I took these pictures of parts of the Derbyshire Peak District in November 2007. This clip features a few slides of Arbor Low, a late Neolithic/early Bronze Age henge which dates from around 2500 BC. This henge's stones are lying down now, but (controversially) no holes of any substance have been found to support the idea of them ever having stood erect. Doubtless, this theory will continue to be studied and discussed. However, these uncertainties, together with this place's prehistory, conjure mystery and fascination - what was the purpose of this stone circle and its enclosing earthwork? What was in the collective mind of the ancient peoples of Derbyshire? Arbor Low and similar places throughout Britain consumed resources - a significant diversion from local (mainly agrarian) economic activity. It's been estimated for example that the henge's construction required the removal of 4000 tons of limestone - an utterly prodigious, amazing feat nearly five thousand years ago for the ancient Britons. By contrast however, emphatically NOT for ancient Egyptians, who at almost the same time were building the Great Pyramid - an altogether more sophisticated enterprise!. How the World ebbs and flows in its ever-shifting culture and centres of power. It's hard for us today to understand big shifts in the greater timeline of our world - indeed, that Britain was almost at the Equator when Derbyshire's basically coral reef geology was being formed. At any rate, we ask: why did these prehistoric people construct Arbor Low? What moved them? Henges, as currently defined, always have a ditch on the INSIDE of their bank, a criterion which rules out any defensive purpose, unlike late Bronze or Iron Age forts for example, with their inner ramparts and outer ditches (I shall leave counterscarps out of this for the moment!). Moreover, Arbor Low was built to deny even the merest glimpse of what was going on inside, until one entered the outer bank. And even then, the secrets of the ritual activities, as they are now supposed, were concealed by a "cove" - the innermost part of the henge, hidden by the central (now fallen) stones. For me, Arbor Low holds power, energy, and beauty. Its evocative setting tells. I wish John Betjeman, or Thomas Hardy, or even Robert Frost had given us a poem about it. And I'd be quite enthusiastic about making Arbor Low my final repose :) Peveril Castle at Castleton features in the early slides. The closing images, aside from the very last one, are of the "Dark Peak" - almost treeless peat groughs on a high plateau in the Peak District's Northern extremity. Bleaklow and Kinder Scout are the named focal points here, not that you'd easily mark them out as the higher parts of the landscape. And besides, the Dark Peak is stunning in any context, easily the equal of any other landscape on Earth. This music is Jeremy Kittel's "Napkin Tune" from his new album "Chasing Sparks". Jeremy is an exceptional artist in my opinion. Acoustic instruments FTW :) I hope he doesn't mind my using his lovely composition here! For more videos and other information about the Peak District please visit Let's Stay Peak District at www.peakdistrict-nationalpark.com I hope you enjoy.

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