BE KINDER: Part of The People's Landscapes Project

An archive image of the people marching in the 1932 Kinder Scout trespass overlaid onto a modern day image of the landscape — The mass trespass of Kinder Scout, Derbyshire in 1932 was a pivotal moment in the fight for access to the countryside

People's Landscapes Gully Blocking — Introducing Jeremy Deller and Jarvis Cocker to gully blocking

The National Trust is proud to look after landscapes where people have come together to shape the history of our nation. This year, 200 years after the massacre of peaceful protesters at Peterloo in Manchester, we’ll be uncovering stories of passion and protest hidden just beneath the surface at National Trust places.

The People's Landscapes Project

The legacy of Peterloo, a critical moment in democracy, echoes down the centuries as a symbol of the power of people coming together in a landscape to make their voices heard. That’s why the National Trust is marking its 200^th anniversary through ‘People’s Landscapes’, a national series of creative events and exhibitions across the country in 2019.

As part of People’s Landscapes, five National Trust places are the focus of a national contemporary art project, collaborating with internationally renowned artist, Jeremy Deller. Each of these places is working with an additional artist to develop unique creative ideas relevant to their history of protest.

With the fight for access deeply embedded in the Peak District, musician Jarvis Cocker is working with the Dark Peak team to develop a creative programme inspired by the story of the 1932 Kinder Mass Trespass.

Black and white image of Kinder mass trespass — Trespassers take to the hills

The BE KINDER walking trail

This summer in the Peak District, will mark almost 90 years since the famous mass trespass on Kinder Scout of 1932 with the BE KINDER walking trail; as part of our national People's Landscapes Project. BE KINDER was created in collaboration with former Pulp front man and BBC Radio 6 presenter Jarvis Cocker, along with Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller, INSTAR and other artists.

The self-led walking trail encourages people to think about the importance of being kind to this incredible natural habitat, as well as honouring the individuals who fought for our rights of way; allowing future generations to enjoy and protect this spectacular landscape for years to come.

Artists Trish Evans and Nick Humphreys of INSTAR created links to the local community and co-produced the patches and the light boxes, featured in the picture below, with local Junior Rangers, Hope and Edale Primary School, the Advisory Committee and Hope Valley College. Trish and Nick encouraged the young people to voice their ideas on looking after what we've got, their concerns around climate change, and inspiring action in how to be kind to Kinder. Follow their work on social media: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @weareinstar or for more information please visit their website: https://www.we-are-instar.co.uk/

Illuminating thoughts from the next generation - inspirational light boxes created by artists from INSTAR in collaboration with Junior Rangers and Outwood Academy in Sheffield

The trail launch

The BE KINDER walking trail begins on the 6th July - 15th September 10am - 16:00pm. The 'there and back again' self-led trail takes 3 hours and is loosely based on a Mass Trespass route starting from the Penny Pot cafe next to Edale Train Station. Collect your free trail map from the Penny Pot or alternatively you can download the map here: (be sure to download page 1 and 2).

BE KINDER trail map page 1 (PDF / 1MB) download BE KINDER trail map page 2 (PDF / 1.1MB) download

Walkers can start their journey with a burst of music on Ruth Ewan's juke box which plays songs inspired by passion and protest, including 'The Manchester Rambler' by singer/songwriter Ewan McColl which was developed from his participation in the trespass. Other art surprises include a 'Cinebarn' with a tiny rural screen showing a selection of film clips by great directors and amateurs, inspired by the Kinder Scout landscape. Passages from the Derbyshire based novel 'Reservoir 13' by Jon McGregor will be hidden for people to discover.

For more information to help you plan your day please visit the What's On section of our website.

Jarvis, Jeremy and staff flying the BE KINDER flag at Edale Country Day

Train it like the trespassers

Parking is very limited in and around the area of Edale, we therefore urge people to be kinder to the environment and the local communities by using the train that drops you off at the start of the trail. There is an hourly service every day to Edale on the Manchester-Sheffield line, hop off at Edale train station and explore the trail on foot, discovering artistic interpretations along the way. The significance of arriving by train echoes back to the 24th of April in 1932 when three groups set out to trespass on Kinder Scout, approaching from different directions.

You can plan your journey by clicking on this link:

https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search

Stations on the Manchester-Sheffield line are:

Sheffield, Dore and Totley, Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope, Edale, Chinley, New Mills Central, Marple, Romiley, Bredbury, Brinnington, Reddish North, Manchester Piccadilly

Using public transport has many positive benefits but most importantly it is a great way to reduce your carbon emissions and to help generate cleaner air for everyone. Be our Nature Champions this summer and share your photos of you travelling to our Peak District areas using public transport on our social media channels: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @peakdistrictNT and use #naturechampions

For those that find it easier to travel by bus, our friends over at the Peak District National Park have teamed up with Stagecoach to organise the Hope Valley Explorer - a seasonal bus service launching on Sunday 21st July. The positive new partnership hopes to encourage people to enjoy using public transport that is better for the environment and the local communities. For more information please visit Hope Valley Explorer.

Train it like the trespassers - see pink, stop and think, of how to BE KINDER!

In the words of Jarvis

"This project is about reinforcing the original trespassers' message: the landscape belongs to everyone - whilst making the point that the preservation of the landscape has now become EVERYONE'S responsibility.

Be kind to the landscape.

Be kind to the environment.

Then stop, close your eyes for a moment and think of how to be kinder.

To Be Kinder.

Thank you."

Looking after Kinder

Today the National Trust looks after Kinder Scout, having acquired the moorland in 1982. As well as continuing to provide access to the moorland, the Trust’s 50-year High Peak Moors Vision Project includes encouraging wildlife by developing habitats for them to live in, more trees and shrubs in the valleys nearby and restoring peat bogs, which play an important role in capturing and locking away carbon, as well as being an important place for wildlife.

With thanks

People's Landscape is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and with additional support from Art Fund.

We have also collaborated with the Sheffield based company Opus Independents

Download their app for great insights on the BE KINDER project and find out more about what's happening in your local area http://weareopus.org/projects/now-then-app/ This app is now available to download on your mobile phone.

Special thanks also go to our supporter groups: The Leicester Association and The Peak District Centre for all their support on this project.