Latest news with #PeakDistrictNationalPark
The Guardian
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Country diary: A priceless view of a tiger beetle – let's keep it that way
There's a tiger burning brightly in front of me – not in the forests of the night, but on a Derbyshire moor, among the heather and bilberry, and in warm sunshine. It isn't orange and black, but an iridescent green, and I need to hunker down to reach its level. The green tiger beetle is widespread in Britain, and at least to the ants and caterpillars that it predates, it is every bit as threatening as the big cat immortalised by William Blake. Magnified, its fearful symmetry becomes more apparent, its mouth parts ferocious, the dandyish purple of its elegant legs more richly obvious. One other thing I appreciate about the green tiger beetle is how easily it's identified. There are thousands of beetle species in Britain, and they're not always this easy to tease apart. It makes the green tiger especially exciting to kids, a secure toehold in the shifting complexity of nature. And it's that question, of inspiring the next generation to explore the marvels around them, that's on my mind. The day I spot my tiger, the chief executive of the Peak District national park publicly floats the idea of a tax on visitors. After a decade of deep cuts by successive governments, the authority has been stripped to the bone and can now focus only on its statutory functions, particularly planning. Earlier this year, it announced cuts to its outreach programme at local schools and visitor centres. More and more, the park and its users are perceived by politicians as just another part of the tourist industry. This seems at odds with the far‑reaching vision of the postwar Labour government that created the parks when the country was almost broke. A connection to nature was, in their eyes, a necessary part of life that should be free to all. Next year is the Peak District national park's 75th anniversary. I expect the government will bask in the achievement of its predecessor. The future for nature, though, has never seemed so uncertain. 'What the hand,' as Blake asked, 'dare seize the fire?' Ed Douglas Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
Telegraph
30-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Peak District tourists could face entry fee
Visitors to the Peak District could be charged an entrance fee to help tackle the national park's funding crisis. Phil Mulligan, the chief executive of the Peak District National Park Authority, said it 'wouldn't need any government funding' if it could charge 10p per visitor. The park, which has around 13 million visitors per year, has cut 10 per cent of its staff in recent months because of what Mr Mulligan called 'declining funding'. He added that there had been a 50 per cent real terms funding cut over the last decade, while the park had grappled with problems such as wildfires and dangerous parking. 'Ever-declining' government funds Mr Mulligan told the BBC: 'We have the pressure of visitors, we have the pressure of delivering for the nation in terms of the ecological crisis, the climate crisis. 'I'm trying to do that with an ever-declining set of government funds, at a time when what's being asked of the national park is more and more. 'I think that [charging tourists fees] is a big discussion that government is going to need to have. But what would be the mechanism for that? I haven't got the powers.' The authority's financial troubles have been blamed on a fixed government grant that has not accounted for inflation or other costs such as the rise in the minimum wage. Mr Mulligan added: 'If [the Government] are going to keep cutting our funding, then there is going to need to be a different way of funding national parks.'
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Wildfire warning sign placed in Peak District
A wildfire warning sign is being trialled in part of the Peak at Owler Bar, near Holmesfield in Derbyshire, it will be controlled by the Moors for Future Partnership (MFP), which will change the risk level depending on the MFP said similar signs were used in warmer countries, including Shaw, communications programme manager, said: "The smallest spark from a campfire, barbecue or even a piece of litter could start a fire, so we are just looking at ways to help people adjust their own behaviours whilst visiting the Peak District." The MFP said there had been more than 30 moorland fires in the Peak District so far this year, including one in Goyt Valley that destroyed trees and grassland in an area bigger than more than 300 football Shaw described the impact of the fires as "massive", adding they would "take years to recover from".She said: "We have also done years of work on the moors which just went up in flames, so it's been a really emotional time."Seeing all the destruction is heartbreaking." Ms Shaw said the MFP, which is led by the Peak District National Park Authority, would monitor the weather on the moors and adjust the sign accordingly."The temperatures are getting warmer and wildfires are becoming more significant, so we are just looking at ways other countries react when it's really warm," she said."We believe that visitors to the Peak District love this landscape as much as we do and would be greatly saddened to accidentally cause a fire."Ms Shaw said the trial would be in place until the end of June."Depending on how many people see the sign could help us decide whether to put these signs all across the Peak District," she added.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Warning as areas of moorland wildfire reignite
A warning has been issued after a major wildfire in Derbyshire was found to have partially reignited. Flames were spotted near Errwood Reservoir in the Goyt Valley on Wednesday and at its height 10 fire appliances were deployed to the scene. On Saturday, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) said there were still two appliances at the scene, along with other support vehicles, dealing with areas of moorland which had started to burn again due to a change in the wind. Members of the public have been asked to stay away from the area while firefighting operations continue. The fire service said the original blaze engulfed an area "roughly the size of 325 football pitches" and had "devastated" the area. It confirmed one appliance from Cheshire was still present, along with two argo cat rough terrain vehicles, a water carrier, a command unit and a second appliance from Derbyshire. A DFRS spokesperson said: "A huge thank you for the continued support being provided by our partners at Peak District National Park, United Utilities, Peak Park Rangers and local farmers and landowners. "Thanks also to our colleagues from Derby Mountain Rescue Team who over the last few days have provided us with some great drone footage that we have been able to share with you." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue 'Heartbreaking' images show moorland fire aftermath
