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CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire featured on last night’s BBC Countryfile
Countryfile viewers were treated to the breath-taking views of the Peak District on last night’s episode of Countryfile which saw presenter Sammi Kinghorn retrace Ethel Haythornthwaite’s footsteps, alongside local poet and CPRE PDSY ambassador Helen Mort. Watch the Countryfile team visit the Peak District National Park.
On a recent visit to the Britain’s first national park – Sammi learnt about countryside campaigner Ethel Haythornthwaite, the founder of CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire.
During the episode, Sammi uncovers the life and legacy of Ethel who was born on 18th January, 1894 to a wealthy industrial family in Sheffield. Her family were affluent people – her father, Tomas Ward was like an Alan Sugar of the Steel City and her mother, Mary Sophia Bassett, was renowned for her confectionery heritage.
As a war widow, Ethel found solace in the Peak District National Park, discovering the profound impact the countryside had on her mental health and wellbeing. This experience inspired her lifelong commitment to protecting the natural beauty of the countryside, ensuring that everyone could access and enjoy these benefits.
In her poem “The Pride of the Peak,” dedicated to the people of Sheffield, she wrote, “only earth’s high beauties held me sane.”
Inspired by the local landscapes, in 1924 she set up a local society (which is now known as CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire), to voice the need of the community for the peace and beauty of the inherent countryside.
The beauty and accessibility of the British countryside is the result of passionate campaigning during the inter- and post war years by ground-breaking figures such as Ethel Haythornthwaite.
In 1942 Ethel spent much of her time in London, as CPRE’s leader in the crucial debates on the planning and protection of the post-war countryside. Her impact not only shaped many of the local landscapes but also influenced national policy. It’s now been 75 years since the transformative National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949, with Ethel playing a crucial role in advocating for national parks and countryside access as a member of the UK government’s national parks committee, alongside our President, Lord Chorley.
The Act facilitated the creation of National Parks, countryside access, National Trails, National Landscapes (formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and National Nature Reserves. These efforts have been fundamental in preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the countryside and maintaining spaces where nature and people can thrive.
Places like Surprise View and the Longshaw Estate were gifted to the people of Sheffield, as a result of Ethel’s countryside campaign work
During the visit, Sammi and Helen discussed Ethel’s environmental campaigning which included crowdfunding to acquire land and protect green spaces from inappropriate development, such as the Longshaw Estate and Blacka Moor. These places were gifted to the people of Sheffield so that they could be enjoyed freely by everyone, for generations to come.
They also visited Surprise View, perched high above the Hope Valley with views of Longshaw, Hathersage, Kinderscout, Mam Tor, The Great Ridge. In the only known film footage of Ethel, she can be seen giving the deeds of Surprise View to the National Trust, in 1936.
Ethel, the biography explores the life of the countryside campaigner
To commemorate 100 years since Ethel founded CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire (originally known as the Sheffield Association for the Protection of Local Scenery), award-winning author Helen Mort has written a series of letters for the charity’s centenary celebration. In these letters, she explores the life of this countryside revolutionary who has been overlooked by history in response to Ethel’s “Pride of the Peak,” stating, “it only seems right that we write back to you now.” Order your copy of Ethel written by Helen Mort
Ethel’s Legacy
Ethel passed away in 1986 but her legacy lives on in the beautiful landscapes she helped to protect. The Peak District Ethels celebrate her remarkable life, with thousands continuing to explore the high points of the National Park with the help of the Ethel Ready App.
You can help keep Ethel’s Legacy Alive
We continue to uphold the values which Ethel championed, ensuring that the countryside is accessible to all and enjoyed by everyone. Ethel’s belief in the countryside as a sanctuary for all, a place of peace and beauty to be cherished and safeguarded, remains a guiding principle our work today.
By contributing to our Centenary Fund, you will not only honour Ethel’s remarkable legacy but also play a vital role in preserving the natural beauty of our countryside.
Your support will enable projects like the Centenary Tree Planting Programme, ensuring that Ethel’s legacy continues to thrive for generations to come.
