Peak District National Park celebrates 50 years of holding European Award

The Peak District National Park is celebrating holding the European Diploma for Protected Areas for 50 years.

The international Council of Europe award is only awarded to exceptional landscapes in recognition of their high quality protection and conservation.

The Peak District National Park was one of three places to first receive the European Diploma in 1966. The others were the Camargue National Reserve, France and Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve, Belgium.

Over the last 50 years only 74 diplomas have been awarded across 28 countries.

Peak District National Park chief executive Sarah Fowler said: “Fifty years of holding the European Diploma for Protected Areas is a fantastic achievement and we are very proud of it.

“Our national park landscapes are internationally important and we continue to work hard together with all our communities and partners to look after them.”

To keep the diploma the Peak District National Park has been monitored to ensure that sensitive environments and species are being properly looked after to preserve wildlife and landscape diversity.

In celebration of the 50 years of holding the award, people are being encouraged to go for a walk with a National Park Ranger:

Sunday 20 March
Discover an Easter Mermaid – take the 6 miles walk to the Mermaid’s Pool on Kinder Scout and hear the legend of the singing mermaid and more.

Or, spend the day on patrol with a Ranger in the Goyt Valley, walking about 8 miles, to gain an insight into life as a ranger.

Sunday 27 March
Chunal Wonder – join a 10 mile expedition over Chunal Moor, Snake and Higher Shelf Stones, to visit a Lancaster bomber and a Flying Fortress wreck, with amazing views into the heart of Bleaklow.

Each of these three walks costs £6 per person for people aged 18 and above. Children aged 17 and below go free.

For the full schedule of national park events or to book, visit www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/events