Fixed Point Photography

On a cold Saturday in December, a group of young people from the Kirklees Youth Offending Team came out on to Buckstones to do some fixed point photography. Splitting into 2 groups, we walked about the moors in the partial sunshine taking photos from particular spots.

These photos all help to make up a portfolio of images of the same spots so that we can monitor how the moors are changing, and particularly on Buckstones, so that we can see how quickly plants are starting to grow again after the fire a couple of years ago.

After stopping for a breezy lunch, we then went off looking for potential spots for gully blocking, following our noses that were following the GPS.After a few windy hours on the moors, we then headed back to Marsden.

Insect Homes For Sale!

Do you want to encourage more wildlife into your garden? If so, then we have just what you need.

We have luxury bird tables, hedgehog hotels and insect homes for sale, all handmade by Marsden Moor volunteers.

Bird tables cost £40, Hedgehog hotels cost £15 and Insect homes cost just £7, as pictured.

If you would like to purchase any of these, please contact the estate office to place your order on 01484 847016.

Flagging in the Snow

On the last Saturday in November, the weekend work party volunteers arrived in Marsden and found it looking very wintry. Snow was falling and the ground was white. A lovely day to be on the moors!

The work was doing more flag laying on the old Pennine Way and despite the path being nearly finished, there was still more than a mile walk to start our labouring. Once at the area of path we were working on, it took just one flag to be placed for everyone to be looking very dirty.

The snow stopped falling on us and we continued working hard to attempt to stay warm enough, only stopping for a cup of tea or pork pie for extra energy. By the end of the day, we had finished the section, and we trudged back to the vehicles looking like we had done a hard days' work.

Deerhill and Blackmoorfoot Walk

After 2 days of torrential rain, we all set off wrapped up to the hilt fearing the worst! However the sun was soon out and remained out for most of the 9.5 mile circular walk from Marsden around Deer Hill and Blackmoorfoot Reservoir and back through Linthwaite and Slaithwaite back along the canal to Marsden.

Andrew set a good pace and we completed the walk in 4.5 hrs with a lunch stop. Fantastic views all the way round with sunny blue skies and a stunning rainbow stretching across the valley.

A little muddy in parts, after a few hysterical screams and screeches we managed to pull ourselves out and keep the pace up. Passing through some lovely farm areas there was lots to see including young highland cattle, donkies, horses and lots of cows looking slightly bemused at our antics in the mud!

All in all a lovely day out enjoyed by all and certainly a walk I’ll being doing again!

Emma Murray.

Come Cotton Grass Planting!!

As part of the Learning Revolution Festival, we are inviting YOU to come and help us look after our moorland estate by planting some cotton grass with us. On Saturday October 31st, come to Buckstones car park on the A640 at 10.30. You can come and learn about why we need to protect the moors and stop the peat from eroding away, and help to prevent this from happening by planting cotton grass.

The event will run from 10.30 til 12.30. Please wear warm clothes and suitable boots. Come along to try something new and to get out onto the wonderful Marsden Moor!

The Vanishing of the Bees

On Thursday 29th October, The National Trust will be screening a film called The Vanishing of the Bees. Vanishing of the Bees is a shocking eye-opening account about the declining bee population. Bees are dying in their millions and are vital for pollinating a third of the food we eat. Come along to watch this film and find out about why the bees are disappearing.

The film will be shown at British Waterways, Tunnel End Visitor Centre, 2nd Floor. The show will begin at 2pm, so arrive earlier to get a good seat.

Adult tickets are £2, children, up to 16 years, get in free. Booking is advised. For more information or to book a ticket, please call 01484 847016 or email alison.mills@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Gateway to Care Taster Day

On a sunny September day a group of adults from Kirklees Gateway to Care came to visit Marsden Moor for a volunteering taster day. The day was split with two different tasks so that the group could see what different volunteering opportunities we have.


In the morning we joined in with the plant group and had a look at what they do each week on Fridays. The group then got stuck in to sowing cotton grass seeds in to pots, in the hope that they will grow and can be planted out on the moors.

In the afternoon we had a trip up to Wessenden to take some of the fencing down. After a steep climb up to the top, everyone then got stuck in, helping to pull out posts and roll up wire, while also trying not to fall down any holes

Flag Laying at White Moss

On a lovely sunny day at the end of July, a team of four ventured out to lay some flags on the old Pennine Way.

Having crossed a large wet patch without any casualties, it was then down hill all the way, manoevouring the massive stones into place.

After a hard days work, and being considerably muddier and sweatier than when we started, we sat to admire our fabulous stretch of path in the sun, and to enjoy the views across the estate.

Surveying at Buckstones

Volunteers and staff took part in a survey training day, learning the techniques needed to find out what plants we have on our moors.

The day started off well, with good weather and we all looked at a quadrat together to see what we could find.

Getting right down there is a good way to spot the smaller plants and make sure every species has been found.

Everyone had a go at doing a quadrat and collecting and recording their information. We then headed off to the second surveying site, everyone having great confidence in their surveying abilities.

And then suddenly, the weather turned for the worse, and within 30 seconds of being in the rain everyone was dripping wet. But this didn't deter anyone, and we carried on in the wind and rain, trying to identify our plant species.

Eventually we managed to finish and could head back to the warm, dry, cosy office for a cup of tea and to put all our data together.

Are you a Wild Child??

Don't let yourself get bored in the summer holidays, come and be a Wild Child on the moors!

We have several activites to get you outdoors and trying something a bit different.


On August 7th come and join in with the Moorland Dance Day! For people aged 11-16, come along to the Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre at 11am, and make your own instruments and costumes, and find out about the moors through dance! Finishes at 3pm.

Come along to one of our family walks, either on August 9th, meeting at 1.30pm at Brun Clough car park, or August 23rd at 1.30pm at Marsden Park gates. Or come to both! Walks are between 3 and 4 miles long, and suitable for everyone.

Come to any of these, and pick up your FREE Wild Child booklet. There is so much to discover!

Installing HLF Stone Plinths

Rob and the volunteers putting in one of the stone plinths for the Marsden Heritage Trail at the Dinnerstones.Managing to manhandle the stone into the perfect sized hole that had been dug.
The finished result with a beautiful view across to Castle Shaw.

The Marsden Moor Heritage Trail consists of a number of stone plinths and interpretation boards at various points across the Marsden Moor Estate. These are put in at some of the best viewpoint locations and places of historic interest, and the trail will help people to learn more about the history of the moors and why the National Trust is looking after the moors. There will be leaflets so that people can easily follow the trails and get out and enjoy the wonderful Marsden Moor Estate!

African Music Guided Walk - 7th June

A four mile walk across some of the Marsden Moor Estate had a difference as we were joined by Simba Arts, who came along with African dress, drums and their dancing feet on. The walk was accompanied by the music and singing, with everyone joining in and getting dressed up.

All along the walk there were the sounds of drums beating and people singing. There were frequent stops to learn about African culture and traditions, as well as for dancing and music. Everyone joined in with everyone dancing with each other. Walkers coming across the affair seemed to be intrigued and amused by the unusual happenings in Marsden.

It was a very enjoyable afternoon out in the moors as it was such an unusual experience.

Getting into the rhythm

Singing traditional African Music

Dancing in the wilderness

African dancing in the wilds Everyone joining in with some traditional songs

More of the Moor

Keep updated with what's been happening on the Marsden Moor Estate! We will be adding pictures and information about what we have recently been doing. Watch out for it coming soon...