BUXTON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL MARKS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEAK DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK WITH FOUR SPECIAL EVENTS

Buxton International Festival is marking the 75th anniversary of the Peak District National Park – the UK’s first ever National Park – with four special events this summer (9-26 July).

The programme of anniversary events includes the world première of Voices of the Peaks, a special choral work written by Hannah Brine and Jenni Watson; two talks, the first by the Park’s CEO Phil Mulligan exploring its legacy and the second by Matt Scott-Campbell, Partnership Manager at ‘Moors for the Future Partnership’ on peatland restoration; plus Unearthed, an ongoing photographic exhibition showcasing rarely seen images from the Park’s archive.

Michael Williams, BIF’s CEO said: “At BIF, we felt it was important to celebrate the rich history and ongoing impact of the Peak District National Park in the best way we know how, with music, talks and an exhibition.  We hope this focus will highlight the park’s continued importance in conservation and sustainable land management, as well as enthusing future generations about the importance of the Peak District National Park and its future.”

Voices of the Peaks (concert)

Saturday 11 July, 11:30–12:30pm, St John’s Church

Tickets: £6 to £12

Buxton International Festival premieres Voices of the Peaks, a new choral suite celebrating landscape, community and shared heritage. Created as a joint composition by choral conductor, composer and singer-songwriter Hannah Brine, and composer Jenni Watson, the work brings together three northern choirs – High Peak Singers, Bollington Singers and Didsbury Singers – 150 voices in all. Voices of the Peaks, echoes the voices of those who have walked, worked and sung in this region across generations.

Celebrating the UK’s First National Park (talk)

Wednesday 15 July, 6–7pm, Pump Room

Tickets: £14

Phil Mulligan, CEO of the Peak District National Park Authority, explores the legacy and ongoing significance of the park, reflecting on what national parks have done for society, from conserving landscapes and wildlife to enriching communities and inspiring wellbeing.

A Deep Dive into Peatland Restoration (talk)

Wednesday 22 July, 6–7pm, Pump Room

Tickets: £14

Matt Scott-Campbell, Partnership Manager at Moors for the Future Partnership, discusses the incredible transformation of the Peak District’s peatlands over the past twenty years – now a diverse, vegetated landscape that provides natural flood management and homes for moorland wildlife. Find out the story of how a partnership of organisations and communities worked together to bring this change about.

Unearthed (exhibition)

9 – 26 July, Pump Room

Free entry

Throughout the Festival, a free exhibition will be on display at the Pump Room showcasing a previously unseen collection of archived material from the Peak District National Park. This collection of unique images reveals the people, places, and landscapes of the Peak District throughout the 20th century to the present day.

BOX OFFICE

The Box Office is buxtonfestival.co.uk/Tel: 01298 72190.