Reflections Magazine May 2026

May 2026

Welcome

Ahhh, May … my favourite month of the year!

I love the bright, fresh green leaves appearing in trees and hedgerows, the lush carpets of bluebells and the heady scent of wild garlic on woodland walks.

I always plan to forage some wild garlic and incorporate it into summery dishes … but somehow never quite find the confidence to do it. Maybe this year … as our wild garlic pesto recipe from head chef John Shuttleworth at Fischer’s Baslow Hall looks particularly delicious and, most importantly, quite easy!

Also this month, we meet poet and storyteller Allison Pennington, whose memories of growing up in Derbyshire are captivating a global audience, thanks to a podcast.

Another inspiring story comes from Chesterfieldborn author Becky Orwin who, after achieving a major publishing deal, hopes to encourage the next generation of young readers and writers.

And we join Colin Clarke, a builder by day and yoga teacher by night on his mission to help other men to experience the benefits of this ancient practice.

With two Bank Holidays this month, we’re hoping our readers and advertisers have the chance to enjoy some quality time outdoors in spring sunshine. Perhaps with a chilled drink and a copy of Reflections … Enjoy!

REFLECTIONS MAGAZINE MAY 2026

Editor: Fiona Stubbs

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Published by: Bannister Publications Ltd. Tel. 01246 550 488 (3 lines). Bannister Publications Limited, Office 2A Market Hall, Market Pl, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. S40 1AR. Reflections

16 30 50 26 79

News 14, 20, 24, 48, 71, 76, 78

16 Whispers of the hills

Allison Pennington’s childhood memories of growing up in Derbyshire are captivating a global audience, as Nicola Doughty discovers

26 An unlikely yogi

Colin Clarke is a builder by day and yoga teacher by night. Rebecca Erskine learns how he is helping other men to experience the benefits of this ancient practice

30 Derbyshire’s reticent reptiles

An insight into our local lizards and slow worms with Peter Wigglesworth

36 From rejection to inspiration

Author Becky Orwin tells Michelle Gately how she hopes to inspire a new generation of creatives

42 A passion for maps Peak District fell runner Holly Clifford reveals how her love of maps and the outdoors led to her to create topographical jewellery and wall art

46 Reflections Rewind A journey through our archives to May 2013

50 May gardens

As gardens burst into life, we highlight some of the places to visit

60 Breathing life into history

Paige Emerick tells Nicola Doughty how she is helping heritage to be redefined

62 A different kind of goodbye

Independent funeral director Beccy Edgar is reimagining how we say farewell. Fiona Stubbs visits Grave Expectations

Cover: Linacre Woods, Chesterfield by Fiona Stubbs

64 Antiques

Our Antiques Expert Vivienne Milburn examines the history - and value - of cutlery

66 Food Review

The Maynard, Grindleford

70 Chef’s Signature Dish

Freshly foraged wild garlic makes a delicious pesto to pair with Pork Belly Agnolotti. John Shuttleworth, head chef at Fischer’s Baslow Hall, shares this special taste of spring

72 Photographic competition

Latest entries in our competition, Derbyshire Through The Seasons

79 Chesterfield Glow Up

Student Molly Holmes considers how town centre improvements could impact young people’s opinions of Chesterfield

Fire-damaged Derbyshire moorland subject of new documentary

Local businesses, residents and volunteers feature in a new documentary focusing on the impact of a 2025 wildfire in the Goyt Valley, near Buxton in Derbyshire.

The documentary, commissioned by Moors for the Future Partnership, showcases the voices of communities affected by the fire, which took place over 30th April and 1st May last year and burned over 1.7 square kilometres of moorland.

Footage shows the damage caused by the fire and conservation efforts to help the moor’s wildlife recover, carried out by local volunteers and businesses, among other organisations.

The peatland fire burned through moorland vegetation and trees near Errwood Reservoir and was at the height of the breeding season for rare birds and moorland wildlife, many of which were destroyed by flames.

Multiple regional fire services and other agencies were required to tackle the blaze, along with specialist firefighting equipment and a helicopter to drop water.

In the aftermath of the fire, local businesses including Forest Distillery and Moors for the Future Partnership volunteers rallied to help restore the burned area of moorland. Efforts mostly focussed on planting sphagnum moss, a key species in building healthy blanket bogs. Other works included blocking peat “gullies” (eroded channels) with stone and timber, to form mini dams which hold pools of water on the moor.

Emma Shaw, Communications Programme Manager for Moors for the Future Partnership, said: “The documentary is an expression of hope and appreciation for this well-loved area of moorland, where new life has returned after the fire. The Goyt Valley moors are home to specialist wildlife and provide people with amazing places to explore.”

Melanie Selstrom from Forest Distillery, said: “ The wildfire last year had a profound impact on us all: seeing the smoke and the extent of the damage so close to home at the Cat and Fiddle was truly shocking. Supporting the sphagnum moss planting project was our way of helping the moor begin to recover, with the hope of seeing it return to a rich and thriving habitat for wildlife.”

The film can be viewed, from 30th April on Moors for the Future Partnership’s YouTube channel.

Funding boost for libraries

Three Derbyshire libraries - in Alfreton, Ilkeston and Long Eaton - are to benefit from £440,000 of funding through Arts Council England.

It follows a successful bid to its Libraries Improvement Fund – which comes under the government’s Arts Everywhere Fund - by Derbyshire County Council’s libraries service.

The money will be used to make the three libraries more engaging for children and families, creating spaces for communities to use the libraries in more flexible and adaptable ways and generating increased income to ensure the

long-term sustainability of the service. Liz Johnson, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England said: “Libraries are more than buildings with books in; libraries are about people, ideas and opportunity. The Libraries Improvement Fund helps libraries to flourish as safe, trusted spaces for their communities.”

Chesterfield

Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust welcomes new Chair

Jackie Smith has been appointed as new Chair to Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

She brings a strong track record of leadership, governance and partnership working across health and public service, with years of experience chairing NHS organisations across acute, mental health, community and specialist services.

Most recently, Jackie served as Chair of Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and, prior to this, she held a joint Chair role at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Trust. Earlier in her career, she was Chief Executive of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Jackie lives locally and, outside of work, she is a keen runner and an active supporter of charities.

Above: Jackie Smith

Above: The Goyt Valley fire last year. Picture: Fiona Stubbs

Left: Volunteers planting sphagnum moss are filmed for the documentary. Picture: Fuzzy Duck

WHISPERS OF THE HILLS

Childhood memories of growing up in Derbyshire inspired Allison Pennington to begin writing and narrating her stories – and now they’re captivating a global audience, as Nicola Doughty discovers

WHEN Allison Pennington began writing about life in Derbyshire, she never imagined her words would travel beyond the very county that inspired them. Yet today, her poems and stories strike a chord with readers and podcast listeners across the UK and as far afield as the United States and Japan.

For Allison, the response to her stories has been surprising. Until relatively recently writing has simply been a hobby in the background of her busy life as a speech therapist. With a doctor for a father and a nurse for a mother, she says working within a caring profession was a natural path to follow and one where she’s thrived.

Writing, though, remained a constant presence in her life. While in her 20s, she travelled extensively and was never far from a notepad and pen. Every chapter of her travels through Australia, New Zealand and Asia were carefully captured.

It was only after the loss of her parents within a four-year period that writing became her solace and her poetry woven with cherished memories.

“I have always loved writing but after Mum’s funeral last year I turned to writing poetry to deal with the outpouring of emotions and memories,” Allison explains. “I wrote about my childhood spent exploring the hills and woods above Baslow, and I couldn’t stop writing.

“When I read one of my pieces at her funeral, I was surprised by the positive response to my reading and it encouraged me to begin sharing my writing with others.”

The landscapes of her home county are now very much the backdrop for much of her poetry and stories, which draw on her childhood memories and the rhythms of country life. Her stories of quiet village moments and changing seasons are widely relatable way beyond the county’s borders.

Above: Allison’s poems can be found on her podcast Reflections and Rhyme

Her poetry and stories evoke memories and a deep sense of place. Although born in Dublin, Allison grew up in Baslow and her childhood, school days and village life feature strongly in her writing, as does the Derbyshire countryside. Other stories have been inspired by the landscape surrounding Rowsley and Matlock, where she and her husband, Dave, brought up their family.

“My stories are often centred on Derbyshire, nature and the countryside and I love to explore the changes many people experience through life,” she adds. “I reflect on village life, school days, growing up and most things in between, including parts of life which we all face such as the joys of ageing and finding your way through difficult times.”

Some of her poetry is poignant, such as Saying Goodbye, but much of it is quirky and humorous.

She sometimes deliberately disrupts the natural flow of words to create unexpected moments of humour. Favourite pieces include The Village Hop, recalling dances in Edensor, Baslow and Bakewell and The Barking Chain, which reminds her of home.

Allison also enjoys writing for children and her book - The Very Odd Sock – makes for great bedtime reading. It’s inspired by the ever-growing pile of odd socks; a situation that many will recognise.

This family-friendly tale is about the odd sock who decides to find his lost other half. His adventures take him from the washing line to helping other odd socks find their long-lost matches with fun along the way.

It is a playful story, as is The Clutter Elves, which explores the mystery of household items that constantly go missing.

“I enjoyed writing The Very Odd Sock. It was fun and I’d love to write more books over time,” she adds.

In the meantime, she’s enjoying

Allison Pennington writing in her beloved Derbyshire countryside

developing her podcast with narrations of her poetry - https://reflectionsandrhyme. podbean.com/ . She launched it only last year and has been surprised by how much she enjoys narrating. Given her career as a speech therapist, it’s only natural that voice has played a significant part of her life.

She loves singing too – and has been lead singer in a number of rock bands over the years in Jersey, London, Matlock, Bakewell and Castleton. Some Derbyshire locals may perhaps recall hearing her in ‘The Allycats’ or ‘Flatpack’.

Over the last year, Allison has found that her rhymes and reflections on her podcast resonate with others and has been surprised to learn that listeners from across the world from the United States to Japan regularly dip into the podcast.

“It has been encouraging to learn that people download my podcast and listen in to hear my poems and I love sharing my work through narration as well as through the written word.”

Allison’s poems have also been recently introduced to the Richard Hildebrand show on local community radio station – Cunningham Place Radio in Bakewell – where listeners can hear her poems read on alternate Sundays.

Most of her work is penned while at home, sometimes at the kitchen table but more often than not from her office by the window overlooking the fields and woods behind her home.

“I don’t have a writing routine as such but I usually find time to write on Thursdays and Fridays. Sometimes inspiration takes hold and I’ll return home with some lines going around my head and I just have to write them down. Once I begin, I could be lost to the words for hours. Thoughts arrive and I go with the flow. It’s rare that I get writers’ block.”

When she’s not writing, running

is also an important part of Allison’s life. It helps her to stay grounded and on an even keel, whilst fuelling her creativity, she says. Her daily walks, often accompanied by her ‘bonkers’ black labrador Lily, also spark creative ideas.

“Where I live, it’s all about the hills. I love the hills, the solitude and the way the landscape changes with the seasons. The light and the birdsong constantly change throughout the year and often two or three lines of a poem can come to me while out walking or running.”

“I might see something, smell something or hear something that sparks the seed of an idea and I have to write it down straight away. I often carry a notebook and pen with me just in case.”

Inspiration also comes through reading.

Surrounded by books, she enjoys reading poets such as Wordsworth and Gerard Manley Hopkins equally as much as children’s classics including The Wind in the Willows and Winnie-the-Pooh.

With ideas aplenty, Allison’s creativity continues to unfold. New poems take shape and her podcast continues to grow. As the Derbyshire hills whisper their inspiration, Allison promises to keep listening with notebook in hand, ready to share what she finds.

• The Very Odd Sock is available on Amazon and Allison’s poetry can be heard on her podcast - https:// reflectionsandrhyme.podbean.com/as well as on local online radio station Cunningham Place Radio, available at cunninghamplace.net.

Walking in Derbyshire inspires the poetry of Allison

Allison with her book, The Very Odd Sock

YHA Chief Executive to move on from Derbyshire charity

JAMES BLAKE is to step down later this year as Chief Executive of Matlockbased YHA (England & Wales) – the Youth Hostels Association – to take up a new role as CEO of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

He will leave the leading national youth charity and social enterprise in the autumn, after leading YHA since 2017 and guiding it through a period of major change.

The charity’s 10-year strategy and subsequent refresh in 2025, saw the development of new partnerships across the public, private and voluntary sectors including leading the innovative Access Unlimited coalition which delivered the Generation Green programme and connected more than 140,000 young people with nature.

Additionally, he has strengthened grassroots access to the outdoors through initiatives such as the annual YHA Festival of Walking, its growing Outdoor Citizens community and No Child Left Behind campaign.

