Feature Assessment: Communities / Local events
# Local events [we need to add the map in]
Overall vulnerability |
# Feature assessed:
- Local events
# Special qualities:
- Characteristic settlements with strong communities and traditions
- An inspiring space for escape, adventure, discovery and quiet reflection
# Feature description:
The towns and villages across the PDNP hold a wide range of events throughout the year that are attended by local people as well as visitors from the surrounding communities and further afield. Many have origins dating back over a hundred years, while others are so ancient that their origin is not fully known.
Many events are specific to individual communities. Examples include Castleton Garland Day and Winster Pancake Run. These types of events are often tied to a particular date in the year.
Well dressings are popular and are held on various dates between May and September and feature intricate designs created by pressing natural materials into clay boards. One of the earliest and well known is held in Tissington.
The wide range of events include carnivals, fell races, village fetes, sheep dog trials, and country shows are held in various locations including Hope, Chatsworth and the Manifold Valley.
# How vulnerable are local events?
Local events in the PDNP have been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, with a relatively stable current condition, and with a high adaptive capacity.
Changes in the climate could have a significant impact on local events particularly those that rely on the weather or are tied to a specific date. The majority are run by volunteers and depend upon funds raised one year to finance the following year’s event. A series of poor years could mean the event is lost entirely.
In recent years a small number of events have been lost, however local events do have a high adaptive capacity as demonstrated by the Bakewell Show which changed its date and format in 2019 due to wet weather.
Overall potential impact rating | |
Overall adaptive capacity rating |
# Current condition
Throughout the PDNP a vast range of events takes place throughout the course of the year.
They vary from those that are small community orientated events such as village fetes, to those that attract visitors from far and wide such as the country shows.
Many events are reliant on the weather and poor conditions such as successive wet summers can have a negative impact and contribute to events suffering financial losses.
A number have been lost in recent years such as the Hartington Steam Rally, while Bakewell Show was not held at all in 2018 and was scaled back in 2019 due to damage caused to the showground and revenue being lost.