Peak Area Newsletter

PEAK AREA NEWSLETTER April 2016 [email protected] The other big news beyond the Rocking Chair meeting is the BMC AGM, which takes Rob Greenwood place over 16–17 April at the Castleton YHA. Aside from the formalities (which are over quite quickly) there’s a vast After Bill Gordon’s superb talk array of activities taking place, including at our January meeting I feel like guided walks, lectures, quizzes and – we have set the bar high for in terms of local importance – the future meetings, at least where erection of the new Stanage Pole by entertainment is concerned. our very own Adam Long. Fortunately for us at our April One final word must go to the meeting we have Claire Carter BMC’s Mend our Mountains and the highly acclaimed film campaign, which began in mid March, Operation Moffat, which has won and is actively trying to raise money awards at Banff, Kendal and beyond. for environmental projects on some In keeping with the feminist theme of Britain's most popular peaks. On a Lynn Robinson will be giving us a local level these efforts focus around round-up from the Women’sThink the footpath erosion on Ringing Roger. Tank, which addresses the issue of For more information read Peter’s gender within BMC membership. Hill Walking Notes (page 12). Next meeting: Wednesday 13 April, 7.30 p.m. The Maynard, Grindleford, S32 2HE Photo:The Roaches. Access News: The earliest known map depiction dates April from 1723. It has been variously known Henry Folkard as Thurstone Pole, Stannage Pole and Standedge Pole.There are various It is a curious fact letters and numbers inscribed in the that important access-related host rock, the earliest now visible being developments tend to occur a TM 1631 though there is historic few days after the deadline for reference to inscriptions no longer newsletter contributions – and visible from 1550 and 1581. this month is no exception. Second, Saturday 23 April is this First, two dates: year’s Spirit of Kinder day: free entry Sunday 17 April – the day after the in the Royal Hotel at Hayfield starting BMC’s AGM – is the day of the erection at 2 p.m.The BMC’s Carey Davies is of the new Stanage Pole, erected, the one of the keynote speakers.There are publicity blurb will say, by the BMC at additionally a number of events in the noon. Adam Long is masterminding the morning around about promoting the event.A well-designed new collar has new Trespass Centre in Hayfield, been cast to accommodate it which besides sundry guided walks – some reflects its original purpose as a National Trust led, some Ramblers led. boundary marker (possibly of the pre- Details appear elsewhere in the Conquest frontier between Mercia and newsletter, and there will be some Northumbria) and maybe a guidepost. flyers about it at the Area Meeting. 2 Peak Area Newsletter April 2016 These days we can tend to take concessionary bridleways, though you access for granted, and in a sense we might well not discern that from an OS have been able to because of the work map.The footpath along the top of of redoubtable pioneers in the 1920s Stanage is a case in point.That means and 1930s in the wake of the theft of rights can be withdrawn if open access the land from the people through the land is closed for any reason, like fire Enclosure Awards of roughly 1810 risk, whilst a PROW can not be closed to 1840. except through a complex legal process. As the old rhyme says (and I may The right to pass and repass (that is have remembered it slightly what defines a PROW) is pretty well incorrectly), inviolate, as is the mantra ‘once a right The law condemns the man and woman of way, always a right of way’. Who stole the goose from off the common On farmland, and indeed elsewhere, But lets the greater villain loose a fair few concessionary ways were Who stole the common from the goose. funded through the High Level Stewardship scheme.This is now Building on the legacy of the 1920s superseded by a new scheme called and 1930s came the establishment of Countryside Stewardship which does National Parks in 1949, very largely not allow funding for concessionary because of the CPRE and Friends of ways – so be prepared for some nasty the Peak here in Sheffield, and ultimately shocks. Also, because of the general the CROW Act of 2000.The mission dearth of funding for the maintenance goes on with, hopefully, the eventual and upkeep of all rights of way, and establishment of the coastal path - and severe reduction in the staff employed why not give England the same access by Highway Authorities and other rights that are enjoyed in Scotland? statutory organisations to do this But one can never be complacent hugely important job, the pressure is about access as there are always those coming more and more on the user who will seek to restrict it either to pay; that’s you and me. directly, or through what I call This pressure will increasingly be felt accessibility; that means getting on to even on CROW land if an activity is not the open access land or along a Public specifically permitted under the Act. Right of Way (PROW).The position is One category, besides those mentioned less complicated for access on foot on above, is activity deemed as commercial CROW land, but if you are a mountain activity. If you pay to go on a guided biker, horse rider, caver, or like flying, walk, that is classed as commercial the position is much more problematic. activity, and, likewise, if you pay for A fair few established paths are in climbing instruction that too is fact concessionary paths or commercial activity. http://community.thebmc.co.uk/peak [email protected] 3 One major landowner here in the paths in raising awareness of a looming Peak, and nationwide, the National problem, and the more we can propose Trust, has just issued some Outdoor solutions the less likely it is that Activity Licensing Guidance. One someone else’s solution will be imposed has to have a great deal of sympathy on us.That is why it is a good idea to with the Trust who face huge costs in support the Ours to Care For sticker keeping the landscapes they own for scheme at Stanage and the Peak the nation in good heart and able to Park’s own Access Fund, targeted cope with the wear and tear that amongst other priorities to the Wish results from increasing levels of usage, List for access improvements in the but at the same time it is a matter of Peak to which the Peak Area Meeting concern for the BMC to know just has put forward items for inclusion. what this will mean for our members. You can also help by subscribing to The Peak is reputed to be the second organisations like the NationalTrust, most visited of the 6,500 National Parks the John MuirTrust and, here in the worldwide (the first is Mt Fuji) so we Peak, the Friends of the Peak whose have our fair share of the problem contribution to the wellbeing of the right on our own doorstep. landscape we all cherish has, over the At Head Office the BMC has a years, been immeasurable. meeting in prospect with the National Just one little example of why Trust at national level, whilst here in landowners really do have a problem: the Peak our local Access Team also its getting harder to leave rubbish at have a meeting in prospect – just Dump It sites even if you are not in a after the deadline for newsletter white van – so where does it get left contributions. Both national and local instead? Every time someone dumps 17 BMC reps will report back on this at fridges at Stanage or other debris, one the Area Meeting.The over-riding way or another you and I will end up message, however, is clear, and it’s a paying for the removal at £100 a time. general message not just specific to On the general theme of wear and the National Trust. If a way can be tear in the countryside something else found of charging you for enjoying the that is causing concern is increase in outdoors, its going to happen – or to night time usage across a number put it another way, the expectation of recreation activities.The BMC has will increasingly be that where possible issued some general guidance on this the cost of upkeep and maintenance in response to the growing concern. should be passed to the user. The tenor of the guidance is not ‘don’t The BMC’s Mend Our Mountains do it’, but rather ‘think about how you initiative will help beyond what it do it’, and understand that even if you achieves in respect of a few selected can’t see why it should be an issue for 4 Peak Area Newsletter April 2016 wildlife, local communities, relentless it disturbs nesting birds, or settling wear and tear on the landscape and down for a butty or a chat in the some other people just take on board vicinity of a nest. the fact that when Access Team reps go We promised an update on where all to meetings with landowners, and to the Ours to Care For Stanage sticker open forums, its something that is money has gone. A detailed breakdown increasingly being raised.

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