The YHA has a mission to break down barriers to nature, creating inclusive, low-cost opportunities for people of all backgrounds to access the outdoors.

James said: “It has been a huge privilege to lead YHA over the last nine years. I am incredibly proud of what YHA has achieved in what has been an exceptionally challenging period. Despite major external challenges, we have provided thousands of opportunities to young people who would otherwise have missed out on a life changing stay with us.

“YHA is a very special organisation,

with a dedicated staff team, loyal members, passionate volunteers and a clear social purpose. It will be a huge wrench to leave, but the opportunity to lead the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is too good to miss.

“I look forward to building on YHA’s strong relationships with National Parks in my new role.”

New career-driven degrees launched in Chesterfield

THE University of Derby has launched a range of career-focused degree programmes at its Chesterfield site to equip students with high-demand skills.

New courses - available from September - will support school leavers and working professionals to access

flexible, industry-relevant routes into employment and career progression.

The programmes are: BA (Hons) Business Management and Marketing, BSc (Hons) Sport Therapy and Rehabilitation, BSc (Hons) Sports Nutrition and Health, BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) with Foundation Year and BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health) with Foundation Year.

They mark an expansion in courses available at the St Helena site, which has previously been dedicated to nursing students.

Professor Keith McLay, Deputy ViceChancellor at the University of Derby, said: “We are excited to announce that we will be delivering more of our most popular undergraduate programmes at our St Helena site in Chesterfield, allowing us to better connect the local community to high-quality employment opportunities.”

He added: “As the only university in Derby and Derbyshire, we are committed to offering students across our entire region the opportunity to receive an industryintegrated learning experience where they can develop in-demand skills, to not only boost their career prospects, but help local businesses to thrive.”

Learn more at: www.derby.ac.uk/ life/our-campuses/chesterfield/

Rotary Bakewell Quiz Night

THE Rotary Club of Bakewell hosts one of its popular quiz nights at the Medway Centre, Bakewell on Friday 15th May (7pm).

The event - sponsored by Thornbridge Brewery and Aldi - will raise funds for the club’s small grants community scheme and its well-established bi-monthly repair café at the Methodist Church Hall.

Tickets are £12 and include a buffet. They are available from David Rawson (01629 812110) and the Medway Centre.

James Blake

Below: The University of Derby’s St Helena site in Chesterfield

GRAYSONS SUPPORTS ASHGATE HOSPICE’S

NEW INITIATIVE, THE TREE OF LIFE

SCORES of guests gathered at Ashgate Hospice on Sunday, 12 April for the official unveiling of the new ‘Tree of Life’ – a striking sculpture set designed to create a lasting place of remembrance where people can think about someone important to them.

Guests at the launch included Councillor Lee Hartshorne, Chair of North East Derbyshire District Council, and Councillor Barry Dyke, Mayor of Chesterfield, alongside hospice staff, supporters, volunteers and members of the local community.

The Tree of Life is designed

by Mark Reed Sculpture. It offers a “peaceful space for remembrance and reflection”, says Ashgate Hospice, which looks forward to welcoming people into the gardens in a warm and inclusive way.

The sculpture is fully funded through restricted government funding via Hospice UK. No patient care funds are being used, and every future donation will go towards care for local people. The 1,000 leaves will be engraved as a tribute to and in memory of someone special.

Chesterfield-based Graysons Solicitors is sponsoring the initiative in its inaugural year

as part of its long-standing partnership with the Ashgate Hospice, developed over many years through fundraising, event sponsorship and handson community involvement.

Having recently marked its 100th anniversary, Graysons has spent a century supporting families through many of life’s most important moments, helping to protect what matters and ensuring that legacies are preserved. It works closely with the hospice to provide practical legal support to patients and families through advice session including Free Wills initiatives that have raised thousands

of pounds for the charity.

Peter Clark, managing partner at Graysons, said: “The Tree of Life is a significant addition to the hospice, and it was clear on Sunday how much it means to the people who attended.

“We are particularly proud to support the Tree of Life in its inaugural year, which represents not only a new development for the hospice that will help raise awareness, but is a continuation of the partnership we have built together.”

To find out more, please visit: www.graysons.co.uk.

Unit 14F, The Glass Yard, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield. S41 8JY

Email: info@graysons.co.uk Tel: 01246 229393

Graysonslaw @Graysonslaw www.graysons.co.uk Contact the Team on 01246 229393

WHO GETS THE HOUSE WHEN A COUPLE DIVORCES/DISSOLVES A CIVIL PARTNERSHIP?

ONE of the most valuable matrimonial assets that couples have is a family home. It is therefore a common question as to who gets to keep the home when you separate.

The family home is almost always considered a matrimonial asset that is relevant when considering a financial settlement even if it is owned in one person’s sole name, has been solely contributed to by one party and even in circumstances where it was owned by one person prior to the marriage. It is important to know that the court sees financial contributions, such as paying the mortgage, as equal to contributions made by the spouse who cares for the children and the home.

There is unfortunately no simple answer as to what happens to the family home on separation as this is based on each family’s individual circumstances.

Although the starting point for division of any matrimonial assets is equal, this is not always the end point and the main aim will be trying to ensure that both of your housing needs, and the housing needs of any children under the age of 18, can be met moving forward.

This may involve one of you purchasing the other partner’s share, selling the home and splitting the proceeds or the person with primary care of the children staying in the home until an identified point in the future, usually on remarriage or the youngest child finishing education.

Ideally you and your former partner will reach an agreement as to what should happen to the home. You can do this between you or with the assistance of a solicitor or a mediator. If you cannot agree, then you can ask the court to

make a decision for you. The court will consider a wide range of factors, including but not limited to, earning capacity and income of each person, the financial resources available to you both and your financial needs and the financial needs of any children under the age of 18.

It is important that whether you reach an agreement between you or the court makes a decision for you, that this is included in a legally binding order and includes a clean break to dismiss any additional financial claims you have against each other.

Megan Wroe, head of Graysons’ family department, says:

“It can be frustrating for divorcing couples or those dissolving a civil partnership as unfortunately, there is no simple and clear-cut ‘standard

split’ of assets such as the family home. There isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ formula: it simply depends on the circumstances of the marriage or civil partnership, and not always on the legal ownership of the home or the mortgage payments.

“It is important if you are separating, that you seek early independent legal advice to make sure you understand the options available to you. Getting this advice early can prevent serious problems developing later on.”

Megan, a specialist family lawyer and member of Resolution, is supported by senior solicitor Angela Moores and newly qualified solicitor Isabella Franchini. They are here to help you understand your options fully and protect your long-term financial security.

Unit 14F, The Glass Yard, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield. S41 8JY Tel: 01246 229393

Email: family@graysons.co.uk

Graysonslaw @Graysonslaw www.graysons.co.uk Contact the Team on 01246 229393

Above: Left to right: Megan Wroe, Angela Moores and Isabelle Franchini

New Tree of Life unveiled at Ashgate Hospice

A striking new Tree of Life sculpture has been unveiled at Ashgate Hospice, offering a lasting way for people to remember someone special while supporting hospice care across North Derbyshire.

The sculpture was officially unveiled at a launch event - sponsored by Graysons Solicitors - held in the hospice gardens. The Duke of Devonshire, President of Ashgate Hospice, attended alongside the Duchess of Devonshire. Other guests included Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire Mr Nick Hodgson and the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield, Councillor Barry Dyke and Marie Dyke.

Each leaf carries the name of someone important, cut into the metal as a delicate stencil design.  By giving £10 per month, supporters can dedicate a leaf while helping to provide care for local people throughout the year.

Funded through government support via Hospice UK and designed by sculptor Mark Reed, the Tree of Life offers a peaceful space within the hospice gardens for reflection and remembrance.

Paul Hawkins, Individual Giving Manager of Ashgate Hospice, said: “The Tree of Life offers a tranquil place in the gardens where people can pause, sit among nature and remember someone special to them.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has supported Ashgate and

made this possible. Regular events will also be held throughout the year so that supporters can come together and see the leaves on display.”

Learn more at: https:// ashgatehospice.org.uk/tree-of-life/

Bank holiday Arts Trail

ART lovers can enjoy a Bank Holiday Arts Trail featuring 37 artists across six locations in Chesterfield, Darley Dale and Matlock.

Events will be held at Holymoorside Village Hall, Cotton Mill Hill and 1 Windyfields Road; Holmebrook Valley Park Pavilion; The Willows, Station Rd, Darley Dale and Ivy Cottage, Upper Lumsdale, Matlock from Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th May (10am to 4pm).

Entry is free and the trail offers art sales to suit all budgets. Sales of refreshments will support Ashgate Hospice. For more information, contact info@holymoorsidearts.co.uk

We can be heroesan afternoon of

music and meaning

DRONFIELD based performance group Ladies Voices takes to the stage in Sheffield for an afternoon of music in support of the charity Help for Heroes.

We Can Be Heroes is on Sunday 10th May (4pm) at the Montgomery Theatre, Sheffield.

Bringing together a dynamic ensemble of female vocal talent, We Can Be Heroes promises emotional ballads, uplifting anthems and powerful harmonies.

Help for Heroes is a UK charity dedicated to helping veterans and their families live well after service.

An event spokesperson said: “This concert is about more than music - it’s about celebrating courage, community and the power of coming together for something meaningful. We want audiences to leave feeling uplifted, inspired, and proud to have supported such an important cause. Many of our members have family who have served, so it means a lot to be supporting this charity with such a special event.”

Tickets are priced from £13. Learn more at: www.sheffieldtheatres. co.uk/events/ladies-voices

Below: Ladies Voices

Above: The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire with the Tree of Life. Picture: Nick Rhodes

FROM HARD HAT TO YOGA MAT: an unlikely yogi

By day, a builder. By night, a yoga teacher. Colin Clarke may not be the typical yogi but he is on a mission to help other men derive the same benefits from this ancient practice. Rebecca Erskine finds out more.

Colin Clarke.

Picture: Saltergate Yoga

COLIN CLARKE is proof, if any were needed, that yoga can appeal to anyone, in any circumstance, at any age.

“I was pretty much an accidental yogi” he explains. “My wife, Lauren, was advised by her physiotherapist to try yoga to help overcome a series of health issues. It was nearly twenty years ago when we found a nearby class in a gym hall. As Lauren can’t drive, I had two choices – sit and wait in the car or join the class! I chose the latter.”

A builder by trade, Colin was facing his own health issues – not uncommon in any job requiring repetitive work (in his case, contorting his body into cramped corners of buildings for prolonged periods). At the point he found yoga, aged 35, he was suffering from almost constant, crippling back pain and remembers being bent double over the shopping trolley during the weekly shop. “I wasn’t unfit – far from it!” he explains. “I’ve always been a keen skate and snowboarder, but my lack of flexibility had started to catch up with me.”

Despite being an oddity as the only male in class, the weekly yoga turned out to be transformative. Such was its impact on Colin’s movement and wellbeing that he resolved to become a teacher himself and encourage other men to take up the practice. “It often surprises people that, when you

trace yoga’s origins back to thousands of years ago in India, it was designed to help men, not women, to discover spiritual discipline and control over body and mind.”

Colin’s teacher training with the British

Wheel of Yoga (the national governing body for yoga in England and Wales) proved intense but Lauren, who also enrolled on the training, was there as moral support. The teaching covered the fundamentals of asana & pranayama (posture & breath), meditation, dynamic vinyasa (flow) sequences, static poses, breathing, mobilisation and relaxation techniques. With over 500 hours each of teaching practice, the husband-andwife team were awarded the BWYQ4 Level Diploma in Teaching Yoga for their efforts, with additional certificates in Advanced Yin Yoga, Sports Therapist, Somatics (understanding the body’s sensations), Menopause and Pregnancy.

The pair put their qualifications to good use by setting up Saltergate Yoga in 2015, in a 600-year-old barn on one of Chesterfield’s most well-known streets. Warm and inviting, it was home to their often-daily classes for some eleven years. When the opportunity arose to move to larger premises in Glumangate last year, they opted to replicate the same open-plan loft space, capitalising on Colin’s joinery skills to introduce a new mezzanine floor.

Practising yoga allows humans to truly connect with both body and mind, identifying whether the left or right side is the strongest, how each part of their

Tree pose teamwork

Picture: Rebecca Erskine

Above: Colin assists a forearm balance. Picture: Saltergate Yoga

body connects with the next, and truly understanding where tension might lie. Colin’s following of male devotees bring a varied kitbag of needs – runners with stiff joints, the medically retired, seized up with arthritis, those seeking to escape for an hour so from a busy home life, or battling anxiety. On the latter, he thinks men tend to internalise their worries and need a helping hand although yoga’s benefits apply equally to both sexes.

