Here are some extracts from Log Books of Volunteer Wardens and working parties during the:
Entries from the 1930s
September 19/20th 1931
'Ant hills require burning. The moorland between middle gate and the pond absolutely overrun with ants.'
Sunday, April 16th 1933
The worst holiday for fires and litter I have had to deal with since I have been a warden.'
September 2nd, 1933
'If the drought continues it is imperative that more wardens should come up for duty each week-end. It is only by vigilance on our part that fires of a serious nature have been prevented. If Padley Woods is to keep its beauty the dead wood, now fouling the brook, should be removed. Other parts of the estate are spoilt by large patches of dead wood. I have been asked many times this week-end by visitors to tell them the story of the National Trust, and also the outline of the estate. Cannot maps, placed in glass frames, be posted in various parts of the estate to enable visitors to get a little information about the estate?'
A Hardy
Easter April 13th 1936
Boys on roof of summer house in Padley. Snowing all holiday. No people about Monday. No collections, weather too bad. Boys lit fire by White Moor Path.
26th April 1936
Fire in Little John's Cave. Collection amounted to 7/2d.
Saturday 1st August 1936
Few people in park, weather fair
Sunday 2nd August 1936
Few people in park, weather good
Monday 3rd August 1936
Record number of people in park?
23rd May 1937
Rescued yacht off the lake - no reward.
Easter weekend 1938
Called out at 10 o'clock at night to help put out fire at Burbage Moor.
14th May 1938
Patrol of seven dogs loose - dealt with according to rule. Rendered first aid to a fellow who had fainted.
20th August 1938
Bottom of money box loose. Six pence missing. Afterwards found on floor.
22nd April 1939
No people. Everything all right.
30th July 1939
Removed ice-cream sales van from Surprise. Warned gang of climbers on Surprise (Didn't take any notice)
Whitsuntide weekend, 28th and 29th May 1939
Removed tent by fish pond and cycles on middle drive. More litter than ever this weekend.
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Entries from the 1940s
14th April 1940
Reported two dead lambs. Had several ferocious dogs put on leads.
15th June 1940
Admonished youths playing Cowboys and Indians, effectively cowed same youths.
4th August 1940
Rescued cow from starvation.
7th August 1944
Cyclists turned off the estate during both Sunday and Monday. One gentlemen surprised at the regulation which prevents them wheeling cycles on the estate. Proposed making written protest to the National Trust.
20th January 1946
Clearing snow off the Longshaw Lake for the skaters' benefit.
28th March 1949
Two youngsters had a fire going below the Surprise so we had a warm and then put it out. We arrived back to the smell of chops.
Stopped three 'yipps' about 19 years old from throwing stones at about 20 others about 10 to 14 years old. They challenged us to a fight, so we said OK and they altered their tune. In the afternoon we thought somebody was doing their washing, but a girl about 16 had fallen in the river and had hung her clothes to dry on a tree. We went to a fire on White Moor in the afternoon and went up there at night and ran around on the fire engine all night in between the Grouse and Big Moor Reservoir.
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Entry from the 1950s
18th January 1953
Still too many stray dogs in this area. Two were spotted chasing sheep. This was reported and action was taken. (Pity dogs can run faster than middle aged, beer soaked ramblers).
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Entries from the 1960s
8th May 1960
Fire down by Grindleford Road just above the mill. The fire tenders were there an hour. The fire was caused by someone setting light to ant hills and it happened while the wardens were at lunch.
6th February 1966
Moved the old Guide Stone out of the kitchen garden over the wall and put near Bernard Hill's house until a permanent position has been decided on. This job was greatly accelerated by the use of the block and tackle we recently acquired.
8th July 1966
Re-erected the milestone in Rowarth's meadow (this was nearly on the ground)
5th May 1968
Re-erected the guidestone opposite Keeper's Lodge.
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Entries from the 1970s
2nd May 1971
Fixed the old (1709) guidestone in upright position (near stone gate posts on middle drive)
2nd May 1976
Warned two hang glider enthusiasts that they could not glide without permission from the National Trust, and permission had been refused to previous applicants.
6th June 1976
Taking a census of the number of cars using the three car parks - 92 cars, 254 people.
20th March, 27th March and 3rd April 1977
Planting 1,600 trees in Wardens' Plantation.
11th September 1977
Noted possible loss of 20% of young trees in Wardens' Plantation.
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