An early objective of the Peak Park Special Planning Board was to secure
access to moorlands, by agreement with the landowners, so that they could be
enjoyed by walkers, as well as for more specialist activities such as
rock-climbing. Between 1951 and 1965 agreements were voluntarily entered
into by landowners for 76 square miles of moorland, allowing walkers freedom
to roam these agreed areas except for a few days each year during the grouse
shooting season. It provided access for walkers to iconic locations such as
Kinder Scout, Bleaklow, Laddow Rocks, Black Hill and the beautiful moorlands
of the Upper Derwent Valley, all of which had hitherto been ‘off limits’.
Walkers took up these new opportunities with enthusiasm and trains and buses
from cities such as Manchester and Sheffield would be filled with hikers and
ramblers, at weekends and holidays, heading for the Peak District hills.

Cats walk on four legs and generally have a long tail. Their coats can differ greatly in colour and in length depending on the breed. They have highly tuned senses and are known to have particularly good night vision due to the way their eyes reflect light inside the iris.

Cats are one of the most popular animals to keep as pets because of their intelligence and their incredibly social behaviour. Despite being quite independent creatures they almost invariably enjoy the company of humans.

Female cats can have two or three litters every year and each litter may contain between three and five kittens. They reach sexual maturity between five and ten months old, so a single female could have as many as 150 kittens during her life. This is a point worth keeping in mind when you keep cats as pets.

There are many variations of coat patterns amongst common domesticated cats, but some of the most common include:

Tabby cat

Tabby cats have striped markings with a number of different styles and patterns. Their fur is usually a light brown with darker brown blotches or striped markings.
Tortoiseshell cat

Also known as a Calico cat, this coat pattern will commonly consist of a white chest and belly with a random pattern of black and red fur, sometimes with white spots.

Colorpoint cat

A colorpoint cat is one that has a dark colour on its face, ears, tail and feet with a lighter version of the same colour across their body. This is most commonly associated with the Siamese cat.

Historically cats were thought to be a species that originated in Ancient Egypt, mainly because of the cult appeal of cats in that country. However, more recent studies suggest that domestic cats are much more similar to very old species of wild cats that lived in Africa. Many of their physical characteristics, such as the ability to maintain a very high body temperature would be consistent with this theory.

Cats are very playful and cute whilst dogs are loyal, friendly and can be excellent at protecting the household from unwanted visitors. Dogs love to play, catch balls and go for walks. Cats generally go out alone to meet other cats in the neighbourhood and can be very independent animals.

One of the most worrying things that can happen is if their pet goes missing. Missing pets can cause an extraordinary amount of stress and worry to owners.  Lost cats in particular can be difficult to find because they can be stuck on a roof out of sight, behind a shed, or could have sadly been involved in a road accident.

A lost dog is often easier to find because most people will take notice of a dog that is on its own, compared to a cat that many people may not assume is actually lost.

Microchips establish whom a pet belongs to once it is found. It can then easily be reunited with its family.

In the UK there are specialised pet detective agencies that search for missing pets. Using search teams of people and dogs, which are trained specifically for the task, these agencies help to reunite those missing pets with their grateful owners.

Throughout history dogs have been bred for specific looks or specific jobs and they now boast one of the most diverse ranges of breeds of any animal on the planet. They are a member of the wolf family – a trait which can clearly identified in certain breeds but could not seem farther from the truth in other breeds.

Certain breeds of dog have become iconic symbols that represent the entire species. They will share many of the same physical characteristics of other dogs but are instantly recognisable to dog lovers around the globe.

The Golden Retriever is a fairly large breed of dog developed in Great Britain as a loyal and energetic dog. Their characteristic friendliness has seen them become and incredibly popular pet, and their ability to learn and be trained easily has seen them widely used as service dogs for people with disabilities.

The Poodle is an incredibly recognisable breed, with its rich and curly coat. The Poodle is an elegant breed that is often used for showing. They are also an intelligent and attentive breed and can be trained very well.

The Dalmatian is another iconic breed with a beautiful white coat punctuated by the familiar black or brown spots. They are believed to have originated from an area in Croatia and their popularity grew with the release of the Disney Film “101 Dalmatians”.

The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the smaller breeds of dog that combines a true sense of loyalty with a very playful nature. They are a type of lap dog and their affection towards humans has seen them become an incredibly popular pet.

Dogs do come in all shapes and sizes and sport a wide range of personalities. Every dog owner has their favourite breed and it is often said that owners will start to resemble their dogs after a period because of their emotional attachment.

Dogs have proved themselves to be useful workers and loyal companions to humans throughout our history.

Dogs are carnivorous mammals that are part of the Canidae family of animals. They are actually a descendant of the Gray Wolf – one of the survivors of the Ice Age. They have an incredibly diverse range of sub-species due to cross-breeding under the control of humans.

Sizes, colours and temperaments of domestic dogs vary hugely. The smallest known dog was a Yorkshire Terrier that measured a meagre 6.3 centimetres from paw to shoulder and weighed 113 grams, and the largest was an English Mastiff weighing in at 343 pounds!

Dogs have been used as working animals for humans in a number of different roles and over many years. They have been bred or utilised for herding animals, pulling sleds, hunting vermin and more recently trained as guide dogs or service dogs to help people with disabilities.

They have also been preened and pampered by their owners and showed at competitions, where they compete with dogs of all breeds on factors such as their appearance, temperament and movement.

Dogs are considered to be one of the more intelligent creatures on the planet and can be trained through simple lessons and reinforcement routines. The most effective method of training a dog is to allow the puppies to observe the behaviour of older dogs. One particularly smart breed of dog is the Border Collie and they are commonly trained to respond to a farmers whistle to herd livestock.

Their intelligence and their tenable personalities are what have earned the dog its nickname of “man’s best friend”. Their appeal is so universal that this phrase exists in many languages around the world.