“If you’ve yet to try yoga, it’s reassuring to know there’s a pose for everyone. A runner, for example, may tackle the one-legged balances with ease but tight hamstrings might make forward bends harder. On the other hand, someone with a low level of fitness may prove to be flexible in their movements which can spur them

on to make improvements to their fitness elsewhere. It’s not a case of ‘being good’ at yoga. We are all imperfectly perfect and what one person finds easy, another will find difficult – sometimes even torturous! For me, it’s anything that requires bringing arms together like Eagle Pose (a standing, one-legged balancing pose designed to stretch the shoulders). We often talk about “sitting with discomfort”. Yoga should

Side lunges in the day job – perfect for smoothing concrete! Picture: Saltergate Yoga

Colin and friends in the boat pose at Birchen Edge. Picture: Saltergate Yoga

never be painful but often it’s those poses that people find the most uneasy and challenging that they need to do more of.” It is also a selfish activity. “Whether your neighbour’s leg is stretched out straighter or higher than yours or if they can do the perfect back bend and you can’t, should be of no interest to you! Yoga is about what you get out of it and where it takes you – not what the person on the mat next to you is doing. Although I guess attending a class means people put in more effort than if they were practising alone with no-one watching!”

Sessions typically start with ‘checking in’ with all parts of the body, beginning with ankle rotations and strengthening exercises for soles and arches. “Our feet do an incredible job of supporting our entire body weight and balance. Very often, the pain or discomfort we feel elsewhere in our bodies can be attributed to a problem in our feet.” Sessions end with the universally loved pose of Shavasana. This Corpse Pose offers all the benefits of a deeply relaxed meditative state, lowering heart rate and stress levels, and affording time to ‘simply be’. It is an important activity for a society that has forgotten patience.

“We all lead such busy lives and expect everything – food, reward, information – immediately. Even if it’s for only ten minutes each day, yoga presents a welcome opportunity to find peace. Once it becomes a natural extension of your self, it no longer requires conscious effort. It really does become a way of life – standing on one leg brushing your teeth, push-ups against the work top as you wait for the kettle to boil or, in my case, introducing yoga to the most random of environments – even if that is a building site!”

Below: Dolphin pose. Picture: Saltergate Yoga

Common lizards and slow worms may be shy and often overlooked, but Derbyshire’s moors, dry stone walls and gardens provide perfect homes for these remarkable reptiles. PeterWigglesworthexplains how, with patience and a careful eye, encounters with these creatures can be one of the quiet delights of exploring the county

I’ve always had a great interest in amphibians and reptiles and seeing a lizard or a gecko, when abroad, has always been a thrill.

We are fortunate that Derbyshire is home to adders and grass snakes, but it also has a good population of common lizards and slow worms.

Common lizards can be found all across the moors and close to some of our towns. They favour a spot where they can catch the sun’s rays, such as an east or south facing dry stone wall, depending on the time of day.

The wall needs to have plenty of holes, where they can hide and a bit of vegetation cover, such as heather or long grass, so that they are not too exposed to predators - although I have seen plenty of lizards on bare walls, too.

Beeley Moor is a good spot to look for lizards, if you look along the dry stone walls by footpaths or for basking spots in the heather alongside paths and tracks.

My local town of Matlock is also a good spot. I have seen plenty of lizards, nearly all on dry stone walls, sunbathing. They are quick to move if they feel threatened, so a stealthy approach is best, especially if you want to take a photo.

Common lizards (Zootoca vivipara) can live for five to six years and, if threatened, they can shed their tail to distract a predator while they escape. The lizard will regrow its tail, but it is usually shorter than the original one.

Common lizards eat insects and form part of the diet of snakes and birds.

They hibernate in winter, emerging in spring to mate in April/May. They give birth to live young, with between three and 11 baby lizards being born in the summer.

The adults range in size from 10 to 15 cms and are protected in the UK. They can be various colours, and I have seen brown, green and black ones but the most common colour is a sandy

brown or grey brown.They are beautiful creatures, especially if you look closely at their scale pattern and their eyes, which are black and yellow.

Slow worms (Anguis fragilis) look a bit like snakes but they are actually legless lizards and are totally harmless.

They can be seen from March to October, are between 40 and 50 cms in length and are a protected species that can live up to 20 years, if the habitat is favourable and there are few predators.

Like lizards, they also have the ability to shed their tails if threatened and they give birth to live young, up to eight, in the summer.

They are a golden grey in colour, with the males being smaller and sometimes having

“We are fortunate that Derbyshire is home to adders and grass snakes, but it also has a good population of common lizards and slow worms.”

grey spots. Females are larger, with dark sides and a dark stripe down their back.

In Derbyshire, I have only seen slow worms near Matlock, sometimes sunbathing low down on a south or east facing dry stone wall but they are also fond of mature gardens with well-established rubbish heaps, where they can find plenty of insect life to eat and somewhere to hibernate in winter. They also like to hide under an old door or a piece of corrugated tin. If you are fortunate to come across a slow worm, give it plenty of space, without causing it be frightened and never attempt to pick one up. Enjoy seeing it, take a photo and leave it alone. They are beautiful creatures and seeing one is an uplifting experience.

Left: A slow worm Right: A group of common lizards

Above: A common lizard basking in the sun Above: A slow worm in the grass

LET THE LIGHT FLOOD IN!

A high-quality roof lantern will flood your space with natural light, but what kind should you go for?

HeatGuard, always pushing the boundaries of innovation, has the answer!

THE HeatGuard Skypod lantern roof, manufactured by the UK’s leading PVC-U specialist, can transform the aesthetic appeal of any home, conservatory, or extension and welcome abundant natural light all year round. Lantern roofs, also known as roof lanterns or skylights, are architectural features installed atop roofs to enhance natural light and ventilation within a space. Typically consisting of a framework supporting multiple glass panels or panes, lantern roofs are designed to maximise the entry of sunlight into interior areas, creating a bright and airy atmosphere.

ROOF LANTERNS serve as captivating architectural focal points that enhance the visual appeal of any space. Their elevated design and striking silhouette add a touch of elegance and sophistication to both interior and exterior areas.

Beyond their aesthetic appeal, lantern roofs also offer practical benefits such as thermal insulation, ventilation, and customisable options to suit individual preferences and design requirements.

Advantages of Skypod roof lanterns

• Abundant natural light

• Improved ventilation

• Manufactured by the UK’s leading PVC-U specialist

• Exceptional thermal performance

• Minimisation of heat loss in colder months and reduction of heat gain in summer

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With a commitment to superior craftsmanship, durability, and customer satisfaction, HeatGuard Windows can transform your living space into a sanctuary of light and elegance.

TURNING REJECTION INTO INSPIRATION

Years of persistence landed Becky Orwin an astonishing deal for her debut children’s novel. Now, as Michelle Gately learns, Becky hopes that sharing the highs and lows of writing life will inspire a whole new generation of creatives

Becky Orwin spent more than a decade writing novels and pitching them to publishers. Each time she was met with a flurry of rejections.

“At the heart of it I always believed that I would get there,” Becky says. “Whether that was straight up delusion is a bit of a question mark.”

Looking back on the journey, the Chesterfield-raised writer admits she was ready to say yes to just about anything to get her book on shelves.

But Becky’s eventual publishing deal with Puffin, part of Penguin Random House Children’s UK, was a dream come true in more ways than one.

The six-figure advance she was offered for two children’s books sits well above the £2000 and £10,000 norm for first-time authors in the UK.

“It was absolutely crackers,” says Becky, whose debut children’s novel hit shelves in January. “It took a long, long time to really sink in.

Becky with her books in Waterstones Chesterfield

Above: Becky has loved books since she was a little girl

Right: Becky talks to pupils from Holme Hall Primary School about her book during a World Book Day event

“It’s the exception to the rule and I was very aware of that, because I’ve been in this world of submitting and being rejected for such a long time.”

The Monsters at the End of the World imagines a future where the land is poisoned and the ocean is filled with terrifying, violent monsters.

The story follows 12-year-old Sunny, who begins to question everything she’s been taught about the sea creatures after a chance encounter with baby monster, Mo.

Sunny and Mo communicate through touch, which activates “a sort of psychic connection”.

“Part of the idea behind that was that you have to be literally open-minded to be able to communicate at all,” Becky explains.

This relationship between the pair counters the post-apocalyptic themes –although Becky never worried about the story being too dark for young readers.

“I think what’s great about books as opposed to films is that children are limited by their own understanding,” she explains. “They can only (imagine something) as dark as they know already exists in the world.”

There’s another crucial ingredient that Becky weaves into all her stories: hope.

“We get so much more cynical as we get older,” Becky says. “I think that hope is something that is really tied into childhood and kids are naturally hopeful in a way that adults aren’t. So I don’t think it’s hard to tell them this story where hope is the foundation that you build from.”

School visits around the region have

become part of Becky’s working life since publication – including a World Book Day event with students from her Chesterfield primary school, Holme Hall.

“I knew that I would enjoy it once I got into it, but I was terrified going into my first school visit,” she says. “I’ve been writing children’s books this whole time … you’re editing it, you’re pitching it and at no point was this book in the hands of a child.

“The actual presentation makes me nervous, but afterwards when I’m talking to the kids and signing books is so lovely.”

Becky’s school events come at a time when reading for enjoyment amongst children is at its lowest in two decades.

Research from the National Literary Trust found just one in three children aged eight to 18 said they enjoyed reading “very much” or “quite a lot” in

2025 – a 36% drop from 2005 figures.

The Trust has partnered with the Department of Education to launch the National Year of Reading in 2026 – a campaign designed to encourage all ages to bring books into their everyday life.

Becky’s school events are all about inspiring creativity in a bid to encourage the next generation of readers and writers.

“One of the things I’ve really loved about doing school visits is these kids get to see you as a real person, you’re not just a name on a book,” she says. “Not all schools are able to bring in authors, which I think is something that needs addressing.

“It’s great for the kids to see that being an author is a real job … and also how much perseverance it takes.

“It’s really good for me as well – it’s really nice to actually see real kids

at Waterstones in Chesterfield

and see them with a book and see how they’re responding to it.”

Perseverance is at the heart of Becky’s publication journey. “I started writing a novel when I was 13 or 14 and I just thought I’d keep going until I got bored,” she says. “I just didn’t bored. I just really enjoyed it and then by the time I finished, I knew I could do it.”

By 15, Becky had a novel manuscript under her belt and big dreams for getting published.

“I sent it off everywhere thinking, ‘I’m going to be a famous, fabulous author, this is it’ and it just got rejected everywhere,” Becky says. “I wrote another book, sent that off, got rejected everywhere. That became the pattern all the way through my 20s.”

During this time Becky moved from Chesterfield to Newcastle for university, where she would live for nearly a decade and meet her husband.

“I enjoyed writing the books, but then when I sent them off I’d always think ‘this is just so demoralising’,” she says. “Often what pushed me onwards is that while I was submitting one book, I would start writing the next one.”

Around 2020, Becky was signed by her agent after working with Writer’s Block North East.

This was a writing milestone, but an

agent doesn’t guarantee a publisher – the difference this time was Becky wasn’t going through the process alone. “It made such a difference having the vote of confidence,” she says. “I think each book I wrote was better than the previous one. I mean, the first one I wrote when I was 15, I look back on it with love. But I think if I actually sat down and read it I would be cringing myself inside out.”

It wasn’t until the autumn of 2023 that Becky sent her agent the draft of Monsters – and the reaction was the opposite of everything she’d experienced before.

Publishers were immediately interested and then came the sixfigure deal, but still the path to finished book wouldn’t be smooth.

When Becky found out she was pregnant with her first child, publication was pushed back by a year.

“Initially I was gutted about the delay,” she says. “But everyone said to me this was absolutely the right thing.

“I was incredibly lucky to get the book deal and I was so lucky to have a baby, but I have to say I wouldn’t recommend doing both at the same time. These lifelong dreams of mine could have just paced themselves a bit better.”

Becky, who now lives in Sheffield, is working on a sequel to Monsters, due to be published early next year.

