The Peak District National Park
Derbyshire, England.

Image Story:


This a rather special place in terms of natural beauty, as well as wildlife management and nature conservation in the United Kingdom.


I am with my first landscape photography mentor, Geoff Simpson from whom I learnt so much when I was starting out in 2009.


Here, people can witness what happens when we combine human farming requirements with good landscape management.


The key is the 'farm tenancy' allowing oversight of farming methods and use of chemicals.


The result is that the land supports internationally important heather moorland and blanket bog, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area.


It also enjoys a mixture of native broad-leaved and coniferous woodlands and flower rich grasslands.


The whole landscape has been influenced by man through the ages, not always well and certainly not managed as carefully as it is now.


It all goes to underline the success of sustainable local environmental management.


Various populations through the ages have left their mark here. The area contains a wide range of interesting features, four of which are Scheduled Ancient Monuments.


These include the remains of a Catholic Chapel, a Romano-British settlement and Bronze Age sites.


Interesting buildings include traditional farm buildings that predate the 16th century North Lees Hall (Grade II* Listed) which has literary associations with the novel “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte.


At the top of the long causeway, Stanage Pole can be found on the boundary with South Yorkshire and Sheffield.


Thank you Geoff Simpson for introducing me to this beautiful piece of England. Will never forget it.