Peakland Guardian Winter 2019
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For everyone who loves the Peak District Peakland guardian Winter 2019 Also protecting the landscapes of South Yorkshire In this issue… Notes from the CEO 3 Climate change – our greatest challenge 4 Boundary Walk update 5 Can National Parks rise to the climate change challenge? 6 Contours Holidays 7 Sheffield’s Local Plan 8 My favourite place – by Jean Smart 9 Matlock to Buxton railway 10 Dunford Bridge undergrounding 11 Fracking – Woodsetts fights back 12 Doncaster falls short 13 Archive project progress 14 Breedon do the right thing 15 Taking back the Tracks - Jacob’s Ladder and Wetton 16 Leek Road – we won! 18 The Glover National Parks review 19 2020 calendars for sale 20 Lecture series 20 Magnificent Walk 2020 21 Peak District Designs 22 Moors for the Future update 23 Pure Peak Grit cycle challenge 24 Walkers in an autumnal Hope Valley All quiet on the western front? 25 ©Tim Mackey With thanks 26 General Sir Hugh Beach 26 IT upgrades, grant funding applications, and Membership 27 Follow us on social Notes from the CEO recruiting new staff to name just a few! There CPRE South Yorkshire promotes the beauty, tranquility and diversity media of South Yorkshire’s countryside for everyone to enjoy now and in We’re being proactive on Facebook, I’m writing this from my desk in our new are articles about lots of this work within these the future. We campaign for green spaces unspoilt by development, Instagram and Twitter. If you’re office! We have completed the move pages. environmentally friendly farming and forestry, and thriving villages and downstairs in Victoria Hall to a bigger and At our AGM in August John Anfield, Yvonne attractive towns, connected by excellent public transport. already a fan, please do follow, share, brighter main office (part of which we have Friends of the Peak District works to protect and enhance the like and ‘❤’ us. Thanks! Witter and John Hoare stood down as unique landscapes of the Peak District for future generations. Friends of sub-let to CPRE National Office staff). We Trustees. We owe a debt of thanks to all three the Peak District represents the Campaign to Protect Rural England in the @friendsofthepeakdistrict also have an adjoining room to house our of them for their time and effort in supporting Peak District, and is the national park society for the Peak District. archive while we work on our National the charity. David Holmes, Paul Cooper (Hon. friendsofthepeak Registered charity number: 1094975 Lottery Heritage Fund supported project to Treasurer), and Corinna Lincoln have joined Registered company number: 4496754 @FriendsofPeak make our archive safe, secure, and publicly us as new Trustees. We are also indebted to Cover picture: Alaina Beacall in Winnats Pass on the Pure Peak Grit accessible. the contribution that Andrew Wood made for cycle challenge ©Rich Marshall www.richmarshall.com As well as providiing evidence for the us in his many years as our consultant Planning Back page picture: Relay Championship held by Dark Peak Fell Runners at Fairholms ©Tim Mackey government’s Review of Designated Officer. Designed and produced by TMgraphics [email protected] Landscape Protections, we’ve been very busy As the seasons turn I hope you manage to Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com across the length and breadth of our ‘patch’ get out and about in the wonderful landscapes A: Victoria Hall, 37 Stafford Road, Sheffield, S2 2SF - quarries, railways, green belts, affordable of the Peak District and South Yorkshire. Do T: 0114 279 2655 housing, inappropriate housing, air quality, keep in touch. E: [email protected] community solar power initiatives, Traffic All the best W: www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk Regulation Orders, pylon undergrounding, Tomo Thompson W: www.cpresouthyorks.org.uk choral concerts, ultra-distance bike rides, CEO 2 Peaklandguardian Peaklandguardian 3 clear that although transformational change Of course it matters for an organisation livestock in some areas. The car will lose its Climate change is ‘required across the country, touching centred on conserving beauty, restoring dominance and we will travel in very different every sector and community’, there could wildlife and advocating for viable rural ways. There will be more multi-functional our greatest be huge benefits for rural communities and communities. The imperative for low carbon land, including for local energy generation local enterprise, through a raft of initiatives energy does not mean simply covering our and grids. But it is more about how we challenge such as farm-based and community energy favourite places in wind and solar farms. But manage that change and ensure that the same It is perhaps too simplistic to state that schemes, addressing fuel poverty through we should not over-obsess about change in functions we want from the countryside: we believe climate change is the greatest energy efficiency and conservation, superfast itself; after all, the countryside