The Ramblers - Derbyshire Dales Group

STANAGE FORUM and THE NATIONAL TRUST

For several years I have represented the group on two committees. The Stanage Forum was set up by the Peak Park to provide advice on the management of the North Lees Estate (Stanage) with all interested parties having their say. I was eventually invited to be on the Steering Committee which collated the views and this eventually stopped the sale of the estate which is mostly, if not entirely within Derbyshire Dales. More recently the question of the sale of the Eastern Moors arose and the Forum took over the concerns about this. As most will know this has been  resolved with no sale but a lease for management to a consortium of the National Trust and RSPB with safeguards for access.

Even more recently the question of North Lees has arisen again and the Forum is standing out for some similar arrangement but this will depend on the tendering process which is in hand. We do not want to lose any existing rights of access including the new footpaths which have been put in.

About the same time I was invited to attend the National Trust High Peaks Advisory Committee as this had taken on the Longshaw Estate in our group area. With the National Trust being involved in the Eastern Moors the two committees overlap and will do so even more if the NT becomes involved in North Lees. Although not in our area there is also the question of the future of The Roaches which certainly involves the Peak Park and is of interest to those of us who walk there.

Frank Ogden

President, Derbyshire Dales Group

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