In my film, I wanted to capture some of the beauty of peatland bogs (which some may think is in short supply), and originally planned to walk from Danes Moss into the heart of the Peak District. Instead, my eventual route was suggested by a friend who is an avid climber and currently in the process of writing a book about walks in the Peak District for those who (like myself) may rely on public transport. He devised a walk which took me across Stanage Edge (popular among rock climbers for its 4 mile stretch of gritstone), and it was here where I met artist Craig Longmuire. Craig, who told me that his name roughly means ‘rock’ and ‘expansive wetland’ respectively, was also admiring the landscape and its peatlands that afternoon, and briefly shared his enthusiasm with me in a short interview. 

I have only recently learned that ‘Moss’ in place names is a good indicator that peatlands are afoot, and while walking along Stanage Edge I was able to film some beautiful landscape shots of White Path Moss. This was also where I had my closest encounter with a peat bog to date. Having seen my friend and assistant cameraman Reza very nearly sink through the deceptively dry looking reed-covered surface into a boggy hole, it shouldn’t really have come as a surprise when I found myself waist deep in the same place. Though it was an unseasonably warm day in March, I wasn’t quite ready for a dip, or indeed keen on becoming a bog body. I did, of course, make it out of the bog alive.