People of the Peak

Looking Ahead to the Next Chapter

As we approach the end of the development phase of People of the Peak: Past, Present, Future, we are reflecting on everything we have learned over the last 18 months and are now bringing that learning together into an application for delivery-phase funding.

The development phase began in 2025 when the Peak District National Park Foundation and Peak District National Park Authority were delighted to receive support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Since then, the project has focused on understanding how we can best protect, celebrate and share the Peak District's rich cultural heritage, while creating more opportunities for people to get involved.

We have worked closely with partner organisations, volunteers, communities, farmers, landowners, land managers, and colleagues to explore new ideas, test approaches and build a project that is both ambitious and achievable.

What We've Been Working On

The Peak District is home to an extraordinary range of heritage, from prehistoric burial mounds and Roman settlements to medieval castles, industrial sites, traditional field barns and historic houses. Together with the stories, traditions and memories associated with these places, they form an important part of the National Park's cultural heritage.

Through the development phase, we have:

• Consulted with existing and potential volunteers to understand their experiences, identify barriers to participation and explore opportunities for training and support.
• Worked with farmers, landowners and land managers to better understand and protect heritage features on their land.
• Gathered insights from residents and visitors about their awareness of cultural heritage and how they would like to engage with it.
• Piloted new monitoring and conservation approaches, including enhanced training and digital tools.
• Explored collaboration with external partners and other teams, with a particular focus on engaging young people aged 18-30 and people from diverse communities.
• Investigated the relationship between cultural heritage and biodiversity, including how protecting cultural heritage can support habitats in a changing climate.

This work has helped shape a vision for a delivery phase that is inclusive, sustainable and impactful, ensuring that the Peak District's heritage is better understood, better protected and more widely enjoyed.

Thank You

None of this would have been possible without the time, enthusiasm, expertise and support of so many people.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the development phase, including our stakeholders, partner organisations, community groups, farmers, landowners, colleagues across the National Park Authority and Foundation, and everyone who has taken part in consultations, workshops, pilot activities and discussions.

Above all, we would like to thank our existing volunteers and those who have expressed an interest in volunteering with us in the future. Your passion for the Peak District's heritage, your ideas and your willingness to get involved have been at the heart of this project and have helped shape its direction.