to bring you The Hidden Peak, a new and exciting cycling sportive…

The National Trust's The Hidden Peak, will take place on the 14 October 2012 in the Peak District, starting and finishing in the picturesque village of Ilam. 

This new sportive has three fabulous routes, each going through some of England’s most stunning countryside and offering riders the opportunity to explore areas they may never have been to before. From the stunning green valleys of the White Peak to the atmospheric gritstone edges of the Dark Peak, riders can take in some of the most fantastic roads in the area on what promises to be a challenging and rewarding ride. 

The routes comprise of a 37k (23 mile) route in Staffordshire limestone country, ideally suited to those who might be doing their first sportive; a 63k (39 mile) route taking in the highlands of Over Haddon; and a hard 130k (81 mile) ride for the more experienced sportive rider, taking riders up to the edges of Burbage and Stanage.

The routes have been designed by Pete Collins, a National Trust volunteer and captain of Sheffield’s Sharrow Cycling Club.  Pete says: “The Hidden Peak has its own style and it promises to please those looking for something out of the ordinary. Want a new challenge? Want to ride some of the most stunning roads in the area? Then take on the real Peak, take on the Hidden Peak.” 

The event is organised in partnership with the leading UK events organiser, Votwo.

There is a 25% early bird discount for entries before Friday 13 April.  For further details about The Hidden Peak routes, charges and entry details please visit www.votwo.co.uk/events

Routes 

Starting out against the backdrop of the National Trust’s Ilam Hall, all routes take riders up to Thorpe where you ride past the strangely perfect Thorpe Cloud hill and then through Tissington where riders will need to cross the village ford. Shortly after Tissington the short route breaks for a beautiful ride through the villages of Parwich, Biggin and Hartington to rejoin the long & medium route back to Ilam.  The long route continues from Tissington over to the architecturally beautiful village of Winster. The route then carries on to Elton where a quiet, narrow road winds its way to Middleton where riders are warned to look out for geese crossing the road from the local farm. From Middleton riders drop down into the village of Youlgrave and head down to Conksbury where a short but very sharp climb awaits.

The medium route breaks and heads up to Over Haddon and through the lanes of Haddon Grove before joining the long route on its return trip through Monyash. The long route continues down to Ashford in the Water and takes the road straight to Calver. Here starts the longest climb of the day up Froggatt Edge to Fox House where riders will head down towards Sheffield before starting the climb up to the edges of Burbage and Stanage. Be sure to take in the view of the Hope Valley on the descent from Burbage. From the feed station at Longshaw it’s a descent down to Grindleford and then up to the Plague village of Eyam and the Hamlet of Foolow. Riders then head towards Monsall for a tricky descent down to breathtaking Monsall dale.

At Cressbrook Mill take one of the most rewarding climbs in the peak to the village of Cressbrook with its impressive hairpin bend. This road heads into Litton and on to the next climb out of Millers Dale. Riders then head through the villages of Chelmorton, Flagg and Monyash. From Monyash it’s a rolling ride over to the incredible decent down Crowdecote. From here riders work their way across one of the most impressive ridge roads in the Peak District over to Sheen. From Sheen it’s a steady ride through more picturesque lanes with a fantastic downhill descent back to Ilam Park to finish.

The start line opens between 8am & 10.30pm, depending on the route riders choose.  Limited camping is available for riders on Saturday 13^th October at Ilam Park. For camping details and bookings please email peakdistrict@nationaltrust.org.uk. 

We hope to see you for this fantastic new event on October 14.  Please help us spread the word! 

Easter Egg Trails

Get out and about and enjoy the coming of spring with fantastic Easter Trails at Ilam Park 6-9^th April.

Explore the National Trust Ilam Park on the 6,7,8 and 9^th April 11- 4 and find the hidden painted eggs to win a prize. There will be family fun activities with face painting and colouring competition and even a chance to meet some fluffy chicks.There will be 2 trails for visitors to choose from. One taking in the wider estate and another shorter, buggy friendly trail. There will be something for all ages and the £3 charge per child includes all activities.

Booking for this event is not needed and the Easter Trails start at the Ilam Visitor Centre. Dogs on leads are welcome and parking is available in the Ilam Hall Car Park.

Government Has Listened to Public Concerns on Planning

In response to the final National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published yesterday, the National Trust welcomes improvements which have been made to the draft.

Beccy Speight, Director for the National Trust in the Midlands, said:

There are a number of important changes that have been made to the draft, responding to concerns that we and others raised.  These include:

• the primacy of the plan is confirmed, ensuring that development must be consistent with the plan
• a better definition of sustainable development, based on the 2005 sustainable development strategy
• the insertion of references to the use of brownfield land and the need to promote town centres
• removal of the incendiary default ‘yes’ to development where there is no plan
• reference to the ‘intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside’, recognising the importance of countryside outside designated areas, which the vast majority of the beautiful countryside in the Midlands is
• confirmation that existing plans will remain in force while the new NPPF is introduced, and that there will be a one-year transition for the preparation of new plans

“All these changes improve the document and give it a better tone and balance. 

