National Trust unveils masterplan to conserve High Peak Moors

The High Peak Moors of the Upper Derwent, Bleaklow and Kinder are owned by the trust, which said its plan would see the area safeguarded for the future.

Officials said they had been discussing and collecting views on the future management of the moors since late last year.

Until now, discussions have focused on tenants, partners such as local authorities and those who use the moors for recreation, but the trust has now launched a wider consultation.

The Peak District general manager for the National Trust, Jon Stewart, said: “The National Trust cares for special places for the benefit of everyone.

“In line with this purpose, we want to engage people in caring for this very special area that we look after on the nation’s behalf.

“We believe the moors have a huge potential to deliver public benefit in so many ways – an amazing day out for visitors, internationally important wildlife, good quality water, valuable carbon store and a key role in a vibrant local economy.”

Mr Stewart said the moors were a working landscape, providing a living for local residents, as well as a “green lung” for the thousands of visitors from the Peak District, Manchester, Sheffield and beyond.

He also pointed out their landscape and cultural value and the fact that they are the harvesting ground for much of the water supply for the Midlands and parts of the North-West with water from the High Peak moors running straight into drinking water reservoirs.

Scientists have also recognised the moors role in the climate change challenge. Most of the moors are blanket bog, made up of peat formed by dead plants trapped in water logged soils. They are a massive store of carbon and studies have shown that there is more carbon stored in UK peat than in the forests of Britain and France combined.

The trust said one of its aims with the plan was to increase the role these moors can play in capturing carbon and helping to combat climate change.

The High Peak Moors area covers Kinder, Park Hall, Lady Clough and Alport Moor, Blackden and Black Ashop Moor, Ashop, Blackley Hey and Blackden, Nether and Upper Moors, Birchinlee, Ronksley, Derwent and Howden, South Head Moor and East Crowden.

The draft plan is available to view at www.high-peak-moors.co.uk/public-consultation and the consultation ends on November 30.