We have wonderful news. High Peak Borough Council is stopping all works on trying for residential development within Serpentine Walks.
The Serpentine Farm is to be offered a lease on the whole site, including buildings until 31st December 2019 as discussions open on the long-term future - whether a long lease or outright purchase at a suitably discounted price.
Thank you to all our followers for the support and leads you have given us.
"We will continue to present the arguments for a new approach to our uplands where wildlife can thrive and people and the local economy benefit."
The Goyt valley is ideal for re-wilding and the reintroduction of keystone species
What future do we want for our Uplands? With Brexit looming there are exciting possibilities if we think differently about our Uplands. We can carry on with business as normal or we can look to a future where our Uplands are full of wildlife and truly wild places. That will be good news for wildlife, people and the local economy.
Come along to our September Members talk on Friday 21st September at 7.30pm at Poole's Cavern Visitor Centre and hear about Tim's and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's exciting vision for the future of our uplands.
The talk is free to BCA members and their friends.
The cafe at Poole's Cavern are hosting a brand new Rock Opera, written by local musician and performer, Will Hawthorne, about the merciless 14th Century villain Arthur Poole who used to hide his ill gotten gains in Poole's Cavern.
The Opera is part of the Buxton Festival Fringe and is being performed in the visitor centre cafe at 8pm on 5th and 10th July. Tickets can be bought from the Visitor Centre at Poole's Cavern £7.50 (£5.00 concessions)
If you click on the links below you can have a sneak preview of the opera.
All proceeds go to the Charity Music in Hospitals and Care.
We are delighted to announce that we have had our EQM award renewed until November 2019.
The Citation on the renewal report read as follows;
Citation
Buxton Civic Association manage Poole's Cavern and the surrounding woodland, both of which are sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs). It was clear during the assessment that Buxton Civic Association has a strong commitment to environmental and social issues, as well being passionate about the conservation of their cavern and woodlands. Access for all is also central to their ethos, with some excellent work undertaken to allow less able people to enjoy both. High energy use is a significant environmental impact for the cavern and new LED lighting has been installed to address this.
Thanks to Faith Johnson for the images.
Buxton Civic Association held its 49th AGM at the Devonshire Dome on 18th June 2018. Sixty members packed in to the lecture theatre to hear reports from the Chair Mike Monaghan, and several of the Directors on BCA's activities.
The presentation that was delivered to the meeting can be accessed below.
After four years as Chair. Mike Monagan announced that he would be stepping down as Chair.
Peter Phillipson gave a vote of thanks for all the hard work that Mike has done, in particular in bringing BCA back into the centre of the voluntary groups community in Buxton. This was heartily endorsed by the members.
A full report will be posted to the website shortly.
Martin will talk about a journey to the legendary Cirque of the Unclimables in the remote Logan Mountains at the northern end of the Rockies in Canada's North West Territories to attempt one of the greatest rock climbs in the world guarded by legions of dangerous beasts and the approach from hell.
As usual the talk will be at Poole's Cavern Visitor Centre starting at 7.30pm. Members and friends are welcome and the event is free.
We will be at the Spring Fair again this year, up on the market, so why not pop along for a chat about the importance of trees and what BCA does to protect Buxton's beautiful woods and parks.
Come and tell us which are your favourite woods.
Do you have a favourite tree? Let us know and we will post it too our website.
This ash tree is outside the entrance to St Peters Church, Fairfield. The photo was taken last July. It is wonderful tree and people pass it when coming to find peace in church, visiting the churchyard or waiting under it when they come with babies for baptism or as bridesmaids to weddings or to say grieving farewells to family members and friends at funerals.
I like the breadth of the shelter of the tree and the dappled sunshine and shade which symbolically affects the lives of all of us.
Christine McMullen
The Welcome Sign to Grin Woods
One of the Summer Interpretation Signs in Grin Woods
Until a few years ago one of the best kept secrets in Buxton was who was the owners of the beautiful woods that surround the town and add so much to its character.
Most locals and many visitors have spent time in the woods, enjoying the trees, the bird song and in May in Corbar the spectacular blue bell display.
They enjoy following the sculpture trail in Grin Low woods or perhaps stopping to pass the time of day with the quarryman who sits on the main route up to Solomon's Temple.
But ask them who owns the woods and 4 out of 5 will look blank before offering the Council as a possibility.
Now with the help and support of the Leader Project, part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Economic Development, the woods have welcome signs at the entrances and a range of interesting, informative interpretation signs at key points in the woods, to explain and encourage people to look about them. To add to the interest some of these signs change with the seasons.
So now there is no excuse for not knowing who owns the beautiful woodlands.
And the owners?
Buxton Civic Association of course.
One of the events in the 2018 Buxton Fringe Festival
The article on page 3 about Trapped, the dance piece by the Experiential Dance Company is part of the Buxton Fringe Festival and not as stated the Buxton Festival.
We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.
The event is at Poole's Cavern on July 18-21.
Bookings via Opera House or rachel.johnson17@icloud.com or 07870 481057