"Now the serious business of planning begins. The country needs huge effort at a local level to get plans in place that properly reflect the integration of social, economic and environmental goals, and protect places people value.

“The National Trust, along with many other organisations and people, will play our part and watch to see how it works in practice.

“Nationally over 230,000 people signed our petition against the draft NPPF and 25% of these signatures came from the Midlands – a sign of the huge public concern it generated.  I’m very proud that we in the Midlands made our voices for the countryside we love so strongly felt.  Now we owe it to those people and future generations to get good plans in place to deliver the improved ambitions set out in the new document.”

Log on to http://www.planningforpeople.org.uk/ or visit our blog http://ntplanning.wordpress.com/ for more information about the National Trust’s campaign. Follow the Planning discussion on Twitter (@nationaltrust) using the #planning4ppl hashtag.

Winster Market House - Open again with new display

Winster Market House opens it's doors again on Saturday 31st March after the winter to a new and exciting display. 

The Winster Twinning Association has raised funds and created a display which celebrates the village’s links to Monterubbiano in Italy.  This includes flags from Monterubbiano’s flag-wavers, who have performed in Winster, just as the Winster Morris have danced in Italy.

More information on Winster's twinning can be found on the Winster twinning web page here 

As you can see in the picture, the sign outside has also been redesigned and refurbished in a more modern style than the previous one, hope you like it.

Warning over moorland fire risk in the Peak District

Message from Peak District National Park Authority re moorland fire risk


Signs warning people to take extra care to prevent fires are going up this week on moorland sites in the Peak District.

Peak District National Park Authority rangers mount extra patrols during times of heightened fire risk but are asking the public to also be on the lookout for fires and to ring 999 immediately if they spot any.

People are also asked never to light barbecues or campfires when they visit the moors. They should also never drop cigarette ends (even if they think they are out) or leave glass.
Lack of rain in recent weeks has dried out the moors making them especially vulnerable to fires which harm wildlife, destroy rare plants and cause erosion, taking years to regenerate.
Sean Prendergast, head of field services at the Peak District National Park Authority, said: “Moorland fires are especially tragic at this time of year when wildlife and farm animals are rearing young. Ground-nesting birds and lambs can be caught in the flames with horrific results.

“These are not empty places, they are areas of international importance for their wildlife and plants, and they absorb and store carbon which helps tackle global warming.
“Moorland fires undo many years of hard work in managing these rare environments. Most fires are caused by human carelessness, but some fires are suspected to be deliberate. If people see anyone acting suspiciously on the moors we ask them to report it to the police.”
Rangers along with land managers for the big estates are erecting fire warning signs at car parks and key locations used by the public.

The Peak District Fires Operations Group, which involves six fire and rescue services and major landowners along with the National Park Authority, is on standby to tackle any blaze in a remote area.

Cyclists invited to ride The Hidden Peak

An exciting new cycling event, National Trust's The Hidden Peak, will take place on the 14 October 2012 in the Peak District, starting and finishing in the picturesque village of Ilam. 

This new sportive has three fabulous routes, each going through some of England’s most stunning countryside and offering riders the opportunity to explore areas they may never have been before. From the stunning green valleys of the White Peak to the atmospheric gritstone edges of the Dark Peak, riders can take in one of the most stunning roads in the area on what promises to be a challenging and rewarding ride. 

The routes comprise of a 37k (23 mile) route in Staffordshire limestone country, ideally suited to those who might be doing their first sportive; a 63k (39 mile) route taking in the highlands of Over Haddon; and a hard 130k (81 mile) ride for the more experienced sportive rider, taking riders up to the edges of Burbage and Stanage.

The routes have been designed by Pete Collins, a National Trust volunteer and captain of Sheffield’s Sharrow Cycling Club.  Pete says: “The Hidden Peak has its own style and it promises to please those looking for something out of the ordinary. Want a new challenge? Want to ride some of the most stunning roads in the area? Then take on the real Peak, take on the Hidden Peak.” 

The event is organised in partnership with the leading UK events organiser, Votwo.

There is a 25% early bird discount for entries before Friday 6 April.  For further details about The Hidden Peak routes, charges and entry details please visit www.votwo.co.uk/events

Your moors, your ideas

We’re developing a ‘Master Plan’ in consultation with local people which will create a vision and guide the management of the High Peak Moors in the Peak District over the next 25 years.  The plan will cover the moorland areas centred around Kinder and Bleaklow which the National Trust cares for on behalf of the nation.  We’re committed to an approach that will provide better landscape, access, habitats and wider public benefits, such as improved water quality, with sustainable farm and land management businesses at the heart of delivery.   We believe that delivering this vision for the moors will help sustain related farm businesses and breathe new life into them.

A series of ideas gathering workshops with the local community and stakeholders is currently taking place and will form part of a wider consultation exercise to produce the ‘Master Plan.

There’s also a special website where you can learn more about the project and get involved with the consultation by answer a simple questionnaire to feed in your ideas - visit www.high-peak-moors.co.uk