60 seconds of sounds recorded on a Saturday lunchtime in Hogshaw Woods

The Blue Bell by Emile Bronte

The blue bell is the sweetest flower
That waves in summer air;
Its blossoms have the mightiest power
To soothe my spirit's care.

There is a spell in purple heath
Too wildly, sadly dear;
The violet has a fragrant breath
But fragrance will not cheer.

The trees are bare, the sun is cold;
And seldom, seldom seen;
The heavens have lost their zone of gold
The earth its robe of green;

And ice upon the glancing stream
Has cast its sombre shade
And distant hills and valleys seem
In frozen mist arrayed -


The blue bell cannot charm me now
The heath has lost its bloom,
The violets in the glen below
They yield no sweet perfume.

But though I mourn the heather-bell
'Tis better far, away;
I know how fast my tears would swell
To see it smile today;

And that wood flower that hides so shy
Beneath the mossy stone
Its balmy scent and dewy eye:
'Tis not for them I moan.

It is the slight and stately stem,
The blossom's silvery blue,
The buds hid like a sapphire gem
In sheaths of emerald hue.

'Tis these that breathe upon my heart
A calm and softening spell
That if it makes the tear-drop start
Has power to soothe as well.

For these I weep, so long divided
Through winter's dreary day,
In longing weep--but most when guided
On withered banks to stray.

If chilly then the light should fall
Adown the dreary sky
And gild the dank and darkened wall
With transient brilliancy,

How do I yearn, how do I pine
For the time of flowers to come,
And turn me from that fading shine
To mourn the fields of home -

Natural England are running 4 free webinars about the impact of climate change on biodiversity from next Tuesday. You need to register via the link below to join in

Link to Natural England Webinar

Garden Activities and Surveys

If you are interested in joining BCA's Biodiversity Group then please contact us using the link below.

To find out more about BCA Biodiversity Group

In view of the rapidly developing coronavirus crisis and its possible implications for our staff, volunteers and visitors, Buxton Civic Association board of trustees have decided that the Cavern, Visitor Centre and Cafe should be closed to the public with immediate effect.

This is a temporary closure until the end of March, in the first instance. The decision will be reviewed at that time, but will remain under constant review in the meantime.

This is clearly a dynamic rapidly changing emergency situation which we will have to continue to respond rapidly and flexibly to.

We intend to keep our woods and Buxton Country Park open to the public and we will continue to encourage as many people as possible to use them for exercise and emotional and spiritual refreshment.

The wellbeing of our staff, volunteers and visitors remains our top concern.

We have decided that in the interests of the health and safety of our members, speaker and staff to cancel the talk at the Dome this Thursday.

We hope to rearrange it later this year.

We will post updates on future events here and on our Facebook page.

Making Cave Science Accessible to all at Poole's Cavern

This unique project based at Poole's Cavern (Peak District) aims to promote UK cave science by offering an open access cave research facility for the science community. Alongside providing a safe working environment, the cave science centre already has a wide variety of “baseline” climate monitoring, from which high-resolution data is being produced. This data is available to anyone who wishes to use it, promoting the development of high quality science projects backed by years of monitoring data.

​Keep up with the science we are doing by following the Blog page for the latest updates.

British Cave Science Website

Our members talk on Thursday 19th March will be going ahead but at the University of Derby Buxton Campus, The Devonshire Dome in the main lecture theatre.

The title of the talk is "The Geology and Archaeology of the Torrs New Mills " with Peter Webb.

The talk is free and open to members and non members.

The talk will start at 7.30 pm

Buxton’s heritage hero honoured in Tower of London

Buxton Civic Association member Diane White has been hailed as one of Britain’s Heritage Heroes for turning derelict land at the heart of the town’s historic quarter into a sensory garden and haven for wildlife.
At a ceremony in the Tower of London on Wednesday, Dia was one of only two people to be honoured by the Heritage Alliance when it marked the tenth anniversary of its Heroes awards which celebrate the outstanding contribution Britain’s heritage volunteers make to society.
The award recognises Diane’s amazing contribution in transforming an area of wasteland into a sensory garden. From designing the garden and leading clearance parties, to fundraising for the project, Diane’s volunteering and fundraising efforts have made a real impact in her local community.
But it was only made possible thanks to her fellow volunteers in the Association’s Spaces and Places Team and builder Dave Trotter.
“I am very proud of what our group has achieved with the creation of a Sensory Garden,” she said. “A year ago, this was a neglected and litter-strewn site in the historic centre of Buxton. Now it is a beautiful and relaxing place where locals and visitors can sit and enjoy themselves.
“The view from the garden is quite striking. This brings benefits, both physical and mental, and I am very pleased to have made a little difference to the community in this way.”
The former nurse and member of Buxton Civic Association came up with the idea for the garden on the site of the former public toilets on Water Street which had been left empty and unloved despite being just yards away from the Opera House, the Pavilion Gardens and The Crescent.
“It’s a place where lots of people come from around the world, and then you get this neglected area, which was once public toilets,” said Diane.
The Civic Association persuaded High Peak Council to lease them the land, which had not been used for nearly two decades, and after getting planning permission and sponsorship from local groups, trusts, foundations and businesses, her plan was put into action.
She timed the opening to coincide with the start of 2019’s landmark 40th anniversary Buxton International Festival, and now the garden is home to birds, bees, butterflies and wildflowers – not to mention grateful office workers who eat lunch on its benches.
“We want people to be able to touch the plants, feel them and smell them,” said Diane, who said that one plant even smells of chocolate.
“One boy said when he touched the thyme it reminded him of his Sunday dinner!”
Sponsored by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, the UK’s leading insurer of Grade I listed buildings, the Heritage Heroes Award awards ceremony coincided with Heritage Day, the key event in the heritage sector calendar, with speakers including Sir Tim Laurence, Chair of English Heritage, and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism.
Peter Ainsworth, Chair of the Heritage Alliance and Faith Kitchen, Heritage Director at Ecclesiastical, presented the awards. Each of the winners received a framed original Pugin-designed tile from the Palace of Westminster as a token of gratitude.
Peter added: “A true Heritage Hero is a person who generously gives time and knowledge to creating and preserving beautiful places and objects, often under the radar, for the benefit of everyone. They make a huge contribution to their community by making local places and stories more loved and accessible.”
Faith said: “As the leading insurer of Grade I listed buildings in the UK, we’re passionate about Britain’s heritage. We’re proud to sponsor the Heritage Heroes Awards, and this year celebrates two incredibly deserving winners for their outstanding contribution to the heritage sector.”

Diane White talks about the importance of the Water Street Sensory Garden