Rural Voice - Darley Dale & Villages Edition - April 2021

APRIL ‘21

BIRCHOVER • DARLEY BRIDGE • DARLEY DALE • DARLEY HILLSIDE • ELTON • FARLEY • HACKNEY • NORTHWOOD • ROWSLEY • STANTON IN PEAK • TWO DALES • UPPER HACKNEY • WENSLEY • WINSTER • YOULGRAVE.

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Voice in the Community

Shouting about businesses in the heart of your community

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Brand new ŠKODA Motability vehicles available from Nil Advance ŠKODA Chesterfield

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Hi Readers, At the time of writing we have just marked the 1-year anniversary of the first lock-down.

I saw one comedian on Twitter write ‘I haven’t heard anybody say, where did the last year go’. Beyond the joke I think they may have missed the point. For many of us the last year has been a year lost. Lost experiences, lost jobs, lost businesses, even lost loved ones.

With the roadmap in place there are reasons to be optimistic as we want to reclaim our lives but I think we are all feeling the same caution. My own thoughts are that we have to be brave. Embrace the changes we need to make, with vaccines, social distancing, masks and hand sanitising that will allow us to embrace the opportunity to reclaim our lives.

As they say, hindsight is a wonderful thing but I suppose this toll has caused us all the be a bit grumpy, maybe it’s the social distancing we have had to maintain but it seems like there is growing gaps in our ability to empathise and understand each other. But what I would say to that is, it was only just over a year ago when #bekind was doing the rounds as a reaction to Caroline Flack losing her life so tragically. Nobody knows what anybody else is going through behind closed doors – so it’s very simple, just be kind to each other – kindness never hurt anyone.

In other news, Bez and Shaun Ryder (Flake and Rafa’s new nicknames!) have made a full recovery!

They are sporadically trying to pull us back in the direction of the woods – can’t think why! – however, we have managed to divert their attentions and we have been incident free for 1 month! The Vet will be disappointed – this monthly visit was ensuring their optional extra of a personal Butler for the duration of their round the world tour!! (*I am only joking – our Vets do a brilliant job & they have trained hard for their profession*).

At the time of writing, I think the whole of the UK is poised for the first stage of the road map to be executed without a hitch – fingers and toes crossed!

Emily x P.S. Don’t forget to mention the ‘Voice’ when you use any of the companies in this magazine

Upcoming Submission Deadline for Advertisers & Contributors May edition – 12th April June Edition - May 10th

To advertise email info@voicemagazines.co.uk or call us on 01773 549 035 Printed by Phase Marketing, Design & Print and distributed to 5,000 homes in the Darley Dale area. Disclaimer: No responsibility is accepted by Voice Magazines Limited for claims, errors or omissions made in advertisements appearing in this issue. All advertisers are accepted in good faith and we are not for views expressed by contributor other sources.

Reproduction of the contents of this magazine is not permitted without the prior Toresponsible advertise please call the orVoice Team on 01629 364 015 3 consent of the publisher. Voice Magazines Limited, 81 High Street, South Normanton, Derbyshire. DE55 2BP. Registered in England & Wales No: 10550557

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

From The Editor

OTHER SERVICES

Derwent River Fly Fishing Darley Dale Fly Fishing Club

Has limited membership opportunities for 2021

Other s e c i v r e S

We own one and a half miles of Derwent fishing in Darley Dale Further information from ddffc.org If interested, contact ddffchonsec@gmail.com

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FOOD & RETAIL

Eclectic Delights of Serendipity Stockists of unique products

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• My memento print your own items in store in minutes starting at £2.99 for personalised cards, magnets and keyrings.

• Leather handbags, wallets and slippers from Ashwood Leather • Huge range of Helium Balloons • Jewellery from Silver Cavern, Tide and Pageant Pewter.

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9

It’s Not My Fault!

Is it just me, or are we currently living in a society where individuals increasingly refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions?

Personal responsibility; accepting our mistakes (and learning from them!) and utilising common sense, seem to be attributes we are losing.

But are these attributes inbuilt or are they learned behaviours that override our basic programming?

I was always taught to accept that I would mess up, that we all do, and that it is normal to do so. I was also taught to hold my hands up and admit to my mistakes. Life lessons I passed onto my own children. Looking around, it seems that many people find it easier to pass the buck rather than admit and accept that they are fallible.

‘Blame culture’ has been seen as another import from our US cousins…but is it? Or is the desire to hold someone other than ourselves responsible for our actions simply basic human nature, one that we can (should?) learn to override?

Personally, I believe that ‘compensation culture’ (rather than blame) IS a US import…’where there’s blame there’s a claim’ comes to mind, but that we humans as a species have always tried to blame someone, or something else for our own failings.