Above & left: Becky signs a book to her old school, Holme Hall Primary

Prize Crossword

DOWN

7 Called off an arrangement (4)

8 Buxton neighbour discovered to be all hip in the Ruhr! (6,4)

9 Falsifying, but not as if in the air (6)

10 Wood warbler not wed, perhaps in a stone circle (5,3)

11 It’s still made out of polyethylene (3)

12 Haley, a shy type just south of Wirksworth (9)

16 Fear nothing in merit (4)

17 Object to being a chant with a lisp! (5)

18 How the wool was turned round? (4)

19 Nick, planning to get on in north-east town (9)

21 Lead can be a bit of a swine round here (3)

22 Bird taken to candle centre in Amber valley place (8)

26 Crowd actors with bits added on? (6)

27 Comets rose, only to disintegrate above this border village (10)

28 Free delivery of clarinet part (4)

1 Already led out of this valley (6,4)

2 Inn to go and get sorted in Dove village (8)

3 Space to care about inside (4)

4 Bubble cannot be broken by the light source (4)

5 Erratic archduchy having a day off in worship place (6)

6 Singer who’s not got it entirely altogether (4)

8 Hangs on to a compound in SW Carsington village (9)

13 Lift that is hot on the outside (5)

14 Technologists drunk on gin, but serene with it! (9)

15 Village where a guy is crazy about a lover (9)

18 Step the rest of the way to Edensor church (2,6)

20 Is this Scout more generous on paper? (6)

23Pull this fleece to deceive? (4)

24 Limit chances of having an urge (4)

25 Bird’s a mark of quality (4)

Pitcherwits

1 Using your keyring as a deflecting excuse? (7,3)

1 Reluctantly pay florist in fine baking stuff (4,6)

9 One of George Eliot’s who made a bed so sloppily! (4,

11 Red silos (now dismantled) by army folk (8)

17 Lindisfarne, to hold in a sly way, the answer? (4,6)

2 Dubs art as being something of a game old bird? (7)

5 Aced the Oscars? It could be how you get there! (6,4)

10 Shy, but with lots of thumps? (7)

Turn over the soil to find a farm store (4)

Old drifter, say, at the curve (3)

Leave out the indomitable bit! (4)

Whiskers that can be split by the pedant (4)

Manage the series (3)

Bread for a trainee slob (4) DOWN

3 Force the weaver into despondency (5)

4 Somehow leaflike, to lie out in a bit of snow (5)

12 Oh the ‘language’ at a failed log-in! (5)

13 In layman’s terms, it starts as a wooden insert (5)

We will give a prize of £25 to a randomly-drawn correctly completed crossword. Cut out the completed puzzle and send by May 15th, 2026, to: Bannister Publications Limited, Office 2A Market Hall, Market Hall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1AR. The solutions for the April 2026 crossword can be found on page 82 of this issue.

Crossword by Prof Rebus

Pitcherwits

The solutions for the April 2026 Pitcherwits are shown left. The answers to May 2026 Pitcherwits are shown on page 82 of this magazine.

For free puzzles and book

Reflections readers quote: REFLRFIVE for a £5 discount.

Inspired by the Peak District …

Silversmith Holly Clifford creates jewellery and wall art based on the map contours of Derbyshire locations

Apassion for maps and Derbyshire fell-running inspires silversmith Holly Clifford’s topographical jewellery and wall art.

Holly’s Contour Map Collection harnesses the narrative power of maps and celebrates the human relationship to the land.

A member of the Peak District Artisans and for three years a member of the Dark Peak Fell Runners, she works with clients to transform their favourite landscapes from the Peak District, and further afield, into complex precious metal pieces.

Now her work will be showcased at Goldsmiths North, when the prestigious annual shopping fair - featuring the UK’s finest makers of contemporary jewellery and precious metalware – returns to Sheffield’s Cutlers’ Hall, from 5th to 7th June.

Independent makers from across the UK will be displaying their work over three days. Holly will be among 55 exhibitors selected from hundreds of applicants by a specialist panel looking for excellence in quality, originality and diversity.

Goldsmiths North was launched in 2019 by leading Sheffield silversmiths Brett Payne and Rebecca Joselyn, to continue the city’s historic profile for silversmithing and support the makers keeping centuries-old skills alive.

Holly’s bespoke rings, pendants, brooches, cufflinks and large-scale brass wall

maps feature contour lines, rivers and trails, all hand-worked in metals such as gold or silver and take two to five months to create.

Clients often request their initials, memorable coordinates and dates to be worked into the piece, and have specific locations highlighted with gemstones and gold.

To date, these location markers have ranged from the hill a father and daughter first climbed together to the exact spot of a marriage proposal and an area where a family member’s ashes were scattered. Often, the markers are made from a piece of jewellery sentimental to the client.

Says Holly, whose workshop is based at Yorkshire Artspace in Sheffield’s Persistence Works: “I fell in love with maps a long time ago. They hold memories and tell the tales of our adventures. They mark out not only the lie of the land and its geological history, but our connection to it.”

Holly moved to Sheffield in 2018, two

years after graduating from Birmingham School of Jewellery. She had gained a prized place on the Yorkshire Artspace business startup programme, then called The Silversmithing Start Studio.

She had first explored transforming map details into art and design while a student, but the pandemic lockdown in 2020 gave her the opportunity to expand her idea.

She explains: “For me, maps are a combination of beauty and functionality. I love how abstract they are when you remove all the information. You are left with flowing lines; a beautiful pattern. If you know what they represent, you can also connect with them on another level.”

Derbyshire features in many of her pieces but more distant locations are requested. She recently created a wall piece featuring the co-ordinates of Les Trois Vallees in the French Alps and engraved a wedding ring for a couple who were marrying in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

The latest challenge is wall art featuring a map of New Zealand for a UK couple who honeymooned there.

Goldsmiths North is supported by The Goldsmiths’ Company, The Goldsmiths’ Foundation, Sheffield Assay Office and Birmingham silver materials supplier Argex. Learn more at https:// goldsmithsnorth.com/ticket/

Holly running on Bamford Edge.

Picture Alec Brown

A pendant inspired by Stanage and Bamford Edges

Above: Holly with a piece of her contour map wall art. Picture: Mark Howe

Above: Goldsmiths North founders Brett Payne and Rebecca Joselyn

Holly works on a design at Bamford Edge.

Picture Alec Brown

THE ONLY WAY IS HUP! with TV’s Laura

Jane Clark

“hup! is an absolute game changer,” says TV architect and designer Laura Jane Clark from BBC’s ‘Your Home Made Perfect’

PEOPLE often ask how me they can add an extension or rebuild their unusable conservatory in the most efficient way possible,” says Laura Jane Clark. “hup! is definitely the answer. Base work is usually the biggest headache for homeowners, so having something where you can use the existing base, and don’t need to start digging down, is a great advantage. You can just get on with this incredibly quick building method - it’s an absolute game changer.”

Laura Jane Clark is a leading architect and interior designer as well as a much-respected TV presenter. “The revolutionary hup! home extension system is so flexible,” says Laura, “it gives homeowners access to a premium, bespoke design, which can be built very quickly compared to traditional building methods with control and reassurance over the final cost.”

During her first visit to the BBA approved hup! factory, Laura saw first hand how Building Regulation compliant materials combine using zero waste manufacturing processes to make the patented Ultrapanels that are used in the production of hup! “The quality of hup! is unparalleled,” says Laura.

“I’ve been totally blown away by the engineering behind the whole thing.

“The quality and level of detail is extremely impressive – from the engineering of the panels which make it extremely quick to build

Scan

and energy efficient, through to how easy it is to add the finishing touches, which offer homeowners complete design flexibility. There is nothing that hasn’t been considered, and it takes away so many of the headaches associated with a traditional extension.”

From a Waste of Space to Your Dream Place!

hup! is THE way to build while being kind to the planet, making perfect sense as a one-stopshop for a sustainable build.

The innovative hup! system:

• Is FIVE times quicker to build than traditional building techniques, built in just days, rather than weeks or months

• Is FIVE times more energy efficient, making it a warm and comfortable place to be while keeping energy bills low

• So lightweight that those converting their conservatory to a hup! extension can reuse their existing base, saving further time and costs

• Uses only one supplier for the whole project

• Doesn’t require cement, meaning it can be built in any weather due to its rapid connection technology

• Generates much less waste on site compared to usual building methods

• Offers ultimate design flexibility, including roofs, rooflights, wall finishes, and windows/doors anywhere

• Can be combined with any external finish, including brick mesh, render or cedar to complement the property, plus windows and doors of any style and size can be placed anywhere in the design

• Promises a high-quality finish every time

• Offers exceptional value for money.

to see videos of Laura Jane Clarke investigating hup!

Reflections Rewind

Welcome to May … when the countryside literally bursts into life!

THIS month, we head back to May 2013, with our cover story featuring John Hill, a shepherd on the Haddon Estate at busy lambing time. Rob Bannister spent a night at Haddon, witnessing a dramatic birth as John helped a ewe in distress to safely deliver her lamb.

He also shared an insight into the 24-hour monitoring of sheep over the 3,500 acres of parkland during lambing season - and the tender care given to lambs born weak or rejected by their mothers.

From farming, we turned to fashion with a feature on Chesterfield’s Zebra Menswear, whose summer 2013 stock

reflected the influences of London Fashion Week.

Zebra is also in the news in May 2026 as it prepares to close its doors at the end of the month, with owner Stuart Smith retiring after 40 years of designer style on Holywell Street.

In the Peak District, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Rowsley to Buxton railway line. Controversial at the time, it involved blasting through some of the country’s most unforgiving terrain – with a series of tunnels and viaducts needed to complete the stretch of line.

Poet and conservationist John Ruskin famously condemned the route,

part of which now forms the popular Monsal Trail. Meanwhile, James Butler and Alistair Hood captured some of

Derbyshire’s most impressive birds on camera, with James sharing his knowledge of migrating birds and the magic of the dawn chorus.

The Great Chesterfield Make Off

CHESTERFIELD creatives (including Clare Gage, Chris Sheldon and Sophie Gresswell, left) joined forces in a one-day live art show, making original work in front of visitors – with some joining in too!

The Great Chesterfield Make Off – part of the Derbyshire Makes programme of cultural events – featured 40 creatives in New Square and other town centre locations. Those taking part included painters, potters, writers, actors, textile artists and designers.

Summer Solstice live music festival

CHESTERFIELD will be filled with music on the Summer Solstice - Saturday 20th June – as the Crooked Spire hosts its third Singing and Music Festival.

The free event will involve local choral societies, theatre troupes and other singing groups from schools and colleges, showcasing a wide range of music. Between performances, music will be provided by buskers, performers, instrumentalists, bands and other variety acts.

Peter Shepherd, Choir Director at Chesterfield Parish Church said: “I am looking forward to hosting this event more than ever this year, as it has grown into something that the musical community of Chesterfield looks forward to. Harnessing the great musical energy of the people of this town and further afield is one of the great ways for the church to perform its mission.”

Food and drinks will be served all day in the churchyard and there will be familyfriendly activities such as lawn games, a Photo Booth and a tombola. There will be limited seating outside the Church, but space for an audience of around 400 standing

or sitting on the grass. The festival starts at 10am and ends with singers joining together in a 9.30pm sunset performance.

Tideswell Food Festival

TIDESWELL hosts it annual Food Festival on Saturday May 2nd (10am-4pm).

Streets in the historic village will be lined with local food and art and there will be live music and street entertainment throughout the day. Entry and parking are free, with donations going to the local Scouts.

Tideswell’s church - known as the Cathedral of the Peak – will host an artisan makers’ market, featuring the work of local artists and craftspeople, from jewellery and ceramics to knitwear and paintings.

The food festival began in 2011 as a celebration of the range and quality of local food in the Peak District. Its organising team is working to reduce the event’s carbon footprint – requesting traders to use recyclable and compostable containers and keep waste to a minimum.

Learn more at: https:// tideswellfoodfestival.co.uk or https://www. facebook.com/TideswellFoodFestival/ Church bells

mark 75th anniversary of the Peak District National Park

HATHERSAGE bellringers joined churches across the Peak District to celebrate the National Park’s 75th anniversary on 17th April.

The occasion saw 151 bells ringing at 26 churches in Peak District areas of Derbyshire and Staffordshire throughout the day, from 9.30am to 9pm.

Bell ringers in Hathersage

Clare Gage demonstrates lace making

Guitar maker Chris Sheldon

Artist and poet Sophie Gresswell

Marvellous May

May is the month when gardens truly come alive.

Tracy Reid reveals some of the season’s most beautiful blooms and where to find them

MAY is such a beautiful month in the garden.

Early perennials are coming into flower with alliums, primula and irises providing a blaze of colour.

It’s also the month of the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. Do look out for the show garden designed by Arit Anderson for Parkinson’s UK, sponsored by Project Giving Bank.

When designing the garden, Arit worked with gardeners who live with Parkinson’s disease and who open their own gardens for the National Garden Scheme (NGS).

And, of course, Parkinson’s UK is a beneficiary charity of the scheme. In 2025 this support funded two specialist nurses and a speech therapist, supporting over 1000 patients.

For some show stopping gardens closer to home look out for 2 Haddon View, Stanton in the Peak, which will be open on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May. This hillside cottage garden has a fabulous display of azalea and rhododendrons looking their best this Month. Entry is £4, children go free and dogs are welcome.

On Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th May, Moorfields at Temple Normanton makes a welcome return after a break last year. You’ll find beautiful borders, a large pond, a lovely display of primulas and a fruit and veg patch. Entry is £4, children free.

Don’t forget you can explore all the gardens open this month on the website at ngs.org.uk

North Derbyshire Cottage Garden Society hosts its annual Plant Sale on Saturday 16th May from 11am at Arkwright’s Mill Yard, Cromford.

Edensor open gardens and village fete

EDENSOR VILLAGE, ON THE CHATSWORTH ESTATE, HOSTS ITS ANNUAL OPEN GARDENS AND VILLAGE FETE ON SATURDAY 20TH JUNE (11AM TO 4PM).

Many gardens will be open and Lord and Lady Burlington will officially open the event at noon. This year’s ‘Focus Garden’ will be the village’s newly renovated Park Top

house. The event will also include stalls, including bric-a-brac, second-hand books and cakes; a competition treasure hunt for children and vintage and classic cars. Entertainment includes Powder Keg Morris Dancers, Thoresby Colliery Silver Band, Jig For A Kiss (folk group), Matthew Cook Traditional Barrel Organ and the Pilsley School choir as well as a wood bodgers and turners demonstration and children’s bouncy castle.

Cream teas will be served in St Peter’s Church and there will be a beer tent serving local ales, a Pimm’s bar and food stands.

Admission is £5 for adults and free for accompanied children aged 12 and under. Parking is in designated areas outside the village perimeter. Proceeds will go to Diabetes UK, Blythe House Hospice, Cancer Research and St. Peter’s Churchyard Maintenance Fund.

Haddon View

Moorfields

Look out for colourful azaleas this month. Picture: Fiona Stubbs

HOLYWELL CARPETS

Spring Has Arrived - Longer Days, Brighter Homes, Better Living!

AS spring settles in and the days begin to stretch longer into the evening, many of us naturally feel inspired to refresh our homes and surroundings. With balmier weather on the horizon, lighter mornings and brighter afternoons ahead, it is the perfect season to open the windows, welcome in fresh air, and create interiors that feel uplifting, warm and full of renewed energy.

One of the most effective ways to transform a home is by updating its flooring. A new carpet or LVT doesn’t simply change how a room looks - it reshapes how it feels, bringing comfort, warmth and a fresh sense of style to every step. As the outside world bursts back into life, your interiors can do the very same.

Flooring lies at the heart of every room, influencing mood, flow and the overall harmony of your living space. A fresh floor can instantly modernise a tired room, add character to a hallway, or create a cohesive and stylish feel throughout your home. Whether you are brightening one room or planning a complete home refresh, the right flooring makes all the difference.

Spring offers the ideal opportunity to breathe new life into familiar spaces. With warmer days approaching and summer just around the corner, now is the time to make changes that you will enjoy for months and years to come. Whether you are modernising one room or reimagining your entire home, Holywell Carpets provides the expertise, quality and service to help you transform your interiors with confidence and ease.

Integrity: The Key to Lasting Success

For decades, Chesterfield-based Holywell Carpets has built its reputation on honesty, trust and a steadfast commitment to exceeding customer expectations.   Like many long-established family

businesses, Holywell Carpets has stood the test of time by delivering exceptional customer service, unwavering reliability and a genuine dedication to doing things the right way.

Long-standing and loyal employee Martin Howroyd now leads the business, having worked there for 39 years. A trained fitter with 25 years “on the tools”, Martin knows the flooring trade inside out - experience that offers customers real reassurance and confidence.

Traditional Values That Matter

Martin takes great pride in the traditional values that underpin Holywell Carpets’ continued success.

“If I wouldn’t have a particular carpet in my own home, I won’t put it in yours,” he says. “Our business is built on a strong moral code, and honesty sits right at the heart of everything we do.”   Better Prices Through ACG Membership Holywell Carpets is proud to be part of the Associated Carpet Group (ACG), a national buying group of more than 320

independent retailers. This collective strength allows Holywell Carpets to secure excellent trading terms with leading manufacturers and suppliers - savings that are passed directly on to customers through competitive pricing and outstanding value.

Derbyshire Trusted Trader

As a Derbyshire Trusted Trader, Holywell Carpets adheres to strict standards of fairness, reliability and quality. Customers can feel confident knowing they are dealing with a vetted, reputable and thoroughly trustworthy local business.

What Customers Say

Derbyshire Trusted Trader Review

“Very efficient from purchase to fitting. Very courteous and they did everything they said they would. I highly recommend them and will not look anywhere else when I replace the next carpet. Excellent carpets.”

Selected Customer Reviews

Claudia Paige

“Amazing - from when we first went in the shop to finishing our stairs. Great customer service, great communication, and the best variety of carpets I’ve seen in a carpet shop. If you’re looking for something unique, this is the place. We looked for months and this was the only shop with exactly what we wanted. Highly recommend.”

Tracey Morris

“Fantastic customer service, great choice of carpet and perfect fitting. I’d never go anywhere else!”

Jason Thomas

“First-class service. Very polite and helpful staff. My bedroom carpet looks amazing. Will recommend - 10/10.”

Rae Helm Perkins

Thrilled (again) with the flooring received and fitted by Holywell. A couple of years ago we had carpet fitted in three bedrooms, the landing and a whipped runner fitted to the stairs. Last month we had vinyl fitted in the kitchen and office. The service from everyone we dealt with was fantastic,

the quality is superb and the price was unbeatable compared with several other quotes. I’d highly recommend Martin and the Holywell team time and again - and already have on many occasions.

A Company Defined by Honesty, Reliability and Care

If you are looking for an honest, courteous and dependable service - delivered by people who take genuine pride in their work - look no further than Holywell Carpets. This spring, step into a home that feels brighter, fresher and ready for the warmer months ahead.

PEAK PERFORMANCE

are delighted to be returning to the splendid surroundings of Hassop Hall to present what promises to be a memorable summer concert. Under the direction of Musical Director Nick Stacey, a specially selected programme has been chosen to suit all tastes, blending much-loved classics with popular favourites. The talented group of 40 singers will perform songs from some of the world’s best-loved musicals, including West Side Story,

Chess, Wicked, Fiddler on the Roof and the record-breaking Les Misérables, alongside many other popular musical numbers. The concert takes place in the beautiful ballroom at Hassop Hall on Thursday 25th June at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12. To reserve seats, please contact Mike Spriggs on 07484 169003 or email mikespriggs7a@ gmail.com.

A wonderful evening of entertainment is assured.

WITH gold prices reaching record highs in recent years, many jewellery and watch owners are unaware that their existing insurance valuations may now be significantly out of date.

Updating your jewellery and watch valuation ensures that, should the unexpected happen, your treasured pieces are fully protected and correctly insured— offering genuine peace of mind. At John Stevenson Jewellers, we provide a professional same-day

jewellery valuation service, making it quick and convenient to review your cover while market values remain strong. If it’s been a few years since your last valuation, now is the ideal time to update it and ensure your jewellery is protected for what it’s truly worth.

Members of the National Association of Jewellers, John Stevenson Jewellers 2a Glumangate Chesterfield S40 1TP  01246 270706

johnstevensonjewellers.com

Encounters - part of the How Did We Get Here? exhibition at National Trust Kedleston Hall Derbyshire.

Breathing life INTO HISTORY

WHEN it comes to impressive workspaces, there are few that can rival those enjoyed by Paige Emerick. As a Project Manager for the National Trust, she spends her days in some of the nation’s most beautiful historic buildings.

Right now, she is working on two big projects that take her from the imposing 18th century mansion of Kedleston Hall in the heart of Derbyshire to the medieval Powis Castle in Wales. Her work is anything but ordinary as she helps the teams at both sites bring to life the remarkable stories hidden within their treasured collections.

For as long as she can remember, history has been a large part of her life and so it might seem that this has been a natural career choice for her.

“History was always my favourite subject at school,” she says, recalling childhood picnics with her grandparents at historic houses and time spent watching history documentaries together.

Historic houses, untold stories and a passion for the past, Chesterfield-based Paige Emerick is redefining how heritage is experienced today, as Nicola Doughty discovers

“Actually though, I always planned to be a teacher,” she admits. “When I went to university, I did a degree in history and it was only later that I decided to pursue a career in the heritage sector.”

After her degree instead of stepping back into the classroom, she found herself drawn down a different path. She went on to complete a Master’s degree before doing her PhD, which focused on the royal visits of George III and George IV.

“I discovered a love for research and delving into archives and uncovering stories and I fell into this career in quite a gentle way.”

It was while studying for her PhD, Paige came to volunteer at the National Trust’s Sudbury Hall and it proved to be a pivotal move. When a role came up at the 17th century country manor house shortly after the Covid pandemic, she jumped at the chance to work there. She became Project Coordinator on the Children’s Country House project and the hall was later renamed to reflect its focus on the experience of childhood and heritage.

“It was an exciting moment to be involved,” she says. “It was new, it was groundbreaking and we were asking big questions about what direction the Children’s Country House should take.”

From there, her career gathered

momentum and she joined the Trust’s central team, working with other heritage specialists, curators and conservators as part of a national programme. It’s how she came to work with the teams at Kedleston and Powis Castle.

Paige says that working with the teams at both projects has been a fantastic experience. While both places boast extensive historic collections, they couldn’t feel more different. “They each have their own character and that’s what makes it so interesting. You’re having to think about how to present their collections in a way that feels right for that place.”

Her role as Project Manager, she explains, is less about owning the projects and more about simply keeping it on track. “Each project belongs to the property team. I’m just there to keep everything on an even keel. I look at budgets, clock what risks might come up and take care of coordinating what needs to be done. It’s about making sure all the moving parts keep moving.”

It’s fair to say there are many moving parts.

“There’s no such thing as a typical week,” she laughs. Her diary is a constant balancing act as she juggles meetings with project boards, on-site visits, conversations with curators and external partners, while keeping in touch with internal

Picture: Nyima Murry and Jim Stephenson

Paige Emerick

colleagues. Her day might range from racing between meetings to quietly measuring up display spaces for contractors.

“Sometimes it’s only by looking back at the past six months that you realise what a difference we’ve made and how much change we are making and that’s what is so rewarding.”

Working on the creation of the ‘How Did We Get Here?’ exhibition at Kedleston Hall has been a standout point for her. It was launched earlier this year and runs through to the end of September. Developed in collaboration with members of the Tibetan community living in Britain, the exhibition explores the journey of Tibetan artefacts within the hall’s historic collection.

Pieces have been carefully selected and conserved for display in the hall’s magnificent State Rooms for visitors to see at close quarters. As visitors explore the hall they get the chance to learn more about the artefacts and hear previously untold stories. The displays sit alongside Encounters, a new film created by BritishTibetan artist Nyima Murry, which features powerful stories about the displayed objects.

“The exhibition has been a long time in planning. It completely occupied my brain for that entire time,” Paige admits. “It was something I’d been thinking about for so long that to see it finally in place, inside Kedleston Hall, and so well received that I was on a high long after the launch. It felt like a real milestone moment.”

For her, the heart of her job lies in

preserving the past while ensuring it remains visible and relevant.

“There’s little point conserving historic objects if they’re hidden away in storage. We preserve them so people can experience them. We hope that the objects on show will spark conversations. For me, it’s all about breathing life back into the objects for people to see and enjoy.”

At 31, Paige speaks with real passion about her work. “I love my job and I am conscious that we all work with the National Trust because we love the organisation and its values. It’s fun. I get to work with amazing people, in extraordinary places, surrounded by remarkable collections.”

Looking ahead, her focus now turns to Powis Castle, a red-brick 13th century castle which perches high on the hills above Welshpool in Wales – a little over two hours away from Kedleston. The project is still in its early stages but, like at Kedleston, plans are afoot to reimagine how its collections are displayed and experienced.

“We’re thinking carefully about what audiences want to see, how we tell those stories. This year will be about planning and shaping that vision.”

While work takes her across the nation, home for Paige is in Chesterfield. She moved to the town a year ago from the south of Derbyshire and is enjoying exploring the north of the county.

“Derbyshire holds a special place in my heart. Apart from the Peak District, it’s a county that is sometimes overlooked, I

think. But there are so many wonderful places to visit such as Haddon Hall, Chatsworth House, the Museum of Making – and, of course, Kedleston Hall! And there are lots of lovely towns to mooch around, great cafés and good pubs.”

Even in her spare time, history isn’t that far away though as she often spends weekends visiting heritage sites as work and home life blend seamlessly.

For someone who once planned a career in teaching, it seems that she is inadvertently doing just that as she helps to share the hidden stories behind the historic buildings.

“I love the variety of my role. No two days are ever quite the same. And that’s how I like it. It’s all about working together within these extraordinary places to share the stories behind the collections and create experiences that visitors will remember.”

