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Buxton NHS Crisis, Wild Peak Project & High Peak's Best Restaurants
Buxton NHS Crisis, Wild Peak Project & High Peak's Best Restaurants
This week: the fight to keep NHS services in Buxton, the Wild Peak habitat restoration project, Molly Soden-Freeth's Act 2 Performing, and Michelin-recognised Almanac in Glossop.
Ian Barwell
Mar 11, 2026
Trivia Question❓The Druid Inn, a 174-year-old pub that closed in January, is reopening this week after a huge community effort to save it. But which Peak District village is it in? Answer at the bottom of the newsletter |
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The Buxton NHS Fight: What's Being Moved and Why It Matters |
This week's lead story reports on the political battle over Stockport NHS Trust's plan to move nine outpatient services from Buxton to Stepping Hill Hospital. But what does this mean for you and your family? Here is a simple breakdown of the services affected, the reasons given, and what you can do about it. |
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Which services are moving?
From the end of March 2026, the following nine services are set to be relocated from Buxton's hospitals to Stepping Hill in Stockport:
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Service Category | Specific Clinics |
Why is this happening?
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust argues the move is based on patient numbers. They state that most High Peak residents already travel to Stepping Hill for appointments, with 24,000 appointments there last year compared to only 5,000 in Buxton. They also report that local GPs referred 10,500 patients to Stockport services, versus just 1,500 to the same services in Buxton.
The Trust claims that centralising these services will be more efficient, as Buxton does not provide the full range of diagnostic and clinical services needed to support them.
What is the real-world impact?
For residents of the High Peak, the move represents a significant new barrier to accessing healthcare. A round trip from Buxton to Stepping Hill Hospital is approximately 30 miles and can take over an hour by car. For those relying on public transport, the journey is significantly longer, often involving multiple changes and taking up to two hours each way. Beyond the time, residents will face increased fuel and parking costs, or the price of bus and train fares. For elderly residents, people with disabilities, and those without access to a car, the journey to Stockport can be prohibitively difficult — raising serious concerns that people will miss vital appointments or delay seeking care.
What can you do?
The fight to keep these services in Buxton is ongoing, and local leaders are urging residents to make their voices heard.
Sign the Petition: High Peak MP Jon Pearce has launched a petition calling for the decision to be reversed. Search "Jon Pearce Buxton NHS petition" to find and sign it.
Contact Your Councillor: Your local councillors (both Borough and County) are formally opposing this move. Contacting them to share your personal story of how this will affect you can provide powerful evidence for their campaign.
Stay Informed: The council plans to invite the Chief Executive of the NHS Trust to a Select Committee to explain the decision. Keep an eye on local news for updates.
This decision is not yet final. A strong, unified community voice can bring the NHS back to the table to reconsider.
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Graduation in the arts can feel daunting for young performers, with few clear next steps. But 22-year-old Molly Soden-Freeth from Chinley is determined to change that.
She founded Act 2 Performing, a new community interest company in the Peak District, as a bridge for ages 18–35 seeking to develop their stage and industry skills.
The group’s debut is a lively production of High School Musical at New Mills Art Theatre from 19–21 March, providing hands-on experience from performing to self-marketing.
Act 2’s second mission is deeply inclusive. Molly brings workshops to local schools—including Peak School and Hope Valley College’s SEND department—opening the arts world to children with disabilities in safe and joyful settings.
The SEND workshops are already in high demand, with potential for full-time expansion thanks to Arts Council England support.
Molly is building a lasting, inclusive future for the High Peak’s creative community. Read More... |
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Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has completed a transformative two-year habitat restoration in the Peak District after securing £1.69 million from the Government’s Species Survival Fund.
Running from March 2024 to February 2026, the “Restoration of Lost Habitats for a Wild Peak” initiative blended large-scale environmental work with deep community engagement.
Thousands of trees were planted, over 70 hectares of wildflower meadow restored, and more than 1,300 people took part in 26 projects, from pond creation to wildlife housing.
A network of 75 local landowners, managing 6,000 acres, was crucial to reconnecting fragmented habitats and supporting the return of native species.
Dave Savage, Head of Landscape Recovery, praised the project’s collaborative spirit, saying it set a bold vision for a wilder future, one that could soon include black grouse and osprey as celebrated residents once again. Read More... |
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Almanac has quickly emerged as Glossop’s latest culinary gem, drawing food lovers with its inventive take on modern British cuisine.
Led by chef-owner Luke Payne of The Pack Horse fame, the restaurant has already earned recognition with a prestigious Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide for top-quality, exceptional-value dining.
Almanac offers a relaxed, intimate atmosphere where guests enjoy creative small plates, unique cocktails, and thoughtfully curated wines.
Dishes showcase local ingredients and deep, satisfying flavours praised by The Good Food Guide for their technique and balance.
This neighbourhood spot has overcome early challenges—including a last-minute rebrand—to firmly establish itself as a cornerstone of High Peak’s thriving food scene, bringing city-level culinary ambition to a welcoming local setting. Read More... |
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Sett Valley Kitchen, a High Peak-based pie maker behind the Live & Let’s Pie brand, has earned national honours at the 2026 British Pie Awards in Melton Mowbray.
The small team, led by owner Jo Orme, took home Silver for their Vegan Wild Mushroom & Spinach Pie and Bronze for their signature Kinder Beef & Thornsett Brewery Ale Pie, standing out among over 1,000 entries nationwide.
This recognition comes less than a year after Sett Valley Kitchen opened as an independent business, following the sale of the award-winning Sett Valley Café.
Chefs Nick Robinson and Nicole Sykes build on their local reputation by handcrafting pies and cakes with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
Riding this wave of success, Sett Valley Kitchen now seeks to expand wholesale, inviting local cafés, pubs, and restaurants to feature their award-winning pies, a boost for both the business and the High Peak food scene. Read More... |
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Every small donation helps fuel more time exploring The High Peak's best businesses.
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💡 Answer to Trivia Question: Birchover. The Druid Inn has stood in this small Peak District village for 174 years — and thanks to the community, it will stand for many more. |