Think about it, in order to survive, our earliest ancestors needed to somehow balance the desire to ‘look after number one’, with the need to ensure the safety of a tribe/family unit. It must have been tempting to shift the blame, if things went badly when looking after number one took priority, to an outside influence or to someone else. “It wasn’t my fault…”

Perhaps that’s even how religion came about – if there’s a ‘greater power’ in charge of everything, then nothing is ever going to be our fault. The ‘buck’ can permanently be passed!

Back to my initial point though, the whole Covid 19 crisis seems to have

highlighted the best AND the worst in modern society. So many people have refused to accept responsibility for keeping themselves (and therefore others) safe and healthy. So many have adopted an ‘I’m alright Jack’ mentality and merrily gone about life however they wanted.

At the other end of the scale are those who have become obsessive and are happily reporting on friends and neighbours whilst telling themselves ‘it’s for their own good’.

The very worst of us though are the politicians, companies and corporations who are profiting during the crisis by dishing out contracts based solely (or so it would appear) on connections rather than ability. How many of these people will ever admit their incompetence though? None, I would guess, because in their minds they are doing the right thing…for them at least.

Let’s all try to override our inbuilt selfish, self-led, programming in 2021 and learn to accept responsibility for our own actions. Let’s teach our children and grandchildren that only by working together, by collaborating, by being compassionate, can we ever hope to rise and find our truest selves.

These articles are researched and written by Laura Billingham, a local content writer and author. Laura moved to the Peak District several years ago to pursue her passion for writing.

To find out more visit www.landgassociates. co.uk or contact Laura on 07736 351341

FOOD & RETAIL

Slimming World Recipe Five-Spice Pork Ramen Bowl One thing I have really missed in lockdown has been a certain Japanese food chain… !

Serves: 4

Ready in: 30mins

Syns per serving: FREE

Ingredients:

Method: 1. Put the pork and five-spice powder in a bowl and toss to coat well.

2. Spray a large non-stick frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium heat. Cook the pork for 8-10 minutes or until crispy, browned and cooked through, stirring often (you might need to do this in batches). Transfer to a plate and cover with kitchen foil to keep warm.

3. Meanwhile, place a large saucepan over a high heat. Add the stock, baby sweetcorn, ginger, garlic, soy sauce and oyster sauce and bring to the boil. Drop in the noodles and cook for 5 minutes, adding the pak choi for the last 2 minutes. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, divide the noodles, pak choi and baby sweetcorn between shallow bowls, trying to keep each ingredient apart as much as you can.

4. Add the radishes to each bowl, pile the pork in the middle and ladle in the delicious broth. Scatter with chilli, if using, and coriander sprigs to serve.

• 4 lean pork steaks, visible fat removed, cut into small chunks • 4 level tsp Chinese five-spice powder* (see tip) • Low-calorie cooking spray • 1.2 litres hot chicken stock • 300g baby sweetcorn, cut into chunks • 4cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and cut into matchsticks • 2 garlic cloves, chopped • 1½ tbsp soy sauce • 2½ tbsp oyster sauce • 350g dried rice noodles or egg noodles • 4 large pak choi, quartered • 12 radishes, thinly sliced • Red chilli, to serve (optional) • Fresh coriander sprigs, to serve

For more information visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk

The Eating House We’re re-opening on Monday 12th April 2021 Relax and dine in our bespoke gazebos to maintain a safe social distance.

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17

Castleton & its Caverns - Continued Part 3 - Treak Cliff Cavern Head out of Castleton on Buxton Road and you will find the sign and gate for Treak Cliff Cavern. If you have any mobility issues, or have a child in a pram, the cavern itself is going to be out of bounds for you due to the number of steps, up the steep At the top of the steps take a moment to both catch your breath, and drink in the stunning scenery of Castleton and the Hope Valley spread out in front of you.

Treak Cliff was first opened to the public in 1935 by the then landowner, a Colonel Broadbent. There are two sets of caverns known as ‘old series’ and ‘new series’, the second having been discovered in 1926.

The entrance to the caverns is via a tunnel blasted by lead miners in the mid-1800s, it’s quite low so you may have to stoop. This passage leads you into the ‘old series’ of caverns where, long ago, miners extracted by hand Blue John (a type of the mineral fluorspar found only in Castleton).

Veins of the blueish mineral can easily be seen as you progress through to the scarily named ‘Witches Cave’. Don’t worry, the name was coined for a rock formation which (from some angles) was said to resemble a witch’s profile! It’s in this cave that you will find ‘The Pillar’ - the single largest deposit of Blue John ever identified and thought to weigh around 16 tons.