*To find out more about Kedleston Hall and the How Did We Get Here? exhibition visit www.nationaltrust. org.uk/kedleston-hall?

The Drawing Room at Kedleston Hall. Picture: Nicola Doughty

The Marble Hall at Kedleston Hall. Picture: Nicola Doughty

Paige with part of the exhibition, How Did We Get Here?

Grave Expectations is designed to be warm, welcoming and comforting

A Different Kind of Goodbye

Independent funeral director Beccy Edgar is reimagining how we say farewell, offering choice and creativity – and helping to open up conversations on one of our greatest cultural taboos. Fiona Stubbs visits Grave Expectations

It’s the subject that many of us shy away from …

Talking about death often causes discomfort, even anxiety – a primal fear for our own mortality.

Beccy Edgar, however, is changing the narrative with a gentler, more holistic, approach to funeral provision and the way we care for both the deceased and their loved ones.

This is evident from you moment you step over the threshold of Grave Expectations, based at The Old Printing Works at Holt Lane, Matlock

It’s warm, welcoming and comforting –and far from sombre. A brightly coloured tartan coffin immediately catches the eye while decorative urns look stylish against a sophisticated floral wall.

“We want to deal with death differently and give people a greater choice than traditional provision,”

says Beccy. “Grave Expectations is about compassionate, bespoke funeral care.

“There are all sorts of things you can do to give people a beautiful send off. You can have services in pubs, in the outdoors. They don’t have to be tied to a crematorium or graveside. A lot of people no longer want the crematorium experience; 80% of funerals are still cremations but one in five are direct cremations, which are unattended.

“Weddings have become really bespoke … so why not funerals? We know that navigating funeral arrangements can be overwhelming and we believe that every farewell should be as unique as the individual it honours.

“I have spent the last year building up a network and now have a community of independent suppliers and small businesses.”

These include providers of urns and personal memorials as well as coffins.

Woven coffins from English willow are grown in Somerset and made in workshops in Sheffield and Devon. Families can help to weave a coffin.

Above: Previous owner of The Old Printing Works, George Hodgkinson, with his wife Maria and daughters Margaret and Eleanor outside the building. Members of the family have shared historic pictures and documents relating to the building with Beccy.

Left: Beccy outside The Old Printing Works

And, of course, there’s the Harris tweed option, too. “I love tweed,” says Beccy. “There’s some Scottish blood in our family and we’ve got our own clan tartan. The Grave Expectations tweed is in our brand colours of orange and green.”

Grave Expectations is also launching a partnership with York-based Mindful Memorials, offering bespoke headstone designs and ashes options, and working with Beccy’s friend, designer Katy Raywood.

Beccy has worked in the funeral industry for many years, initially as a funeral arranger for a large company and later at the Woodland Burial Company at Granville’s Wood, Walton where she met independent funeral directors and learned more about sustainability and different funeral options.

“I trained traditionally but the woodland burials gave me a deep passion for sustainable and holistic funeral practices,” she recalls.

“It also grew out of my own experiences of losing both my brother and my best friend.”

A visit to the National Funeral Exhibition helped to shape Beccy’s vision for Grave Expectations. “It’s like Grand Designs for the funeral industry,” she smiles. “That visit showed us how corporate the industry was. It was one of the factors that made us want to do things differently and offer gentler, more sustainable options by working with some smaller suppliers.

“So often people feel limited and that they have to have a certain type of coffin or funeral service.”

Part of the challenge is our general reluctance to talk about death. “There’s a disconnect between end of life care

Beccy with the tartan coffin

and funeral care,” says Beccy. “But we’re trying to open things up, to enable people to ask questions.

“We believe in the power of choice, helping families explore all options and supporting them in making decisions that feel right for them. There are all sorts of things you can do if you just have these conversations. That’s not to say that tradition is wrong, but you have a right to question it and to do things another way.”

Beccy has curated a booklet, called For When I’m Gone, for people to record their wishes - from the practicalities of paperwork to arranging their funeral – and which may help to open up conversations with loved ones.

“Making active choices about the events surrounding their own death can give someone an increased sense of control, letting them choose how they want their life to be celebrated,” says Beccy. “Addressing ‘the elephant in the room’ opens a path to more honest, heartfelt conversations and reduces missed opportunities. It can strengthen bonds and enable meaningful, honest dialogue, letting people say what they want to say and lessening regrets for things left unspoken.

“The more we talk about death, the less scary it gets. In western society, death is a closed thing. But until Victorian times – when funerals became professionalised – women used to look after the deceased

person at home and people would visit to pay their respects. Then, in the Victorian era, funeral provision became very much a male environment.

“At Grave Expectations, we look after people in our mortuary and encourage family and friends to visit and to be involved in washing and dressing their loved one, if that’s something they’d like to do. It can be good for the grieving process.”

The period after a funeral is often the loneliest time for those left behind, but Beccy set out to make Grave Expectations a welcoming space where people can return.

She says: “The day after the funeral, it’s, like, ‘time to move on’ and that’s when people start to disappear. We want to offer events and workshops so people can still come to the building and have a coffee.

“We’re looking to run workshops throughout the year, which could include things like mindful stitching, journalling and memory boards.

“We’re trying to invite people into the space. It shouldn’t be a place people are afraid of. I think we ought to be able to talk about death because it’s going to happen to all of us. It’s not morbid. If anything, it can help people to accept it better.”

Grave Expectations have been nominated for the Most Promising Newcomer to the Trade award in The Good Funeral Awards. Winners will be announced in October.

Dying Matters Awareness Week, which this year runs from from 4th to 10th May, is an annual UK campaign to break the stigma around death and bereavement.  It encourages people to have open conversations about end-of-life wishes, planning and grief.

As part of Dying Matters week, Grave Expectations will host the following events:

• Macmillan coffee morning

• Willow weaving / death café

• Meet the professionals working in all aspects of the industry, including celebrants, florists, grief counsellors, coffin makers, wills and probate experts and grief counsellors

• Liminal Time Workshop – a death literacy workshop. This is a practical and emotional guide to the strange and tender days between death and the funeral

• Memory board workshop – a creative workshop to make artwork in memory of someone special to you

For more information, visit https:// graveexpectations.co.uk/

A SILVER SPOON FULL

THE history of cutlery is a fascinating reflection of human development evolving to these fine sets of silver cutlery.

This George III set, with a provenance that goes back to the Howard family from Castle Howard, made £3,300 and the late Victorian extensive set from a Derbyshire vendor made £16,500 in a recent auction. (Interestingly, the first time I valued the late Victorian set it was for £3,500 in 2019. How things have changed.)

The development of cutlery reflects changes in culture, technology and dining habits. From the earliest civilizations to the modern dining table, implements such as spoons, knives and forks have played both practical and symbolic roles in everyday life.

The spoon is widely regarded as the oldest form of cutlery. Archaeological evidence suggests that as early as prehistoric times, people used naturally shaped objects like shells or carved pieces of wood to scoop liquids.

Before the 17th century, it was common for individuals to carry their own personal knives to meals, spearing their food with the point of the knife. Only later did knives become standardized as part of table settings.

The fork, however, had a slower and more controversial adoption. It was introduced to Europe around the 11th Century and, initially, was met with resistance, sometimes viewed as unnecessary or even decadent. It was not until the 17th century that forks gained widespread acceptance,

By Vivienne Milburn FRICS Independent Antiques Auctioneer & Valuer

eventually becoming a standard dining tool across Europe.

Today, antique cutlery - especially spoons and forks - holds significant value in the auction world. Collectors often seek rare or historically significant pieces, such as elaborately engraved silver spoons or early examples of forks that were originally two pronged.

In essence, the evolution of cutlery mirrors broader societal changes - from survival and utility to refinement and artistry. The enduring appeal of antique spoons and forks at auction underscores their continued relevance, not just as tools but as a connection to the past.

If you require a valuation on your antiques and collectables,

Top: An extensive Victorian silver Prince Albert pattern set of cutlery, by Holland, Aldwinckle & Slater, London 1899, weighing 288oz total. It made £16,500 in a recent auction.

Above: George III silver fiddle pattern set of cutlery, by William Eley, William Fearn and William Chawner, London, 1812, 60oz total. It made £3,300 in a recent specialist auction.

it is worth getting the advice of an Independent Antiques Valuer to assess your works of art. For information, please contact Vivienne Milburn on Mobile 07870 238788 or 01629 640210. www.viviennemilburn. co.uk vivienne@ viviennemilburn.co.uk

THE MAYNARD’S MASTERCLASS IN DINING

TUCKED away in the beautiful village of Grindleford and framed by the splendour of the Peak District, The Maynard continues to build a deserved reputation as one of the region’s most appealing destinations for dining, relaxing, and escaping the everyday. With spring gently yielding to summer, there is renewed energy in the air - and on the plate.   Menus at this time of year should feel alive, and here they do. The kitchen embraces the changing seasons with confidence and imagination, allowing lighter, brighter ingredients to shine while still retaining comfort and satisfaction. Expect freshness, colour, clarity, and dishes that reflect longer days and warmer evenings. Driving that culinary momentum is a

dynamic culinary team inspired by Group Executive Chef Adrian Gagea and led day to day by Head Chef James Haywood, ably supported by sous chef Hermant. Together, they understand the balancing act required of modern dining: respecting classic foundations while keeping things fresh, innovative, and interesting. There is adventure here, certainly, but it is measured adventure - thoughtful combinations, seasonal twists, and intelligent contrasts.

The welcome from the front-of-the-house team is every bit as polished. Led seamlessly by Laura Ball, a familiar and highly regarded face many will recognise from Longbow’s other showpiece, The Peacock at Rowsley, the team, which includes the charming Elliot Ashmore, brings warmth, professionalism, and that increasingly rare

knack of making guests feel both valued and relaxed. Service strikes the right note: attentive without being intrusive, and friendly without being over fussy.

There is a happy confidence running through the whole restaurant at present. That atmosphere cannot be contrived. It comes from strong leadership, clear standards, and people taking pride in what they do. And then, of course, there is the food itself.

Two starters, very different in character, yet united by one common thread: balance.

The twice-baked cheese soufflé with blue cheese sauce, rocket salad and herb oil was comfort food refined. Light and airy, yet full of rich savoury depth, it balanced indulgence with delicacy. The blue cheese brought salty

tang, while the peppery bitterness of the rocket cut through the creaminess beautifully. Herb oil added freshness and lift. What could have been heavy became a masterclass in harmonisation.

The cheese soufflé was gluten-free, and many of the dishes on offer at The Maynard cater thoughtfully for modern dietary preferences. The menu sits comfortably alongside growing demand for gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan choices, while also making a genuine virtue of the fact that a significant number of options are naturally or carefully prepared to be gluten-free.

The spiced cauliflower pakoras with Jerusalem artichoke velouté, sautéed quinoa, spinach and pomegranate showcased the kitchen’s more adventurous side. Crisp pakoras gave way to tender cauliflower, while the silky velouté softened and rounded the spice. Pomegranate jewels added acidity and sweetness, lifting the whole dish.

Two main courses followed, both revealing the same instinctive understanding of contrast and balance.

The pan-fried duck breast with hoisin duck pâté wrapped in a spinach pancake, sweet potato purée, tempura broccoli and cashew hoisin sauce was bold and confident. Tender duck and rich pâté met sweeter, sharper notes from the hoisin. The sweet potato purée offered mellow softness, while the tempura broccoli added vital crunch and freshness. A nutty, savoury sauce tied everything together. Rich against fresh, crisp against soft, sweet against savoury - a vibrant plate that never overplayed its hand.

The slow-cooked lamb shank with

sautéed new potatoes in persillade, grilled asparagus and red wine jus was classic comfort executed with finesse. The lamb was beautifully tender, full of deep flavour. Potatoes brought buttery warmth and gentle crispness, while parsley and garlic freshness cut through the richness. Grilled asparagus added seasonal brightness and a slight bitterness. The glossy red wine jus completed flavour cohesion with depth and elegance.

Desserts, too, showed a clear understanding that sweetness alone never makes a memorable finale.

The pistachio crème brûlée with candied pistachio, mango coulis and matcha oat biscuit was elegant and intelligent. Beneath a brittle caramelised top sat smooth, rich custard. Candied pistachio added crunch, while mango coulis brought bright tropical acidity that lifted the richness. The faint bitterness of matcha provided another thoughtful counterpoint. Refined and quietly impressive.

The Eton mess tiramisu was an imaginative meeting of two classics. Creamy indulgence and gentle bittersweet depth were lightened by airy textures, fruit character, and delicate crunch. Familiar enough to comfort, different enough to intrigue, it was playful and wonderfully judged.

