The Cupboard door opens....

 Opening the Door

The Cabinet of Treasures grows

The Cabinet of Treasures is growing…windows are filling up, people are standing on balconies to watch the world wander by. People are perched precariously in castle windows. There are robins, fish, a bold fox, a haunted graveyard

These are the treasures that touch people’s lives: places, people, wildlife, stories: all the things that build a sense of place, a sense of belonging, of being part of the communities around us…treasures shared

This weekend - TOMORROW! - Derbyshire Makes is in celebration in Glossop. Details: Derbyshire Makes in Glossop

There will be lots to do stories to listen too, talks to challenge you, music to enjoy, art to be part of and the wonderful Lady of the Loom may be receiving guests. Thius day is being coordinated by the Valiant Folks of High Peak Community Arts who deserve medals for Courage (tackling the streets of Glossop), Confidence (trusting the High Peak weather) and Patience (dealing with all of us artists!)

The Lady of the Loom (and sidekick-cum-bodyguard)

And you can add your own ideas about local treasures to our cabinet…and make your own tiny Cabinet to take home

During this project we have been using pictures from the collections of the Glossop Heritage Trust and the Picture the Past archives. These resources are rich, rewarding and wonderful: treasures in their own right!

With many thanks to the artists whose work is featured below from St Andrews CofE Primary School in Hadfield.

Creeping Toad are delighted to have been awarded a Derbyshire Makes Creative and Community Grant by Derbyshire County Council to support the creative work we are doing in the county. Derbyshire Makes is a three-year programme to celebrate the past present and future of making in Derbyshire.   

See: www.derbyshiremakes.co.uk 

St Andrews CofE Junior School....

St Andrews: butterflies

St Andrews: heading out on adventures

St Andrews: artist at work

Cabinet 1: the Mill

Cabinet 2: sort of a Castle

A Cabinet of Treasures

A Cabinet of Treasures

what makes Glossop special?

we might
look at carvings

From the old trees of Manor Park to the waters of Shelf Brook; from the crashing river of Kinder Downfall to ghosts following the old paths of Doctor's Gate, the Glossop area is full of treasures. Those treasures might be landscapes, or stories or histories or uncertainties (why is REDGATE in Little Padfield called Redgate?) but they might just as easily be the house where you live, the park where you play, your family, your friends, the neighbour who always helps.

We are collecting Treasures. Inviting people to add their own treasure: person, place, activity; animal, plant or story, to our Cabinet of Treasures.

Working through Derbyshire Makes with High Peak Community Arts, Creeping Toad will be running public events through April, inviting people to drop in, to think and make and talk and simply be creative!

Last year, we collected the Lost Stories of Glossop. This year we'll go for an even more personal response to the question "what makes Glossop (and the surrounding area!) special?" As we gather these Treasures, we'll build them into a doll's house of a Cabinet that will go on display in Glossop in May 2026 and become a digital gallery here at Creeping Toad.

we might make a tiny woodland

Mixing new drawings with old photographs, collage with cutting and colouring and sketching, we'll be making tiny scenes to display, to hang: to hold a treasure. We can work with anything from the Royal Forest of the Peaks to last year's Christmas present, from mysterious folklore to an over-exciting shopping list....

Events planned so far:

• All events are free: no tickets or booking needed
• Allow about 45 minutes for the activities
• Materials are provided
• If you are under 12, please bring a grown-up with you

Kinder Downfall
(with visitors)

Tuesday 31st March: Glossop Library, Talbot St, Glossop, 

SK13 7DG
10:30 - 15:00

Wednesday 1st April: Gamesley Library, Grindleford Grove, Gamesley, Glossop,SK13 6HW
14:00- 16:00

Thursday 9th April: Hadfield Library, Station Rd, Hadfield, SK13 1AA
14:00 - 16:00

Saturday 11th April: Manor Park, Manor Park Rd, Glossop SK13 7SH (Corn Street Car Park is probably easiest if travelling by car). Find us on the lawns by the cafe. 13:30 - 15:00

Saturday 9th May: Derbyshire Makes Festival at Glossop: look out for the Creeping Toad team and the Cabinet of Treasures: find us to add your own treasure to the Cabinet, listen to stories and meet the Babbling Vagabonds!

Creeping Toad are delighted to have been awarded a Derbyshire Makes Creative and Community Grant by Derbyshire County Council to support the creative work we are doing in the county. Derbyshire Makes is a three-year programme to celebrate the past present and future of making in Derbyshire.   

