Moor Knowledge 2026: 360 Children Discover the Peak District's Living Moorlands

Now in its second year, Moor Knowledge returned to the Peak District this summer, welcoming 360 schoolchildren for two days of hands-on learning about the uplands on their doorstep.

Launched last year as a Peak District Moorland Group initiative, Moor Knowledge exists to deepen public and schools' understanding of our upland moorlands: how they function, the people who manage them, the habitats and wildlife they support, and the wider value they offer, from public health to mental wellbeing and long-term sustainability.

Where previous years battled wind and rain, this year brought the opposite. Held on 25 and 26 June, the event coincided with a heatwave, with Met Office warnings issued just as the two-day programme was due to begin. With the welfare of guests, and particularly the children attending, as the top priority, organisers chose to proceed with significant adaptations to keep every child safe and comfortable.

It proved the group's most ambitious year yet, and those who came were rewarded with what many called the best event in its short history. Shaded areas and water provision were increased at every station across the site, and feedback from children, teachers, delivery partners and gamekeepers alike confirmed it was worth every effort.

Richard Bailey, coordinator of the Peak District Moorland Group, said: "It was wonderful to see so many schoolchildren learning about our upland moorlands and what they mean to us. Sharing our knowledge with the younger generation is exactly what Moor Knowledge is about, and despite the heat, the event ran to plan and will surely be a highlight of the summer."

Each group spent 25 minutes at each of the seven stations, learning directly from experts including local farmers, beekeepers, Woodhead Mountain Rescue, a professional mountaineer, the South Yorkshire Rural Crime Team and Off-Road Bike Unit, and the group's gamekeepers. Their generosity in sharing knowledge and engaging so warmly with the children was the heart of the event's success.

To beat the heat, organisers brought in extra-large sunshades, and at the wildfire station children cooled off using misting equipment normally used to dampen fire risk. For a child facing 30-degree heat, a fine spray of water proved every bit as popular with the teachers as it was with the pupils.

No event like this runs without strong support behind the scenes. Thanks go to Brindon Addy, the award-winning local family butcher, whose lunches have become something of a legend. It is a fitting reminder that events like Moor Knowledge are powered by exactly the kind of rural community spirit they exist to celebrate.