COUNTYWIDE NEWS £5,000 of the money Jen raised will go to the Foundation’s Connect Fund, enabling it to make small community grants to underserved communities accessing the park. Roisin added: “We will be able to support groups including school pupils from low-income areas, refugees and ethnically diverse communities to access our stunning park. “The remaining £5,000 will go to repairing one of the Park’s most popular routes, Long Causeway on the edge of the
The Wam Bam Band in action.
Above: Hamza picks the winning ticket with Anna-Louise Pickering, Pollyanna’s daughter.
Strictly winner draws winning ticket WILDLIFE cameraman and TV personality Hamza Yassin joined Anna-Louise Pickering, president of the Pollyanna Pickering Foundation, to draw the winning ticket in the Foundation’s winter prize draw. Established in 2000 by the late Derbyshire wildlife artist Pollyanna Pickering, the Foundation is a nonprofit organisation which campaigns internationally to prevent the exploitation of wildlife and raises funds to support animal welfare and conservation projects worldwide. Hamza – the winner of Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 – is now known for his role as Ranger Hamza on the children’s TV channel CBeebies and his work on popular shows such as Countryfile and Animal Park. Hamza was born in Sudan and moved to Northampton at the age of eight after his parents – both doctors – were invited to work in the UK. At 21, he visited a friend in Ardnamurchan, a peninsula on the west coast of Scotland, in order to photograph stags. He loved it so much that he relocated there two weeks later. For the first nine months, he lived out of his car, showering at a local campsite and washing his clothes at a local community centre. He progressed to staying in empty holiday homes while he built his photography business and guided tours, and eventually bought his own home. Ever 22 Reflections February 2024
since, he has loved to share his passion for wildlife, and was happy to support the Foundation by selecting the winning ticket. Between the sales of prize draw tickets, donations and a percentage of sales from a recent exhibition of Pollyanna›s work, the Foundation has raised £5,000 to build a bat rehabilitation unit at the Harper Asprey Wildlife Hospital here in the UK. Mrs I. Clayton of Sutton in Ashfield is the lucky winner of a beautiful giclee picture. A full list of winners can be found on the website www.pollyannapickering.co.uk
‘Walk in the Parks’ funds two projects DERBYSHIRE travel writer and chair of charity, the Peak District National Park Foundation, Jen Lowthrop – who recently hiked across England’s 10 national parks and was featured in Reflections last month – has revealed the two projects which will receive a share of the £10,000 she raised in her ‘Walk in the Parks’. Jen (38), chose to raise money for the Peak District: “I feel so privileged to experience the joy of walking in a national park every week. I want everyone to be able to experience the benefits our national parks bring. From carbon sequestration to improving wellbeing, they bring benefits to communities across the UK, and our wider natural world.” Director of the Peak District Foundation, Roisin Joyce, said: “We are so proud of all Jen has achieved. Her trek really was a fantastic fundraising effort and together we shall ensure every penny makes a difference.”
Above: Long Causeway after the storm damage.
North Lees and Stanage Estate, which has suffered so badly in the recent storms. Further work on the path will help prevent a reoccurrence, with the ultimate aim of launching a Long Causeway ‘Miles without Stiles’ easy access route by summer 2024. Outdoor clothing brand Alpkit match funded Jen’s efforts with an additional £10,000 for two £500 grants per national park she visited.
Rotary club raises over £1,500 DERBYSHIRE Dales Rotary (DDR), the newest Rotary club in the area, had a really successful Christmas, raising over £1,500. Santa’s Sleigh in Wirksworth, a Christmas Fayre and Santa collections at St Elphin’s Audley Court allowed the club to support local causes. DDR is donating to Youlgreave Foodbank, Baslow Hall flood fund and Derbyshire Dales ‘Warm Spaces’. Sincere thanks from the club to everyone who gave so generously. Want to know more about DDR’s future plans? Contact Roz Adamson on 01629 733626 or email roflyn.adamson@sky.com To advertise call 01246 550488