As the weather improves, the outdoor terrace becomes ever more popular with diners keen to combine fine food with one of the region’s most enviable views.

Sunday lunches remain exceptionally popular - and little wonder. Yet the appeal

all played out against the majestic backdrop of the Peak District beyond. Excellent food, relaxed surroundings, live music, and scenery that does the rest.

As seasonal menus evolve and the terrace comes fully into its own, The Maynard looks perfectly placed to become one of the area’s true spring and summer hotspots.

The Maynard Main Road, Grindleford Hope Valley , S32 2HE T: 01433 424110 www.the-maynard.com

Wild about garlic

PORK BELLY AGNOLOTTI WITH WILD GARLIC PESTO

with John Shuttleworth, Head Chef at Fischer’s Baslow Hall

FRESH, foraged wild garlic, whipped into a delicious pesto, is a perfect accompaniment to Pork Belly Agnolotti – a Piedmontese-style, small, stuffed pasta with a rich pork belly filling. It is ideal to serve as a starter or a light spring lunch.

WILD GARLIC PESTO

Ingredients

• 100g Pine Nuts

• 50g Wild Garlic Leaves

• 240ml vegetable oil

• 100g Parmesan

• 2 Cloves Garlic

• 1.5 tsp Maldon Salt

PORK BELLY AGNOLOTTI

First, make pasta dough.

PASTA DOUGH

Ingredients

• 5 egg yolks

• 125g pasta flour / 00 flour

Method

1. Make a well in the centre of the flour and add the egg yolks

2. Slowly whisk with a fork until too thick to mix

3. Knead by hand until a smooth dough forms

4. Rest in the fridge wrapped in cling film until ready for use

FILLING

Ingredients

• 250g cooked pork belly

• 1 chicken breast, raw and diced

• 2 egg yolks

• 350g cream

• 50g shallots

• 50g white wine vinegar

Method

1. Pick wild garlic leaves from any woody stems (small stems are okay)

2. Toast pine nuts in the oven for four minutes at 180C

3. Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until mostly smooth with some texture remaining

• Any leftover pesto can be frozen

• 10g chopped tarragon

• 10g chopped parsley

• 10g chopped chives

Method

1. Blend together the chicken breast and egg yolks until smooth and then slowly add the cream to form a chicken mousse. Set aside

2. Finely chop the shallots and combine with the white wine vinegar in a pan, reduce until dry. Set aside

3. Dice the pork belly to desired size and combine with the chicken mousse, herbs and shallot reduction

Wild garlic is a favourite find during spring Foraging at Fischer’s events

Throughout the year, Fischer’s hosts a series of exclusive foraging courses, with lunch, in partnership with Sam Webster of Foraging Forages. Named one of The Guardian’s 10 best foraging courses in the UK, Sam leads a morning of discovery in the Derbyshire countryside, followed by a delicious lunch at Baslow Hall. Head Chef John Shuttleworth and his kitchen team prepare a menu inspired by your day, enjoying truly local, seasonal and fresh wild ingredients at their best. The day concludes with a with a tour around Fischer’s prolific kitchen garden.

FUTURE COURSES THIS YEAR ARE PLANNED FOR:

• 16th July • 17th September • 15th October • 5th November

Courses are priced £110 per person and include tea and biscuits on arrival, foraging course, two course lunch at Fischer’s (main and dessert), tea / coffee and petit four, followed by a tour of the kitchen garden and grounds. Limited places are available for each event. Places can be booked online at https://www.fischers-baslowhall.co.uk/activities-atfischers-baslow-hall/foraging-lunch/ or by calling 01246 583259.

TO ASSEMBLE THE PORK AGNOLOTTI

1. Roll the pasta dough thinly with a rolling pin to make a long narrow strip

2. Pipe the Agnolotti filling in 1cm wide strips in the centre

3. Wet one side of the pasta and fold over the filling

to make a tight tube of filling encased in pasta

4. Cut the long with a wavy edged pasta wheel or knife along the strip

5. Pinch into the desired size agnolotti and cut against the pinch in the dough

with the wavy edged pasta wheel or a knife to form small parcels

6. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and simmer the Agnolotti for three minutes.

7. Serve with the wild garlic pesto

John Shuttleworth.

Wild garlic.

Picture: Fiona Stubbs

Cycling, film locations and countryside escapes - travel trends driving Dutch and Belgian visits to

the Peak District

DUTCH and Belgian visitors are increasingly seeking cycling holidays, film and television locations and authentic countryside experiences when planning trips to Britain – with the Peak District potentially in big demand.

Visitors from the Netherlands alone contributed a record £1.1 billion to the UK visitor economy in 2023 and new insights suggest the Peak District could be well placed to attract more travellers from the from the Benelux region.

Andrew Shiel-Redfern, Head of Commercial at independent Peak District hospitality group Longbow Venues, represented the Peak District at VisitEngland’s Destination Showcase in Amsterdam alongside Visit Peak District & Derbyshire.

During more than 20 meetings with travel agents and tour operators from across the Benelux region, he discussed the types of destinations and experiences their customers are actively looking for in the UK.

Five key travel trends emerged. Authentic countryside experiences and cycling holidays scored strongly, along with film and TV locations. Easy rail access was a key factor and the year-round appeal of the Peak District was also considered important.

Andrew said: “What really stood out was how closely the Peak District matches the type of experiences these travellers want.

“There was huge enthusiasm for authentic countryside destinations where visitors can explore landscapes, enjoy local food and drink and spend time outdoors. Cycling is a big part of everyday life in the

Netherlands, so places like the Peak District, with its trails and scenery, naturally appeal.

“It was also interesting to see how much influence film and television has on travel decisions. Buyers regularly mentioned locations featured in shows like Peaky Blinders and Pride and Prejudice and were keen to include places like Chatsworth and Haddon Hall in itineraries.”

Andrew also highlighted Longbow Venues’ sustainability credentials during the meetings, including the group’s Green Tourism accreditation. “Sustainability is increasingly important to international travellers and travel operators,” he said. “Being able to demonstrate our commitment to responsible tourism was very positively received.”

He added: “Many of the buyers we met didn’t realise how much the Peak District has to offer. Once we started talking about the scenery, heritage sites, outdoor activities and places to stay, the interest was immediate.”

Longbow Venues operates a collection of boutique hotels, historic inns and restaurants across the Peak District.

Sourdough awards for Chesterfield bakery

CHESTERFIELD’S Peak & Stone Bakery scooped two honours in the Britain’s Best Loaf awards.

The independent bakery, run by husband and wife Tom and Emily Martin, is based at Boythorpe Business Park.

Its Stanedge Country Sourdough won the Best Plain Sourdough award while its Cheese, Chilli & Sundried Tomato Sourdough clinched the title of Best Flavoured Sourdough in the awards organised by baking industry publication British Baker.

Rise of the big house holiday as people pool money to travel together

People are increasingly pooling money to holiday together, with demand for large group stays and “big house” getaways on the rise.

Peak Venues, a Peak District-based specialist in group accommodation, has seen particularly strong demand for its larger properties, with 50% of key 2026 dates already fully booked and most remaining dates close to capacity.

The business is also reporting continued growth, with guest checkins for 2026 currently running 6.8% ahead of the same point last year.

The trend reflects a wider shift in how people are choosing to spend both time and money, with travellers prioritising shared experiences, celebrations and time together.

Peak Venues hosts more than 40,000 guests each year, with bookings often centred around milestone occasions such as big birthdays, family reunions, weddings and corporate retreats.

Co-founder Justin Heslop said demand for group stays has evolved significantly over the past two decades.

“We’ve always specialised in larger houses, but we’re definitely seeing more people actively choosing to holiday together,” he said. “It’s not just about accommodation. It’s about bringing people together in one place, whether that’s family, friends or multiple generations.”

One of the key drivers behind the rise in shared stays is cost-sharing, while busy lifestyles and geographically spread families mean that time together has become more important.

Below: Justin Heslop, left, with Peak Venues directors

The Peak District countryside provides an appealing year-round escape for visitors from Benelux countries. Picture: Fiona Stubbs

From sunrise to storm clouds … and lots of blue skies

Just … wow!

OUR amateur photographers have been busy over the last month, making the most of the longer days to capture some stunning skies and scenery across north Derbyshire, the Derbyshire Dales and the Peak District.

Easter Sunday began in breathtaking style for for Andy Hanna, of Great Longstone, when he and a group of other people experienced this beautiful sunrise at Longstone Edge.

While April’s weather was very mixed, many people made the most of some big blue skies to capture some charming shots.

Mary Keating, of Youlgrave, photographed Shuttlingsloe from Shining Tor and Peter Keeble, of Matlock Bath, enjoyed a mellow spring day at the Great Pond of Stubbing, Wingerworth.

Stuart Slinn, from Wingerworth, discovered this picturesque barn among rolling green fields on a walk from Hartington on a sunny morning

while Phil Holloway, of Matlock, captured wall flowers and blue skies on Greenaway Lane, near Darley Dale. Fields of gold near Nether Handley caught the attention of Alison Parker, from Clay Cross, while Russ Teale, of Newbold,

discovered gorgeous Gorse coming into flower at Wadshelf.

April’s more moody moments also provided creative inspiration – as evidenced by our photograph of storm clouds just outside Hathersage, taken by Gail Lillley, of Stanton in Peak.

Please keep sharing your pictures of Derbyshire Through The Seasons. The pictures you send in must be taken in 2026 and must be in Derbyshire. You can enter as many times as you like. Entries must be from amateur photographers and drone images or software-altered pictures will not be accepted.

The competition will be judged by Reflections readers in November and our winner will receive a voucher for a meal at a top local restaurant, plus the chance to have six of their favourite pictures featured in the magazine.

Please email your entries to editor@bannisterpublications.co.uk, giving your full name and address, a contact telephone number and a description (including the date it was taken) of the image, which should be attached as a high res jpeg.

P.H

R.T

Portugal and Madeira

SUN-KISSED SHORES, TIMELESS CITIES, AND ISLAND MAGIC

Explore More with Martins World Travel

PORTUGAL has long been a favourite with British holidaymakers - and with good reason. Year-round sunshine, warm hospitality, superb cuisine and unforgettable scenery make it a destination that is both close to home and hard to beat. From river cruising through vineyard valleys to island escapes in the Atlantic, Portugal offers four wonderfully different ways to travel.

DRIFT THROUGH THE DOURO VALLEY RIVIERA TRAVEL RIVER CRUISE

Celebrate your holiday with Riviera Travel’s enhanced free drinks package, automatically included on all European river cruises. Enjoy greater flexibility with regional flights, plus a Travel Concierge service to tailor your trip with upgrades and extensions.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DOURO VALLEY & SALAMANCA RIVER CRUISE

8 days from £3,499 per person (two sharing) Departing Manchester – 22nd September 2026

Sail aboard the elegant Riviera Rose through one of Europe’s most beautiful and least spoiled river valleys. The timeless banks of the Douro are lined with peaceful terraces where olives, almonds and grapes have been cultivated for centuries.

Dramatic cliffs, lush hillsides, medieval villages and celebrated vineyards combine to create a journey rich in scenery and culture. It is a cruise that feels like a true discovery.

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS:

• Free all-inclusive drinks package

• 7 nights on board a five-star ship

• Return flights and transfers

• 9 included experiences

• Full board, including lunch and dinner at local quintas

• Complimentary tea and coffee

• Free Wi-Fi

• Checked luggage included

• Expert Riviera Cruise Director

MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES:

Explore vibrant Porto, famed for its port lodges and riverside charm. Visit Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal. Wander the historic streets of Lamego, admire the gardens of Mateus Palace, and discover the fortified village of Castelo Rodrigo.

Journey into Spain to visit magnificent Salamanca, one of Iberia’s oldest university cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Perfect for lovers of wine, architecture, history and breathtaking landscapes.

DISCOVER MADEIRA WITH SUNVIL HOLIDAYS PORTUGAL’S ATLANTIC GARDEN ISLAND

Few places combine natural beauty, culture and relaxation quite like Madeira. This lush subtropical island is blessed with dramatic mountains, crystalclear waters, colourful gardens and a famously warm welcome.

We offer holidays with both mainstream and specialist operators and highly recommend Sunvil Holidays for those seeking something a little special.

Madeira may be compact in size, but it offers extraordinary

variety. One day can bring mountain walks, coastal villages, botanical gardens and elegant city streets.

FUNCHAL

A Capital Full of Colour and Character

Set on Madeira’s sunny south coast, Funchal is the island’s charming capital and home to many of its finest hotels, museums and historic buildings. Its old streets are lined with beautiful houses perched on gentle slopes, backed by green terraced hillsides. Cafés spill into lively squares, markets brim with tropical fruit, and the city’s

atmosphere is warm, festive and welcoming throughout the year.

