Fiona Stubbs learns how a pioneering charity
is introducing new audiences to the National Park
A warm, sunny day on the National Trust’s Longshaw Estate proved the perfect setting for Peak District Mosaic to mark its 10th anniversary as a registered charity.
Trustees, community champions and supporters joined in a day of walks and events to celebrate the charity, which creates and sustains connections between the National Park and new audiences.
Its influence, however, dates back 25 years, to when it was part of the Mosaic Project (2001 to 2016), initiated by the Campaign for National Parks. Several UK parks initially took part in the project to find ways to open national parks to people who hadn’t experienced them before.
One of Peak District mosaic’s earliest champions was Yvonne Witter, now chair of the charity. She was awarded the MBE earlier this year for her services in helping people to access nature.
Yvonne says: “When I joined Peak District Mosaic in 2008, I wasn’t familiar with the Peak District, though I loved to explore the countryside on the outskirts of Sheffield, where I live and work. A friend recommended Mosaic to me – it was eye-opening when I realised I could get a bus from the city into these amazing landscapes. It was an escape.
“I was born in the UK but spent my childhood in Jamaica and the Peak District reminds me of growing up in the countryside there. I call it my haven – I love being surrounded by woodland, rivers and wildlife.
“I’ve seen Mosaic progress from being a project to a charity and, for me, community is at the heart of what we do. The people make Peak District Mosaic what it is.”
A chance meeting with Yvonne while out walking in the Peak District in 2014 led Godfrey Francis to become a Mosaic champion and, ultimately, a National Park volunteer ranger. He is also a trustee of the charity.
He explains: “What we get out of being part of Peak District Mosaic is the opportunity to share with other people everything we love about being outside and the benefits they, too, can experience in terms of physical and mental health.
“Exploring the outdoors stretches you too – in both fitness and skills. I started bringing my grandchildren into the Peak District when they were four or five years old. Now they are teenagers and are working towards Duke of Edinburgh Awards. I want them to have the same love of the great outdoors that I have – and I think they do.”
Mosaic organises activities to help people explore the National Park, raising awareness of the Peak District and other national parks in the UK. It guides people from diverse communities to become community champions and creates an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome to participate.
Activities are arranged for people of all ages – including short walks and longer hikes, group activities based around nature connection and cultural events.
The charity is currently working with the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks in the Championing National Parks for Everyone project. Backed by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other match funders, it aims to increase the diversity of visitors to national parks and to deliver its community champion model for their communities.
The six-day Community Champion training programme creates a cohort of volunteers with the skills and experience to independently deliver safe, enjoyable and sustainable outdoor activities.
The project also seeks to increase pathways into employment in the outdoor sector and to improve the practices of National Park Authorities.
Community champion Sylvia Chen said: “I already organised walks with my friends but wanted to feel more confident in terms of organisational skills and the safety aspects of being a walk leader.
“I’ve learned such a lot about the Peak District. Friendships are made and you discover that we all share similar concerns in life. We have a good experience of exploring national parks and we want other people to benefit, too.”
Elaine Hamilton was one of Mosaic’s first community champions in 2017 under a previous project in partnership with the Peak District National Park Authority. She said: “Being out in the Peak District is so different to being in the workplace or the city. Just to sit and listen to the birds or to pause by a river is so relaxing. And the landscapes! There’s a real ‘wow factor’ when you see the Peak District for the first time.”
- Learn more about Peak District Mosaic at www.peakdistrictmosaic.org
- https://www.facebook.com/peakdistict.mosaic/
- Instagram: @peak_district_mosaic