Progressing still deeper into the caverns, and moving into the so called ‘new series’, Blue John ceases to be visible and instead

you enter into a world of multi coloured ‘flowstone’, stalagmites and stalactites.

Fanciful names, Aladdin’s Cave, Fairyland and Dream Cave, conjure up feelings of walking through something from a fairy tale. Indeed in Aladdin’s cave, a series of stalagmites is nicknamed ‘the Seven Dwarves’. The stalagmite named ‘Happy’ is considered to be a charm and touching his ‘head’ is supposed to bring good luck! Another well named stalactite is ‘The Stork’, and it does indeed resemble that bird standing on one leg.

A tour of Treak Cliff, lasts around 40-45 mins and you are well advised to wear something warm as the temperature is a relatively steady (and chilly) 11°C. And although there is no underground water course, there is a steady drip of water percolating down from the ground above, this makes the floors wet and slippery, so stout footwear is imperative.

A visit to the onsite museum, gift shop selling handmade Blue John jewellery and gifts, and a warming drink in the café, finishes the trip nicely. Of course you then have ALL those steps to descend back down to the road level!

The Blue John Cavern is the next stop on our tour of Castleton’s caverns.

Part 4- Blue John Cavern Nestled at the foot of Mam Tor, Blue John Cavern is the last of Castleton’s caves we are going to have a quick look over.

Just like Treak Cliff, the Blue John Cavern is not going to be accessible for anyone with mobility issues, or anyone with a child in a pram or pushchair. Once you reach the parking area on Old Mam Tor road (follow the brown tourist signs out of Castleton) a path leads down to the entrance and then there are 245 steps down to the cavern!

The caverns are huge and well, but sympathetically lit. Waterfall Cavern, so called because the left side is a mass of stalactite formations that look very much like a frozen waterfall, is very atmospheric. Stalactite Cavern shows the path of the former underground river and the roof actually resembles an upside down river bed.

The small visitor centre looks like it has been dug into the surrounding hillside and there are some amazing views to take in before, and after, the 245 steps.

More evidence of the force of water at work is seen in Lord Mulgrave’s Dining room, a circular cave created by the confluence of two rivers causing a swirling effect which carved out the space over millennia. This cave was named because Mulgrave was alleged to have treated some miners to a slap up meal there.

The cavern itself was discovered in around 1700 by local miners who were following the ‘Blue John vein’ in search of a source of the mineral (the rarest in the UK). Once you have descended into the first cavern, the one these miners located, you can still see the vein they were following and the pothole, high in the ceiling above you, that they had to lower themselves through…it makes 245 steps seem a much easier option!

The cave system was formed by the action of water, and evidence of this is apparent everywhere you look, in the sculptural markings.

Fortunately for visitors the river responsible for shaping the caverns no longer flows, but you will follow the dry river bed as you wend your way through the system.

Old mining equipment has been left in situ and it’s amazing to think that Blue John was extracted from the solid rock of the caves using only the most basic of tools.

The Grand Crystalline Cavern with its dome shaped roof complete with sparkly multi coloured crystals and stalactites is breathtaking. And the final cave open to the public, the Variegated Cavern is awe-inspiring. A viewing platform, 20 metres above the floor, lets you see areas only cavers are allowed to go, a place littered with rocks and boulders carried there by a now non-existent river.

In Episode 5, the last in this series, we’ll talk about Blue John itself. Still mined and crafted in the area, it has been used for decorative purposes for hundreds of years.

These articles are researched and written by Laura Billingham, a local content writer and author. Laura moved to the Peak District several years ago to pursue her passion for writing.

To find out more visit www.landgassociates. co.uk or contact Laura on 07736 351341

KIDS & FAMILIES

Love learning locally

& s d i K y l i m Fa

Adult education courses and workshops in Derbyshire This groovy summer we are offering all of our Learning for Leisure courses to Derbyshire residents for FREE!

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1

12/03/2021 21:33

support throughout lockdown and are ready to help and advise you now.

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Book a free assessment today • T: 01629 56611 Kip McGrath Matlock • 77 Dale Road,Matlock • kipmcgrath.co.uk/matlock

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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ROOFING We are a small family business who offer many roofing related services Friendly and professional team with 35 years of experience Please call us for a FREE quotation

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Sleek, clean and cosy That’s all a living room has to be with a fire from Peak Fireplaces Over 100 contemporary and traditional fireplaces, stoves, gas and electric fires, many on live display in our showroom

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Book Review The idea of flesh and blood humans existing alongside what used to be called robots – now artificial intelligence – isn’t new. There have been films and books written about it even earlier than the days of R2D2 in Star Wars.

