Community volunteers help ensure Buxton's The Slopes doesn't go downhill

Buxton Town Team has formed a special group to tidy up the edges of the grass surrounding features and the interlinked paths – originally designed to give varying gradients of exercise for the people who took the waters in the town’s hey-day as a spa.

High Peak Borough Council is helping the volunteers by clearing away the weeds and rubbish collected during the clean-up, which started last week and will continue on three more dates.

“With the combination of the Crescent being refurbished and the Market Place coming back on stream, The Slopes need to look good as well,” said Jim Lowe, who is leading The Slopes Care Team.

“It’s one of the key features of Buxton, an area which links the upper and lower parts of the town.

“Anybody who wants to come along and help is more than welcome,” said Jim, who can be contacted on 07923111738.

The team met at 10am at the Slopes end of the Town Hall in the car park and work between 10am and noon.

The next dates are Thursday August 11, Saturday August 20 and Thursday August 25. It is hoped the project will continue for the foreseeable future.

The Slopes are registered on English Heritage’s Historic Gardens list. Described as pleasure grounds, they were probably laid out by Jeffry Wyatville for the sixth Duke of Devonshire circa 1818 and form the setting for The Crescent and attached buildings relating to the spa.

This area was originally a bare hillside called St Ann’s Cliff. The steeply sloping bank is grassed and planted with scattered trees. Curved terraced paths are linked by paths which curve in the opposite direction, forming a pattern of interlocking ellipses.

For more details about Buxton Town Team, visit buxtontownteam.org.