It is now some time since the Fairfield contingent of Faartals up sticks and moved to Matlock taking the Chief Faartal along with his red shoes.  Since then there have been few regular walks and other members have gone there own ways pursuing their own interests.  This site is now therefore more of a historical record of part of our lives in the early part of the 21st century!  The information shown in our walks is,   however,  as relevant today as it was when they were written and Celia's maps are something to be treasured.

Now that the band is virtually dis-banded as a walking group,  I have started a solo career and now spend much of my time concentrating on the Big Moor area above Baslow.   I have therefore started my own Big Moor website with the aim of gathering together as much information as possible about Big Moor and the adjacent areas.   It is exciting times for these moors as they now form part of the Eastern Moors Project run jointly by the RSPB and the National Trust. Their aim is to create a large nature reserve so that this land can be properly managed for the benefit of both wildlife and the general public.  I was somewhat sceptical at first,  but wherever man and nature come into close contact with each other there needs to be some form of management.  Until recent years most of this land was used as a reservoir catchment area and public access was limited.  Both reservoirs are now disused and access is available to all.  Without some control the wildlife -  especially the wild red deer -  are bound to suffer and I therefore look forward with interest to see what proposals the new management have to offer.

You can reach my website by going to – http://bigmoor.co.uk

As mentioned in the AGM posting, Roger was pleased to have his picture of a snowdrift published on the BBC main news pages last week.

For the record a copy of the picture is attached.  No money changed hands, but what price can you put on fame … at least for 30 seconds!