But novels about what will happen when we really do have synthetic humans in our lives at a personal level are having a moment just now. And maybe it’s not that surprising. In reality they are becoming infinitely more sophisticated both in terms of what they look like and how their brains will operate.

So the possibility of AI companions, butlers, sex slaves, carers, even scientists maybe, are not quite so remote. Are we on the edge of science fiction becoming real?

Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan is one of the several books currently exploring this exciting and maybe scary thought. The artificial human that Charlie, a drifter, buys with an inheritance from his mother, is clever, beautiful and capable of just about anything a person could want from a companion. And maybe a few things they wouldn’t want.

It’s fascinating stuff. What makes us human, could we ever replicate what goes on in the human brain and heart? What happens when the rules we think we live by are different to our real lives? There’s some great insight into people and moments of fairly dark humour in this book.

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Gardens QUALITY NATURAL STONE SUPPLIES Nationwide delivery Available

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GARDENS

Gardener’s Calendar You may have been tempted into sowing some seeds indoors – and why not - but annual flowers such as nasturtiums and foxglove can be grown from seed outdoors now – and you can start bring your indoor seedlings out (during the day) to get them hardened off.

When putting seeds directly into the garden, it’s important to be sparing – about a finger’s width apart per seed in a shallow drill – you can use a cane to create the drill according to the depth instructions on the packet. If you over-fill the drill you risk the plants damping off due to overcrowding – and effectively you’re wasting seed.

The earth should be crumbled to a fine tilth and not too wet. Cover with fine soil or a peat free compost and then with fleece. This will hopefully keep the soil warm, but also stop pigeons and other birds using your seed drill as a takeaway. You can secure the fleece with sticks or by spading the edge down.

r

If you want a head-start with planting it’s absolutely okay to go for plug plants from a garden centre or online – not everyone wants to grow from seed. Just make sure they’re kept in the right conditions on the container until it’s safe for them to go out.

Daffodils should be deadheaded after flowering but allow the foliage to die back naturally – no tying it in knots.

TOP TIP! Spike your lawn with a garden fork or spike shoes to give the root of the grass room to breathe 06/11/2018 18:16

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Peak time for the Thrushes As winter has gently drifted into springtime change is in the air for the thrush family.

Winter thrushes, the fieldfares and redwings from the far north, are Fieldfare moving back to their Scandinavian breeding grounds; and very soon the chattering flocks of fieldfares, the Vikings of the thrush family, will have left us for another year. The diminutive redwing is beautifully marked but altogether more reserved and refined than the fieldfare which is both gregarious and yet aggressive to other thrushes. Fieldfares and sometimes mistle thrushes too, will defend a favoured apple-tree or berry bush against all comers. Pausing in their feeding these birds flare their tail feathers and wings to vigorously pursue would-be intruders.

They need high-energy food like berries to protect from the winter chill and to prepare for the long haul homeward; stopping off to re-fuel on coastal sea buckthorn before the North Sea crossing. Redwings will often feed under stands of beech trees and oaks as they pick through the damp leaf-litter. They will also forage under dense rhododendron bushes and will visit gardens.

In the movement north, these birds are joined by many of the European blackbirds that overwintered with us; often in gardens and local woods. The resident birds are already well on with breeding and are altogether more territorial, and it is the continental migrants that you see in groups. Take a trip to the seaside in autumn and you will see them flying in off the sea Male Blackbird almost touching the wave-tops. The local birds are now in full song and delivering a gorgeous chorus at both dawn and dusk.

The blackbird is arguably the most accomplished of all our song birds, but the other members of the thrush family are pretty good too. Quite large and rather grey in colour, mistle thrushes sing loudly from tree-tops and have been doing so since February. Their song is very loud but rather

limited and unvarying. Their cousin is the smaller song thrush which is much softer and warmer coloured and has a prettier song. However, the song thrush is still no match for the blackbird.

Its tune, delivered beautifully and loudly, often from the mid branches of a big tree or from a roof-top, is a single note repeated three times and then another slightly different also three times. The song Redwing thrush is also a great friend of the gardener as they love to feast on snails. They have developed the knack of cracking open the hard snail shells by bashing them on to rocks until the protective case is broken and then consuming the innards. The evidence of the song thrush feasting is the stone (known as an anvil) and the scattering of shell fragments. Examination will show which snail species the thrush has been eating. So as the redwings and fieldfares depart, the resident mistle thrushes, song thrushes and blackbirds join in the ever-louder chorus at the start and then the end of the day.

Soon the summer visitors will arrive and join the general hubbub.

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Professor Ian D. Rotherham of Sheffield Hallam University is a researcher, writer and broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues in the Peak District and elsewhere. He is contactable on info@hallamec.plus.com and you can follow his website and blog: www.ukeconet.org & https://ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/

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