Keep everyone happy after your morning or afternoon's activities, replenish hungry bellies with good food, hot and cold refreshments.
Here is a blog post about how good the food is and a family who can recommend a hot chocolate on a winter's morning. A refreshing fresh orange juice in summer after playing in the park and woodlands
We manage stunning ancient woodlands if you want to film or create a photographic image that is historically correct then look no further.
If you require a great location with facilities for your production crew then get in touch. We have land and the facilities you need.
Our New Business Manager Simon Fussell
What are your main priorities for our charity?
There are, I think, four key objectives. Firstly to increase awareness about of the Buxton Civic Association and its importance as a guardian of the town heritage and its surrounding woodlands. This raised interest will generate more members - which is my second key objective. Thirdly we must maximise the potential of Poole’s Cavern and the Country Park as major attractions in the town and fourthly look at ways to develop new business opportunities and to generate the revenue required for BCA to fulfil its responsibilities to the town. I would encourage people to see Poole’s Cavern and the Country Park as a whole day out experience, incorporating the existing cave, Go Ape, and Country Park and additional attractions such as Country Craft days with Wild Food foraging, Flint Knapping and Falconry displays.
How else do you aim to put BCA on the local map?
Based on some conversations that I had running the successful stall, with BCA members, at the Spring Fair and the Charity Bazaar many local people are not aware that the Woodlands surrounding Buxton are owned and maintained by the Civic Association for the public. There is a vague assumption that the woods are owned by High Peak Borough Council or some other public body. So there is a need to raise awareness of the Civic Association and the work it has done, continues to do and will need to do in the future.
Some future projects include:
A NEW WEBSITE; We have plans to develop and launch a new website for BCA that will pull together the Civic Association, the Cavern and the Country Park under one consistent brand. The new website will enable members and non-members to have up to date information about their charity. It will be easier for members to comment on and raise issues.
OTHER WAYS TO KEEP IN TOUCH:
We plan to place a series of panels in the Cafe to explain the work that the Civic Association has done in the past, is doing in the present, and will need to continue to do in the future. Again this is about making people aware that the Buxton Civic Association is behind the cavern and the country park.
BUILD ON OUR LINKS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS:
This is both to get the schools to use the woods and the cave as part of their curriculum activities but also to raise awareness about the work that the Buxton Civic Association does. Buxton Community School are interested in getting involved. In addition we will have a competition open to all local schools across the school age range to produce a painting or piece of poetry or prose that involves the Country Park in some way. This will, increase awareness of and
raise the profile of the Civic Association and give the opportunity to explain what we do to a wider audience and to attract the interest of the younger generation.
The plan is to announce the competition in the autumn with the judging to take place in the early summer.
RSPB LINKS:
We aim to get a survey carried out of the woodland birds. As well as being able to produce a guide book similar to the excellent one on wild flowers that was written by June Noble, it will provide us with a bench mark of species which we
can use to promote a range of educational activities with schools and members of the public. For example the sitting of species specific nest boxes in addition to the ones we already have, could enable us to set up nest cams and show the results on a screen in the cafe, “bringing the woods inside” in effect. Again this provides positive news stories as well as creating additional interest in the woods and the cafe.
CORPORATE LINKS:
Another project is to develop a corporate membership for the Civic Association and to look at ways of gaining corporate sponsorship to help defray some of the enormous costs faced when managing and maintaining woodlands. We would also
welcome the range of additional skills and expertise that companies may have to offer.
FINALLY:
…How about an Ambassador for the Civic Association? We have had a number of suggestions but more are welcome, so if you know of anyone famous or wellknown who shares the values of the Civic Association and who might be interested then contact Poole’s Cavern or email: communications@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk where all ideas and suggestions are extremely welcome.
Poole’s Cavern is doing well despite these difficult times. On the back of the Jubilee and the Olympics when the whole world seemed focused on Britain, the question was this year what could we do to top that. Well we started off with a dreadful spring; remember the cold Easter with the car park under three feet of snow?
But … it’s been a really good year with lots of school visits and high visitor numbers. Caves have been promoted nationally through the Cool Caves hash tag with the English Tourist Board. The idea was to chill out in blistering heat – remember those days?
We now have planning consent for the toilet for the disabled which will include a baby change facility. This new toilet block is for use when the Visitor Centre is closed.
We must send out a huge thank you to all the cavern staff . Five star Recommendations have been scored on Trip Advisor and that’s because we have a great cave and friendly staff .
Download the full BCA newsletter Issue 25 Autumn 2013
By Mel Stevens
The woodlands of Buxton offer infinite opportunities for dog-walks to suit everyone.
There are nine woods to choose from with a variety of terrain, paths and environments to explore and enjoy. As the seasons and foliage (and, yes, also the weather) changes the views and experience is forever new so each day’s dog-walk is different. The Ring of Trees is a circular walk through many of the woodlands which surround Buxton. It can be completed as a 10mile (16km) walk, or taken in three shorter sections so you (and your dog, of course) can take your time and explore each of the woods. The route is waymarked with signs.
A booklet with full route directions, suggested inter-links and local information is available at Poole’s Cavern Visitor Centre. If you prefer a more relaxed approach, just choose a wood and take your (or a friend’s) dog to visit it; they are all within easy reach of town and each have their own character for you to discover and enjoy.
Entrance to the Cavern
Poole’s Cavern Buxton Festival Fringe Events 2013 Hamlet in Poole’s Cavern
Once again we had a very successful visit from the talented Butterfly Theatre who performed in our own underground theatre. The Acapella Vocals added to the eerie darkness and prepared the stage for a ghost to appear! For just over an hour this professional and experienced cast led capacity audiences through the shadowy cave to hear their favourite quotes and share the play’s action packed final scene. Butterfly Theatre thanked the wonderful cavern staff and can’t wait to be back next year.
Prof John Gunn & Prof Ian Fairchild Birmingham University School of Geography and Earth Sciences will be talking about the cave and its past/present hydrology.
Ian will talk specifically about the present climate / drip studies & how they inform us about recent past environments at Poole’s but also make a wider contribution to the use of speleothems in climate change research.
£3 to non members - Join BCA today to gain free entry to this event as well as free parking and entry to Poole's Cavern.
Guided Walk - Grin Low & Solomon’s Temple
A huge thank you to Olive Middleton for putting BCA forward for a community award.
We received almost 50% of the available green tokens and a cheque for £469. Olive was asked by Dan Hopkinson, Manager at Waitrose, to write a few words to help customers to make their community choice and she did us proud.
“Buxton Civic Association is a charity that was established in 1968 and its principal role is to protect and preserve Buxton’s unique and wonderful heritage of fine architecture and its natural and formal landscape settings, for the benefit of the local community and visitors to the area.
The association is responsible for the upkeep and management of over 200 acres of prime woodland around the town and also purchased Poole’s Cavern in the nineteen seventies. The association requires funds to be able to carry on with the great work that they do and are also in the process of producing a booklet to chart their history.”
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