TV star inspired to take on job by love of Peak District
TV presenter Julia Bradbury, who is about become president of the region's Campaign to Protect Rural England, was introduced to the Peak District as a child living in Sheffield.
"Dad took me all over the Peak District, especially to the White Peak, and I have great memories of walks along the Monsal Trail up to Monsal Head and the amazing viaduct," said the TV presenter.
"I tickled my first trout at Shatton and love places like Cressbrook and Monks Dale. We went all over really. My grandma lived in Buxton and I spent a lot of time by the streams and in the woods there too."
Now Julia has a special responsibility to ensure that the countryside she enjoyed so much as a youngster is preserved and enhanced for other generations.
From next month, she is the president of the Peak District & South Yorkshire branch branch of Campaign to Protect Rural England from next month, succeeding Lord Hattersley.
One of television's most experienced and versatile presenters, Julia is the host of BBC's consumer affairs programme Watchdog and has demonstrated her love for landscapes and travel through her BBC series, Wainwright's Walks, and Channel 5's new travel series The Rough Guide to…
Based in London, she is currently working on a BBC series about the Beeching railway closures.
"Having travelled around the world it's remarkable when I come back to Britain how breathtaking the landscapes closer to home are," she said.
"I'm honoured to be asked to be involved with CPRE's work to protect the Peak District and South Yorkshire countryside which is very close to my heart.
"The countryside played a huge part in my growing up and I hope I can help encourage more people to get out there and enjoy it, experience how beautiful these landscapes are and support the work of CPRE to help make sure it remains so for the future."
Julia was born in Dublin to a Greek mother and a Derbyshire-born father whose work in the steel industry took them to Sheffield, where Julia went to King Edward VII School.
She was introduced to the Peak District as a schoolgirl by her father, Michael, who was born in Tideswell. Their regular outings fostered a lifelong passion for the outdoor life.
Now she heads the Sheffield-based organisation which has 1,000 Friends of the Peak District and 600 CPRE members.
It covers the Peak District National Park, rural South Yorkshire, the Derbyshire High Peak and seven parishes of North East Derbyshire.
The charity supports communities working to protect their countryside by providing free training, technical expertise and campaigning advice.
Chief executive Carol Robinson described Julia as "a vibrant and passionate person whose affection for the special qualities of our countryside reflects our organisation's passion to ensure it is protected for the future.
"We are really looking forward to working with her and appreciate her generous support in helping to promote our work."
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
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