The Dark Peak, Wild Flowers and TreesLeave a comment

Devil’s Matchsticks

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Quite a common site on the high moorlands of the Dark Peak, but maybe not everyone knows what they are? These are commonly known Devil’s Matchsticks. Like all lichens, the Devil’s matchstick is actually two organisms working together: a fungus and an algae in a symbiotic relationship. The red tips are the fruiting bodies of the fungal component of the lichen. Have a look for them next time you are walking across the Peak District’s peat covered moorlands. Continue reading Devil’s Matchsticks

Conservation and Environmental Issues, The Peak District, Wild Flowers and Trees, Wildlife2 Comments

Fun with environmental learning in the Peak District

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I have recently got back from the Mountain Training Association national conference which this year was in the Peak District. During the weekend there were a range of workshops to choose from and I was drawn towards the ‘Environmental Learning Made Easy’ session which was delivered by Jim Langley of Nature’s Work. This proved to be an excellent choice – which is why I want to share my experiences with you in my Countryside Blog. The workshop was aimed at introducing Learning Cards to help children to learn through outdoor activities. The fact that all of us who completed the … Continue reading Fun with environmental learning in the Peak District

The Dark PeakLeave a comment

The Great Ridge at Night

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I had been really looking forward to Friday 22nd February when I was guiding our first ever ‘Great Ridge at Night’ walk from Castleton. For Martin, Charlotte, Sherry and Elizabeth who had booked, it was their first experience of hillwalking in the dark. We were fortunate to have good weather conditions. Although it was very cold (around -5 degrees) it wasn’t too windy and the snow that had covered the hill only days before had almost gone. We all wrapped up in lots of layers of warm clothing and set off up the hillside passing the buildings of Treak Cliff … Continue reading The Great Ridge at Night

History, The Dark PeakLeave a comment

Bullet holes in the rocks below Burbage Edge

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During the 2nd World War the Burbage Basin, below Burbage Edge was used as a military training area and there is still plenty of evidence of that today.  You don’t have to look very hard to find huge boulders covered in bullet holes and marks from mortar shells.  Usually the holes in the rocks are just one one side as they were used as targets whilst practicing attacking uphill positions. This gritstone boulder is just off the main ‘Sheffield Country Way’ path through the valley, but there are lots more spread over a wide area.       Continue reading Bullet holes in the rocks below Burbage Edge

Geology, History, The Dark Peak5 Comments

The Hanging Stone

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Yesterday I went for a walk with a friend and was fascinated by The Hanging Stone – a gritstone rock outcrop on Back Forest Ridge on the western side of the Peak District, just to the north of The Roaches.  It overlooks Swythamley Hall, which was the home of the Brocklehurst family who owned the Roaches Estate until the death of the last in line in 1978. As far as I am aware, there haven’t been any hangings that took place there, so the rock probably took its name from the fact that the upper layers of rock overhang slightly, … Continue reading The Hanging Stone

Geology, The Dark PeakLeave a comment

Salt Cellar Boulder

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The magnificent Salt Cellar Boulder stands on Derwent Edge, high above Ladybower Reservoir.  It is one of the many points of interest on our ‘Derwent Edge and Hills around Ladybower‘ guided walk. It is gritstone and part of the long ridge of stone known by geologists as The Chatsworth Grit that runs down the east side of the Peak District.  Stanage Edge, Millstone Edge, and Curbar Edge are all the same type of stone. The stone was formed around 320 million years ago when the area was in a huge river delta.  The grit was washed down the river from mountains further north and deposited in a … Continue reading Salt Cellar Boulder

The Peak District, Wild Flowers and TreesLeave a comment

Kissing must still be in fashion!

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There aren’t many wild flowers out in mid-November, but on our walk yesterday along ‘The Great Ridge’ from the village of Hope the views over the hills and valley were brightened up with a profusion of flowers on the gorse bushes that grow on the southern side of the ridge. There is an old country saying that when gorse is in flower, then kissing is in fashion. Gorse of course is one of those bushes that flowers almost continuously all year round! If we believe another country saying, then we would do well to tie a sprig or gorse to … Continue reading Kissing must still be in fashion!