Looking for the Shadows & Ghosts of Woodlands Past -
Peak District Ghost Woods and Shadows Project 2012
This is an exciting new project which aims to discover the lost woodland heritage on the eastern fringes of the Peak District. It will be launched at the end of April following a first year of research and survey, so come along and discover for yourself what this is about.
Training will be available for local community volunteers, students and others, to gain skills for uncovering the hidden past of ghost woods and shadows in the modern landscape. The project, which has received funding from the Peak District’s Sustainable Development Fund, will help create a lasting legacy to help conserve these echoes from the past.
South Yorkshire Biodiversity Research Group are organising the ‘Ghost Woods and Shadows’ project with funding from the Peak District’s Sustainability Fund. The project will start in late April with an introductory day on Wednesday 25th for community volunteers, followed by a series of training workshops and events over the summer and into the autumn. Dates confirmed so far are, 18th May,11th June and 3rd July. The events will teach community volunteers the skills to identify, record, and understand the hidden woodland heritage of the Eastern fringes of the Peak District. We will be focussing on areas along the moorland periphery and especially searching out ‘lost’ woods which often aren’t marked or named on maps. These lost woods and ghosts are remarkable woodlands with sometimes spectacular old trees, but often ones you just don’t notice. Yet, on closer inspection the sites reveal a hidden wooded past with carpets of bluebells and wood anemones in spring, and gnarled and stunted trees which may be hundreds of years old. Workshops will also look at the archaeology and historical records for these areas and ask people to find out what the area was like in their parents or grandparents day.
The project is an excellent opportunity for volunteers with a wide range of interests to get involved in work which will contribute to the sustainable future of these fragile landscapes. The project’s organisers will be working with local landowners and strategic partnerships in the area to make sure that they will take into account the ‘Ghost Woods and Shadows’ which are uncovered. The project involves ecology and natural history, history and archaeology, and both fieldwork and archival searches; so there’s something for everyone. Tutors will include Professor Ian D. Rotherham & Professor Melvyn Jones (both of Sheffield Hallam University), Dr Paul A. Ardron, Andy Alder (of Nottingham Trent University), Barry Wright, and others.
A flyer and booking form is available to download here. Volunteers who would like to find out more about the project and register for the workshops can also contact Christine on telephone: 0114 272 4227 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
