An occasional blog from Peak Holidays
Sustainable Youlgrave
Sustainable Youlgrave began in 2006 to discuss ways in which we could
all do our bit in the village to combat climate change and at the same time make our rural
community fully sustainable. They are exploring a range of
initiatives which covers renewable energy generation, educational
and energy-saving projects, plus related themes such as promoting
local shops and services.
A recent initiative is the Sustainable Youlgrave jute, 100% sustainable, Fair Trade shopping bag which we hope will eventually help achieve a plastic bag free Youlgrave. Peak Holidays are pleased to be sponsoring the jute bags, and now include a free bag as part of the welcome pack for guests staying at Church Corner Cottage.
Well
dressing is one of the best known and most popular and colourful
customs in Derbyshire and the Peak District. Well dressing dates
back hundreds of years, and though there have been religious
associations, the true origins remain unknown. Well dressing is
celebrated in more than sixty towns and villages throughout
Derbyshire and the Peak District. Today's wells are decorated
with flower petals, berries, moss, cones and seeds, which are
pressed into a wooden framework. It is a difficult task
combining hard work and artistic dexterity. Festivals are taking place in villages across the Peak District, mainly in June and July. Why not stay with us and experience this unique festival.
Llamas
Stan and Brian have moved into one of the fields near
Clipshead Farm
Cottage. Llamas are members of the South American camelid family and
are mostly found in the high altiplano regions of the Andes in Peru,
Bolivia and Chile. They are the domesticated cousin of the wild
guanaco and are extensively used by the Andean people and in the
past by the Incas, as beasts of burden, for food, for fibre and
their hides used as leather.
We
found some old pictures of
Hillocks Cottage
in Kniveton
dating from the early 1900's and they showed a Clematis growing up
the front of the cottage. So we thought it would be nice to plant a
new Clematis at the cottage in 2010.
For the gardeners, it is Clematis Rebecca - The Chelsea feature for 2008 and named after Raymond Evison's eldest daughter. Clematis Rebecca has stunning large red flowers and flowers freely over a long season.
Over the 2010 winter months we have taken the
opportunity to make a few im
provements
at the cottages, including;
- Re-decoration of bedrooms at both Church Corner and Hillocks Cottage
- A new 'glass fronted' log burning stove at Church Corner Cottage
- Increased the height of the wall on the right hand side at Hillocks Cottage, to make it more enclosed for dogs.
The winter weather has been severe this year. The roads around the Peak District have remained, in the main, passable thanks to the work of Derbyshire Dales and their gritting teams.
Guests have managed to enjoy their winter breaks with the added snow. But as one commentator said: Snow is like having your aunt stay for Christmas - it's nice for a few days but it can be wearing after that!
These pictures were taken at the National Trust Longshaw Estate.
Joe's Blog
Hello,
I'm Joe. I'm an 11 month old Labrador. As my humans started this
blog, I thought I should paw a few words so the puppies amongst you
will know where you can go and what there is to sniff in the Peak
District.
Millions of years ago the Peak District was a tropical lagoon. The fossils of tiny sea creatures can still be seen today in the limestone rocks and dry stone walls.
The Peak District National Park has 1,600 miles of public rights of way and 58 miles of dedicated off-road cycle trails.
There are around 8,756 kilometres, or 5,440 miles, of dry stone walls in the National Park.
Titan Cave near Castleton has the deepest natural shaft in the UK. At 141.5 metres, or 464 feet, it is deeper than the height of the London Eye. It was rediscovered in 2000, after years of historical research by local cavers.
In the late18th century, the National Park’s rivers helped give birth to the Industrial Revolution by providing water power for the world’s first factories – including cotton mills at Calver, Cressbrook, Litton and Lumford, and further downstream, Cromford, now a World Heritage Site.
The millstone is one of the classic images of the Peak District. At Millstone Edge near Hathersage, you can see the remains of old millstones – once used by the Sheffield cutlery industry – abandoned after cheaper imports became available. The Peak District was first farmed for sheep, cattle and crops 6,000 years ago. 46% of the National Park is farmed land. 35% of the National Park is designated as 'Sites of Special Scientific Interest' (SSSIs) because of its important plant and animal species as well as its geological formations. The Peak District has some of the most popular climbing areas in the UK.Peak District reservoirs supply surrounding towns and cities with 450 million litres of water a day. The Peak District National Park has a population of about 38,000 people. Over 50 million people live within four hours of the Peak District. In 1932, Kinder Scout was the site of a mass trespass which led to the creation of National Parks. The highest point in the Peak District is 'Kinder Scout' at 636 metres. You are able to access over 500 sq km of moor and heath land.