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Key achievements
Proudly protecting the landscapes of the Peak District and South Yorkshire countryside since 1924.
From the very start we have championed the beauty and preservation of the countryside. Our tireless efforts have shaped many of the local landscapes we all cherish today, from the moorland tops to the urban edges.
Through her environmental campaigning, our founder, Ethel Haythorntwaite led public appeals to acquire land and protect green spaces from inappropriate development. This included much-loved areas such as the Longshaw Estate and Blacka Moor, which were gifted to the people of Sheffield so that they could be enjoyed freely 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 of our work to this day. As a leading countryside charity, we stand for a countryside that enriches all of our lives, regenerates our wellbeing, and that we in turn regenerate, protect and celebrate.
We want everyone to experience the benefits of a thriving countryside, now and for generations to come.
Explore our work
Click on the coloured markers on the map below to learn more about our work to protect and enhance the Peak District and South Yorkshire countryside, over the last century.
Colour key:
1924 – 1933, 1934 – 1943, 1944 – 1953, 1954 – 1963, 1964 – 1973, 1974 – 1983, 1984 – 1993, 1994 – 2003, 2004 – 2013, 2014 – 2024
With special thanks to Stepan, a University of Sheffield Geography student, for using GIS mapping skills to document our work in over 180 locations throughout the Peak District and South Yorkshire countryside.
Peak District National Park
Our founder, helped make the successful case for the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949, which led to the designation of the Peak District National Park in 1951.
Sheffield Green Belt
We were instrumental in the development of a Green Belt around Sheffield and its preservation was assured largely by the purchase of many of the farms and woodlands that surrounded the city.
Mam Tor
In 1942 we purchased 473 acres at Mam Tor and the Winnats Pass, it was later presented to the National Trust.
Longshaw
Ethel Haythornthwaite fronted an appeal to save Longshaw Estate from inappropriate development. The 747 acre estate was gifted to the National Trust in 1931.
Blacka Moor
Ethel’s skilful negotiation helped acquire 448 acres of threatened land at Blacka Moor, which would soon become part of a Sheffield Green Belt. It was presented to the City of Sheffield in 1933.
Mayfield Valley
We paved the way for the Green Belt by purchasing farms and woodlands, including much of the Mayfield Valley.
Sheffield Green Belt
In 1937 we surveyed land around Sheffield and submitted a plan for a Green Belt – England’s first. In 1938 our proposal was accepted by Sheffield City Council. In the north, south, east and west – farms, woods and moorland were ear-marked for the Sheffield Green Belt.
We continue to protect the Green Belt from inappropriate development so that people can enjoy a beautiful and thriving countryside.
Learn about the Green Belt