Agenda item

·         Upper Derwent Valley Reservoir Extension – update on proposals and PDNPA holding objection

·         DWT Wild Peak Rounds

·         Ideas for LAF member training/guidance

Ben picked up an earlier agenda item relating to Access to Water and the Right to Roam. There has been a recent Access to Nature debate in the Commons.  The shadow Environment Minister has advised that Labour will introduce a new Right to Roam Bill looking at wild camping in National Parks and extending access to woodlands and waterways.  The current default is to exclude people.  The shift with this Bill will be to a default of giving access.  The Conservatives won’t bring a further Access Bill before Parliament, although Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for the Environment, has announced an access to Green Space initiative, whereby everyone should be able to access green space within 15 minutes’ walk from home.  There is no detail about this as yet. If there was a shift to open up access to the public then it is worth thinking what that guidance would look like, and what input stakeholders, including the National Park, would like to have. Under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, there was a mention of amending Local Authority’s duty to provide health and wellbeing opportunities for their residents, but Ben wasn’t sure if this was being actioned by government.

Louise commented that if the assumption was to open up access, LAFs will become more important. Ben added that opening up access further can be a benefit for wildlife as it means that channelling everyone into small areas is less likely.

Dave Savage told the Forum about developing a running and walking challenge, the Wild Peak Rounds, starting and finishing in Bakewell and will be organised through the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and would hopefully generate donations. The plan is for 3 routes – 15km, 50km and 115 km – that will link Wildlife Trust sites.  There will be no set routes or times, and all will take place on Public Rights of Way. Participants will be given proof of completion, and routes will be signposted by discs on way markers. Clare thought not having time limits was a good idea and commented that we don’t need more merchandising.  Paul Richardson also thought this was a good idea and should generate a lot of interest.