A series of local events is taking place over the next few weeks to celebrate the 1898 battle by local workers for public access to the moors…
Did you know that over 50 years before the famous Kinder Trespass in Derbyshire in 1932, Darwen Moor witnessed its own struggle for public access to moorland?
A Silent Right to Roam is an exciting project run by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, funded by Historic England, and partnering with local artists and musicians to celebrate the people of Darwen and their connection to the amazing moorland that surrounds us. Moor Fest is series of community events that anyone can get involved with which aims to bring people together to enjoy that hard won right to access Darwen Moor.
Moor Fest at Bold Venture Scout Hut
Moor Fest is hosted at the Bold Venture Scout on Manor Road in Darwen, with events running on Saturday 2nd May, Sunday 10th May and Sunday 17th May. These events will celebrate the moors through art, poetry and music, with local artwork on display, bands performing each week and Lancashire food to enjoy. And of course, it wouldn’t be a celebration of the right to roam on the moors without a walk up to Darwen Tower!
Local artist, Marjan Wouda, who was involved in the project, said:
“My role in the Silent Right to Roam project was to find ways of using visual art to engage various community groups in exploring their relationship to Darwen Moor and – in a wider sense – in sharing memories of landscapes that hold meaning. We invited local groups – such as the library craft group – as well as refugees to take part. It was very moving to see people give expression to how much the moor landscape means to them. Working with people who are relatively new to Darwen and its moorland, we asked them to share images of meaningful places and received an outpouring of forms of expression that revealed a love of place and a connection to landscapes far and wide.”
Investing in the future of our natural spaces
We want present and future generations of our community to enjoy the moor and the benefits of spending time in nature. The Darwen Town Deal is set to be invested in the paths up through the parks and on to the moor and Jubilee Tower through the Destination Darwen scheme. Improving accessibility and enhancing natural spaces will both benefit locals, and encourage visitors to experience our stunning moor and industrial history for themselves.
We hope to see you soon at Moor Fest! Spring is the perfect time to get outdoors and appreciate the wonderful green space around us in Darwen.
Find out more about the Silent Right to Roam project and Moor Fest:
- More details about the Silent Right to Roam project and the Moor Fest events can be found at www.lancswt.org.uk/witton-greenhouse-project.
- You can also download a free walking trail map that covers Darwen Town Centre to the iconic Jubilee Tower on Darwen Moor.
