Peak District – Getting Involved

The Peak District National Park authority sets out to inspire people to help the park and its development. This may be done in a number of ways, whether this is businesses supporting the park or individuals and groups taking part in voluntary projects for the good of the park. The Park Authority itself aims to ensure that all volunteering supports the continued sustainable management of the Peak District and helps promote and protect the parks special qualities.  Much of the work done by those passionate about the Peak District helps generate publicity regarding the environmental issues and helps ensure that visitors know how to limit their damage to the park.

The good thing about getting involved in the park is that the number of ways people can do this really is extensive and can be very simple.  Visitors can help the park in the simplest way by ensuring that they purchase goods and services that have the environmental quality mark, and hence are approved by the park itself.  This could range from visitors to the park buying locally sourced meat or staying in accommodation which has been endorsed with the environmental quality mark.  Visitors can also learn more about protecting the park by attending ranger-led walks or visiting one of the National Parks visitor centres.  Those who wish to make a more significant contribution to the park can also do so by volunteering on projects which directly help conserve the park.  These may include the construction of dry stone walls, or maintaining paths and bridleways.  One of the best things about getting involved is the ease at which it can be done, and the fact that it can be done indirectly whilst visitors pursue other activities.

The Park authority, therefore, recognises the importance of recreation within the park and sets out in the management plan to create diverse and accessible recreational activities for visitors to the park.  Recreation helps promote further to the general population what is special about the park, and how it can bring benefits to both individuals and society as a whole.  The park authority also sets out to make sure that recreation does not affect the park in an adverse way, or infringes upon others use of the Peak District.  The authority also recognises that certain groups such as minorities are underrepresented in regards to visiting the park, and the Peak District Park authority wishes to make the park more inclusive by targeting such groups.