In this episode of Our Community, I’m in the village of Hayfield in the high peaks of Derbyshire on the ninetieth anniversary weekend of the historic Kinder Mass Trespass.
The physical and mental consolations of nature are one of life’s great gifts but granting working class people access to the countryside has long been fraught with conflict. Ninety years ago members of the young communist league gathered at Kinder Scout here in Derbyshire, to highlight the fact that walkers were denied access to areas of open country. When the group reached the plateau of Kinder Scout, there were violent scuffles with gamekeepers. As a result, six ramblers were arrested. They received jail sentences ranging from two to six months for offences relating to violence involving the keepers.
According to the Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group website, this act of civil disobedience was one of the most successful in British history. It arguably led to the passage of the National Parks legislation in 1949[8] and helped pave way for the establishment of the Pennine Way and other long-distance footpaths. Walkers' rights to travel through common land and uncultivated upland were eventually protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW Act) of 2000.
This is the first of three conversations recorded over the Kinder Mass Trespass 90th anniversary weekend in the High Peaks of Derbyshire in Hayfield village hall.
I want to thank Joss Underwood from the Tent People, who organised a fantastic pop-up event on the village green in Hayfield and generously introduced me to today’s guest; Helen Darby.
Helen is a queer, non-binary poet from Manchester who lives in the High Peak. They often write about the interweaving of place, time, class and identity, and sometimes about internet dating.
They have performed invited guest slots at Lancaster Spotlight, That's What She Said Manchester, Superbia for Manchester Pride, Manchester Museum, New Mills Festival, The Bronte Festival of Women’s Writing, Stirred and She Grrrowls in Edinburgh Free Fringe, amongst others.
Their poems have recently been published in The Broken Spine and the modernist magazines.
In this recording, Helen delivers a beautiful rendition of their powerful poem; 1932 Kinder Scout
· We talk about the importance of open spaces for leisure and how the relief of the countryside was vital for the mill factory workers around Manchester.
· How celebrating and understanding historical events such as the Kinder Mass Trespass is vital to 'keeping the flame alive and fostering understanding of connection and context.
· How socialist roots and collective action shape people.
Reach Helen on Instagram @helenlouisedarby or at their website www.helendarbypoetry.com
Find out more about the Tent People: www.thetentpeople.co.uk
Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group: https://kindertrespass.org.uk/