Thanks to Madeira’s mild climate, many of Funchal’s celebrations take place outdoors, filling parks, gardens and plazas with music, food and colour.

SOUTHERN MADEIRA

Sea Cliffs, Vineyard & Timeless Villages

Southern Madeira is a landscape of winding roads, cultivated fields and dramatic ravines dropping towards the sea.

Visit the charming fishing village of Câmara de Lobos, once loved by Winston Churchill. Continue west to Cabo Girão, one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs, soaring more than 500 metres above the Atlantic.

Further along the coast lies Calheta, surrounded by vineyards and banana plantations - a perfect place to relax and soak up the sunshine.

NORTHERN MADEIRA

Rugged Beauty and Volcanic Wonders

The north of Madeira is greener, wilder and wonderfully scenic, with forests, terraced fields and towering cliffs.

One of the island’s great drives runs from São Vicente to Porto Moniz, where roads tunnel through rock faces beside waterfalls and ocean views.

At Porto Moniz, swim in the famous natural sea pools formed by volcanic lava.

Porto Moniz Fort & Aquarium

The picturesque São João Baptista Fort is one of the area’s best-loved landmarks. Today it houses the Madeira Aquarium, where more than 90 native marine species can be seen across 12 tanks, including one holding around 500,000 litres of seawater.

VIEWPOINTS, HISTORY & HIDDEN TREASURES

In the municipality of Santana, the Fortim do Faial Viewpoint offers both history and spectacular scenery. Built in the 18th century, it still features ten small English cannons once used to defend the coast.

From here, enjoy sweeping views across Faial, Porto da Cruz, Penha d’Águia and Ponta de São Lourenço. On clear days, you may even glimpse Porto Santo.

A PARADISE FOR WALKERS

Mountains, forests, waterfalls, sea views and famous levada trails make Madeira a dream destination for hikers.

Whether you prefer a gentle scenic stroll or a challenging mountain route, Madeira offers trails for all abilities - each one rewarding you with unforgettable views.

Explore More with Martins World Travel

Whether you choose a luxurious Douro river cruise or an island escape to Madeira, Portugal promises sunshine, scenery and memories to treasure.

CALL AND DISCUSS YOUR TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS WITH OUR FRIENDLY AND EXPERT TEAM ON: 01246 220020 or 01246 823763

Martins World Travel, 46 Knifesmithgate, Chesterfield, S40 1RQ T: 01246 220020

Martins World Travel, 25 Market Place, Bolsover, S44 6PN T: 01246 823763

martins-world-travel.co.uk www.1st4Cruises.co.uk

for visitors to immerse themselves in Bess’s life. Using extracts from Bess’s letters, it explores the memories that might have surfaced in her dreams during her final days.

Elena Williams, Collections and House Manager at Hardwick, said: “This gown is far more than simply a piece of clothing. It is extraordinarily rare. Textiles during this period were incredibly valuable and were often passed down or even repurposed, meaning that few examples remain today.

Rare gown dating back more than 400 years unveiled at Hardwick Hall

A new exhibition at Chesterfield’s Hardwick Hall is offering visitors the rare opportunity to view a gown that was worn by the famed Bess of Hardwick more than 400 years ago.

Opening on Saturday 2 May, Bess’s Dream brings a fresh insight into the life of one of the wealthiest and most powerful figures of the Elizabethan era. It shows another side to Bess’s life, revealing more about the real Bess and the importance of family to her.

A large part of the exhibition is set in Bess’s bedchamber within the grand Elizabethan mansion that she built - now in the care of the National Trust. The exhibition includes a short, animated film inspired by the many letters Bess wrote and received over the years offering a glimpse into her life and family relationships.

The robe, however, is at the heart of the exhibition and is a rare survivor of its time.

Visitors will be able to see upclose the violet satin dress that is recorded in Hardwick’s inventories of 1601. It has recently returned to Hardwick after undergoing conservation work at the National Trust Conservation Studio on the Blickling Estate in Norfolk.

Meanwhile, the film will offer the chance

“It survived thanks to Evelyn, the last Duchess to live at Hardwick, who recognised its significance and took steps to store it away and preserve it. Without her intervention, this piece of history may have been lost forever.”

She added: “The gown connects us directly to Bess of Hardwick’s world and invites us to consider the real Bess. She is often portrayed as a formidable and ambitious woman, but this exhibition reveals far more about the real Bess. It highlights her role as a mother who placed great importance on her family in her life.”

The exhibition runs until 30th October. Learn more at: www. nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick

Forgotten ballet returns to the spotlight at Renishaw Hall

A new exhibition at Renishaw Hall celebrates the centenary of a longforgotten ballet – The Triumph of Neptune – by Sacheverell Sitwell and renowned impresario Serge Diaghilev.

Renishaw – historic home of the Sitwell family – is partnering with Pollock’s Toy Museum to stage the exhibition, which is included with entry to the hall’s Italianate gardens.

The Triumph of Neptune premiered – with instant acclaim - in London in 1926. The ballet’s fantastical compilation of characters, costumes and scenes was inspired by a visit by Sitwell and Diaghilev to Benjamin Pollock’s London shop, which sold traditional handcoloured prints for toy theatres.

The exhibition reveals how the Pollock prints evolved into the ballet’s elaborate and highly imaginative staging. It features specially made and original toy theatres, along with archive photography of the 1926 production, music by Gerald Berners and two spectacular Diaghilev costumes that evoke the colour, creativity and extraordinary ambition of The Triumph of Neptune.

Letters from the Renishaw Hall archive, never previously exhibited, add further atmosphere and detail.

Right: The Triumph of Neptune with Serge Lifar in the role of Tom Tug and Alexandra Danilova as the Fairy Queen, taken by Russian-born photographer Sasha Stone

Bess’s gown at Hardwick Hall. Picture courtesy of National Trust Images

Hardwick Hall. Picture: National Trust

Renishaw Hall and gardens. Picture courtesy of Renishaw Hall

Hedgerow heroes in Shirland

DON’T FANCY THE TOWN CENTRE …

CAN I CHANGE YOUR MIND?

Chesterfield’s Glow Up weekend brought a new buzz to the town with people of all ages joining in celebrations to mark the revitalisation of market areas. As town centre regeneration continues – with more events plannedstudent Molly Holmes considers the impact of these changes on young people’s views of their hometown.

WHEN you think of Chesterfield, what comes to mind?

My guess is that you would probably reminisce about the many, many times you have walked through the centre and wished that something would change.

The outdated market, the lack of shop variety – the idea that Chesterfield is only known for its Crooked Spire.

Well, Chesterfield is now amid a much needed ‘Glow Up’.

This spring, the town centre saw the big ‘Glow Up’ weekend burst into life. The observation wheel made a welcome return, standing proud within the festivities for all to enjoy.

The light show on the Market Hall and night market truly ‘lit’ up the two evenings and gave us an insight to the next few months of exciting revamps.

The market, situated in the centre of it all, looks polished and lively with a new set up that creates a sense of tidiness within the bustle. Throughout the Glow Up weekend, a sense of community seemed to be brought out and, with the help of sunshine, made it a perfect start for the new Chesterfield.

The weekend of 27th and 28th March brought families out and about together and made the transition much more wholesome.

The big wheel created a busy atmosphere and children enjoying the festivities, including the helter skelter and wheel, brought a new mood to the centre. It was nice to see children enjoying their time in town as opposed to feeling like they ‘had’ to be there – based on my own experience when I was younger!

For as long as I can remember, Chesterfield has been

a town that hasn’t exactly caught the eye of younger generations - whether from a lack of options in shops, entertainment or just places to hang out with friends that isn’t McDonald’s or the park.

This situation isn’t helped with the prominence of shopping centres like Meadowhall - with trendy shops that young people are obsessed with - discouraging them from a trip to the town centre.

Many people within my age group – teens in general – would say that town doesn’t have that factor that appeals to younger people that cities not so far away do.

The aftermath of the pandemic and the evolution of social media have also created laziness that I will admit to.

Is it necessary to go into town when instead, with the help of online shops, you can take five minutes scrolling and then go about your day? This is something that needs to change and hopefully it will.

In my opinion, younger people are always going to be attracted to the big and busy cities that are completely different from their hometown.

Above: The observation wheel at dusk; illuminated stilt walkers at the Glow Up event; the market hall lit up behind a newly refurbished stall; a juggler entertaining the crowds.

However, in recent years, Chesterfield’s independent shops and cafes have become staples – with many young people becoming regular visitors. Who knows, this could grow, and more people can experience what town has to offer.

This summer will hopefully bring about a new beginning and, to see a market and town centre filled with people, will make Chesterfield a much nicer place to spend time in.

Upcoming events include the 1940s market and an international market that will surely outdo previous years, thanks to the new set up. Even more events are in the works to make summer 2026 one to remember, so refresh your social media for updates, mark your calendars - and I hope to see you there.

Glow Up pictures by Fiona Stubbs

People watch the light show

Left: The observation wheel and carousel in New Square

Molly Holmes

MAY 22 Killer Rhapsody: A Night of Queen

ENTERTAINMENT

Dirty Dancing In

Other Events

14-17 The Rail Ale Festival @ Barrow Hill Roundhouse. The hugely popular Festival returns for its annual outing from Thursday 14 May to Sunday 17 May 2026. With great live music and an enormous selection of over 400 beers and ciders, gins, spirits, wines and fizz and - of course - the Rail Ale trains! For more information please visit www.barrowhill.org

14-20 Tissington Well Dressing. The Tissington Well Dressing is one of the oldest and most famous in Derbyshire, attracting visitors from far and wide. All 6 of the Wells will be up on Thursday 14 May for the public to view. They will come down 7 days later, evening of Wednesday 20 May. The Blessing of the Wells is at 11.30am Thursday 14 May.

22-31 Derby Book Festival. The Derby Book Festival will be back in 2026 with theirAutumn Summer and Edition editions. Presenting a broad, diverse programme which attracts internationally renowned writers, poets, historians, politicians, broadcasters, illustrators, storytellers and

musicians, whilst also providing support and opportunities for local authors and those taking their first steps towards publishing. The book festival programme appeals to all ages and interests with a range of events, including some with a particular Derby resonance, with themes including railways, science, local history and architecture, cycling, walking, birding, cricket - and even real ale. For more information please visit www.derbybookfestival.co.uk

23-25 Chatsworth Family Festival. Let imaginations run wild at our family festival. Entry is included with all 'house, garden and farmyard' and 'garden and farmyard' tickets. Our family festival in the garden returns for a third year, offering a host of entertainment and activities designed to entertain every family member. Suitable for anyone aged 1 to 101, because who says the wonder of being a child should have an age limit? For more information please visit www.chatsworth.org

23-29 Seaside Fun at National Tramway Museum. Enjoy the fun of the seaside with a fun fair, mini-beach, crafts, Punch and Judy, etc. Traditional British seaside fun for all the family. Enjoy the fun of the Seaside with Fun fair, mini-beach, bingo, crafts, Punch and Judy. Face Painter and Balloon Modeller, Flea Circus, Plus, ride our vintage trams into the Derbyshire countryside. A great day out for all the family! 10am 4:30pm. For more information please visit www.tramway.co.uk

23-25 High Peak Open Studios 2026. 10am to 4pm. For the first time, artists and makers across the High Peak are opening their doors at 33 venues throughout Buxton, Chapel-enle-Frith, Whaley Bridge, Chinley, New Mills, Glossop, and Hayfield. Explore diverse studios, meet the makers, and discover the

rich variety of art being created in our hills and towns. From painting and ceramics to textiles, print, photography and more, this is your chance to see behind the scenes, support local artists, and experience the vibrant cultural life of the High Peak.

23 Middleton-by-Youlgrave Market. 12pm to 4pm. Come and spend an afternoon in one of the most picturesque villages in the White Peak. The Middleton-byYoulgrave Market and Well Dressings are open on Saturday 23rd May between midday and 4pm. DE45 1LS. There is free off-road parking. See this year's well dressings (on display Sat 23rd to Sat 30th May). Don't miss the bumper plants stall offering you a wide range of perennials and annuals from local gardens. Visit the display of vintage tractors. Explore the village and Open Gardens using the Explore Middleton Guide.

31 Belper Food Festival. The Belper Food Festival is an annual culinary event held in Belper, Derbyshire, England. Celebrated each July, it brings together local producers, chefs, and food enthusiasts to showcase the region’s rich gastronomic offerings. The festival has become a major community highlight, drawing thousands of visitors to the historic market town. For more information please visit www.madhattersevents.com

SUBMIT YOUR LISTING OR EVENT

Please email your information including dates to whatson@reflectionsmagazine.com before May 15th, 2026, to appear in the June 2026 issue.

Here are the answers to this month’s puzzle on page 40