is constantly space, access, health, relaxation, community, threat to the countryside. At a recent CPRE fibre enabling smart energy solutions, better changing and adapting to new ‘technologies’, productivity, food, ecosystem services, workshop, held to develop a new climate transport alternatives, and low carbon as it has for centuries. beauty, biodiversity – can come from non- change policy for the organisation, a colleague affordable housing. We will surely see changes in the next 30 urban land, whether on the outskirts of from another branch took a different view: We believe that the countryside’s role in years – much more woodland and forestry, Doncaster or in the heart of the Peak District. “Climate change may mean the greatest delivering net zero carbon emissions creates including short-rotation coppice, so openness So let’s not be daunted and embrace the change to the countryside, but loss of land a unique opportunity to provide a more and big views may disappear in some areas. positives that a low carbon countryside can through poorly planned development resilient and sustainable countryside which Farming will change radically, with much less bring us! remains the greatest threat”. is more able to adapt to a changing climate and to provide many of the services society We know that failing to rein in greenhouse ideas from you. For example we’re hoping needs. The fear, of course, is about a radical gas emissions will be disastrous for to produce a guide to walker friendly B&Bs, change in the ‘look’ of the countryside. But Boundary Walk landscapes, ecosystems and society at large. hotels, hostels and campsites within easy does this matter? But CPRE’s emerging national policy is update by Carol Parsons reach of the route, as well as information on tackling the walk using public transport. Belted Galloways©Tomo Thompson If you can contribute suggestions for these please get in touch. I will also produce a development plan, which will include marketing ideas and identify opportunities for funding. We have created a Peak District Boundary Walk Facebook group to enable everyone to share information, photographs and experiences of the walk. If you’re on Facebook please join and share the group with other interested parties www.facebook. com/groups/2244957655613191/” “I am delighted to be working for CPRE / Friends of the Peak District on a part-time We were thrilled to basis helping to develop and promote the receive £2000 from Peak District Boundary Walk. So far I have the Ramblers Holidays been busy undertaking desk research to get Charitable Trust for Carol’s short term up to speed with its background and history part-time salary. Ultimately, we hope to and am enjoying walking and running sections raise enough funds (through grant funding of this fabulous route around the edge of the and sponsorship) to appoint a permanent national park in my spare time. I’m keen to boundary walk development officer gather information from walkers who have to enable us to maintain the route and completed the route and would welcome generate ongoing support. 4 Peaklandguardian Peaklandguardian 5 Can national parks rise to the climate change challenge? Andrew McCloy The dire implications of climate change are well known. And whilst Britain’s 15 national parks represent our most sensitive and protected landscapes, their sheer accessibility means they are very vulnerable. We are already seeing the signs: the spread of invasive species and tree diseases, the devastating impact of extreme weather, such as the wildfires that ravaged the Peak District’s heather moors, or flooding in the Lake District. The statutory purposes underpinning our and seasonal closures of minor roads at national parks go beyond conserving and peak times. enhancing the landscape to encouraging 3. Low carbon communities. National popular understanding and enjoyment of the parks should promote greater energy parks’ special qualities, so they are uniquely efficiency and champion appropriately placed to deliver key messages, shape low scaled renewable energy. From solar carbon lifestyles and help tackle climate panels on the roofs of barns to mini hydro change. Here’s how: projects, there is scope to take this much ©Tomo Thompson 1. Sustainable land management. further. National Park Authorities must be allowed 4. Education and research. National parks to play an active part in the delivery of the are natural pioneers: Moors for the Future new environmental land management has made the Peak District a leading hub scheme so that farmers and land managers for research into sustainable moorland are rewarded for caring for the landscape in management, building ties with academic a way that benefits people, wildlife and the institutions and developing a citizen science wider environment. As intensive agriculture programme. The Glover Report and is a key source of emissions, we should National Parks England advocate that every focus on locking up carbon by restoring schoolchild should be able to experience a peat uplands, improving flood resilience, national park.