Latest news with #PeakDistrictNationalParkAuthority
The Guardian
18-04-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
UK national parks warn of ‘catastrophic' risk from wildfires this Easter
Britain's national parks have warned of a 'catastrophic' risk from wildfires this Easter after one of the driest early spring seasons on record. Park rangers from the South Downs to the Highlands said the prolonged warm weather and breezy conditions had left large areas extremely dry despite recent rain. A number of national parks have advised day-trippers about the dangers of lighting barbecues and dropping cigarettes after one of the worst fire seasons on record. Ben Jackson, who leads rangers in part of the North York Moors national park, said the recent climate had created the ideal conditions for a wildfire that 'could be catastrophic for our wildlife and habitats, not to mention a serious danger to people'. Swathes of the UK had one of the driest Marches in decades, and April temperatures have so far been warmer than average. The conditions have led to more than double the number of wildfires in England and Wales than in the same period in 2022, which went on to be a record year for moorland blazes, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). An NFCC spokesperson said on Friday: 'Most wildfires are sparked by human actions, often accidental and sometimes deliberate. One careless moment can cause a significant wildfire and have devastating consequences. 'As people head outdoors this Easter, we urge everyone to help prevent wildfires by not using disposable barbecues, not dropping cigarettes or glass bottles that could ignite dry vegetation, and by respecting nature.' Tom Hind, at the Peak District National Park Authority, said the risk of wildfires this weekend was 'extremely high' despite the recent rain. Charities said weeks of wildfires had 'decimated' whole ecosystems and put endangered species at risk. Vast areas of habitat for small mammals and birds – including butterflies, beetles and falcons – had been damaged, they said, adding that some peat bogs could take hundreds of years to recover. In the Peak District, rangers said on Friday that 'one careless day out can mean years repairing the damage' done to the environment by a stray spark. Park bosses in the Cairngorms, in the Highlands, plan to make it a criminal offence to light or maintain a fire between 1 April and 30 September. The bylaw will come into effect next year, if approved by the Scottish government. Steve Tatlock, a team leader at the Lake District National Park Authority, said: 'Wildfires have the potential to devastate the Lake District landscape, kill animals and ruin habitats. Easter is always a busy period for the region and the majority of people who enjoy the Lake District treat it respectfully. We want everyone to appreciate their time in the national park but also to be aware of the potential fire risk. 'Despite a little rain this week, the recent long spell of warm dry weather has still left vegetation particularly dry and campfires, discarded cigarettes and smouldering barbecues all risk starting a wildfire with devastating consequences.'
Reuters
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Fact Check: Satire about mosque bid at British beauty spot taken seriously online
Satire published on the eve of April Fool's Day about a bid to try and get a large mosque built in England's Peak District National Park is being taken seriously online. Social media posts shared a TikTok video, opens new tab of a man saying the 'Peak District City Council' had allowed him to launch a petition to get the structure built at the Mam Tor beauty spot, the largest of a small group of ancient hillforts. He added if 10,000 people signed the petition, he'd be granted permission to fundraise and build the 1 million pound ($1.3 million) mosque. '£1 million mega mosque on top of Mam Tor in the Peak District,' said one April 4 post on Facebook, opens new tab. 'The takeover continues. When will it stop?' A similar post on X, opens new tab received more than 389,000 views. However, a spokesperson for the Peak District National Park Authority, which is the planning authority, opens new tab for the park, said neither it nor the National Trust, which looks after the beauty spot, opens new tab, were aware of plans for a mosque or any permanent structure at Mam Tor or nearby. 'Nor is either organisation in any form of dialogue with a party or parties behind petitions or other similar activities,' said the spokesperson. 'No applications have been received, been advised upon or approved for such a structure at Mam Tor.' The spokesperson added there was no such organisation as 'Peak District City Council', as claimed in the TikTok video. A spokesperson for the National Trust, responding to the claim, said it had not received any petitions or correspondence. The landscape visible in the image is not Mam Tor, added the spokesperson. Reuters searched for 'mosque' on the Peak District National Park Authority's online planning portal, but no results were returned. The TikTok post was made on March 31, a day before April Fool's Day. March 31 was also the date of the first comment, opens new tab on the petition, suggesting it was launched on or around the same day. The petition, opens new tab had received 107 signatures at the time of writing. The Peak District claim comes after Reuters found social media posts that drew comparisons between planning decisions for a new mosque in Cumbria and a restaurant on the farm of television personality Jeremy Clarkson were missing context. VERDICT Satire. The Peak District National Park Authority said it had not been in contact with anyone about a petition or plans for a mosque on Mam Tor. The petition was launched shortly before April Fool's Day. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peak District litter problems are 'getting worse', says campaigner
A man who litter picks at a Peak District beauty spot has called on people to take responsibility for their Broughton, from Stocksbridge near Sheffield, collected 72 bags of dog mess alone during a recent visit to Ladybower Reservoir in believes more walkers think it is acceptable to leave their mess at their site due to the amount of litter in the area and said the problem has got worse over the last 18 issue has also been raised in the village of Castleton where a community group is now appealing for people to report cases of litter and has called on authorities to unite to tackle the problem. Mr Broughton said: "People point the finger of blame at young people, at old people, at people who have just started coming out (to the countryside) as Covid hikers - but it is everyone."It is getting that bad that people see it (rubbish) on the floor and think 'why should I bother carrying mine home?'."He brings bin bags with him and wears gloves as he walks a route of around three miles around the banks of the reservoir and up on Win Hill. Around six miles away, a community group called 'Concerned for Castleton' is monitoring instances of wants people to post photos of litter they spot on its Facebook Speed, from the group, feels councils and the Peak District National Park Authority need to draw up a 'visitor plan' to look at how the environmental impact of visitors to the area could be added: "It is easy for people to post on sites saying 'this is horrendous, this shouldn't be happening', but it seems very difficult to report to the right people."Last May, the group started recording the number of littering cases and so far it has received 100 reports of this happening. 'No excuse' A spokesperson for the Peak District National Park Authority said it regularly conducts litter picks in car parks, estates and trails."Our message for everyone visiting the national park is to please take home what you bring," the spokesperson added. "Management of litter bins is a costly activity and on our own properties alone, which represent just a small proportion of the Peak District, this is around the same as the cost of paying a national park ranger for a year. "We also have dozens of dedicated volunteers and staff who are regularly litter-picking across our facilities network, rural estates and popular routes such as the Monsal Trail."A Derbyshire County Council spokesperson said: "There is no excuse for anyone to litter, in Castleton or anywhere else. "We'd appeal to everyone who visits the area to use the bins provided by High Peak Borough Council, or take their rubbish back home."