See: www.derbyshiremake.so.uk 

Lighting the Woods: what's on!

 

LIGHTING THE WOODS

the events list!

what's on:
talk, make, laugh, smile
be inspired!

Take time to pause,

To breathe, to walk, to wander,

To enjoy the woods of Buxton.

Step out in the darkest time of the year into an evening of wonder and remember summer flowers, butterflies, autumn toadstools and appreciate the winter cold

On Saturday February 21st 2026, Stone and Water invite you to take a walk through Grinlow Woods…tiny lanterns will flicker among tree roots, giant tree people will watch from the shadows, leaf-lanterns and shimmering birds will fill the branches. Join us for an evening of wonders

Put together in partnership with Buxton Civic Association, the Babbling Vagabonds and Creeping Toad, Lighting the Woods will celebrate the woods of Buxton. The underlying theme is just that: "local woods: their wildlife and wonder"

Events

All events are free: no booking or tickets needed: just drop by and join in!

January:
Tuesday 20th: sharing ideas: an open invitation for anyone who might like to get involved to come along and share ideas, offer skills, characters or just enthusiasm! We'll be at the Cheshire Cheese, 37 - 39 High St, Buxton, SK17 6HA...drop in and have a chat!

Sunday 25th: Woodland Windows and Wild Birds, Buxton Country Park, Temple Road, Buxton, SK17 9DH. Take the woodland home as a wonderful image in a picture frame. Coinciding with RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, we'll be encouraging people to have a go here at the Cavern about then to take information away to do a Birdwatch survey of their own at home
Parking: at the Visitor Centre - charges apply
Bus stops: Community School/Green Lane


February:

Sunday 8th: Garden Lights, Serpentine Community Garden, off Burlington Rd, Buxton, SK17 9DR10:00 - 13:00. Inspired by the flowers and seed heads, the leaves and stalks and wildlife of the Gardens, we'll make tiny bottle lanterns. Make one to take home and leave us one for Lighting the Woods

Please bring a clean plastic bottle with you if possible (500ml- 2l all work!)
Parking: at the Pavilion Gardens Car Park (charges apply) or on Burlington Road.
Bus stops: Pavilion Gardens or West Road)

Sunday 15th: Bottle Lanterns at Buxton Country Park, Temple Road, Buxton, SK17 9DH,10:30- 15:00 The patterns of winter trees, leaf skeletons and the shapes of hibernating animals could all appear in these beautiful lanterns. Make one to take home and leave us one for Lighting the Woods

Please bring a clean plastic bottle with you if possible (500ml- 2l all work!)
Parking: at the Visitor Centre - charges apply
Bus stops: Community School/Green Lane

Tuesday 17th Unexpected Animals!: Buxton Library, Kents Bank Road Buxton, SK17 9HW: 10:30- 15:00, Woodland wildlife: making bugs and beasties: we'll use card and shiny scrap to make a collection of wonderful creatures for our Lighting the Woods event. Make one for us to keep and one for yourself to look after at home!

Parking: at library
Bus stops: Cote Heath Park on Heath Park Road

Thursday 19th: Where we live is...CREATIVE, Assembly Rooms, The Crescent, Buxton, SK17 6BU.Join our woodland team at this lively event by the Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust: we'll be drawing, cutting, sticking and probably making a lovely mess!

Times: 10:30-12:30 & 2-4pm
Parking: town centre car park
Bus stops: Terrace Road

Saturday 21st: Lighting the Woods: Buxton Country Park, Temple Road, Buxton, SK17 9DH and at last we fill the woods with lights and tiny creatures and strange characters. Come and take an late afternoon wander through the trees and meet the magical world of Grinlow Woods!

Parking: at the Visitor Centre - charges apply
Bus stops: Community School/Green Lane

WEATHER WARNING: we will try to go ahead unless our Buxton winter really hits hard! If you aren't sure: check the links below on 19th or20th of February

MORE INFORMATION:

Facebook: creeping toad or stoneandwater

Ig: creepingtoad or Limestone740

Blogs:

creepingtoad.blogspot.com

stoneandwaterblog.wordpress.com

Kites and monsters: public events

Kites, Monsters and Trees

public events in the Autumn

As the summer turns towards autumn, the rosehips redden and the blackberries ripen on the brambles, we have a lively series of public events coming up. Some are Stone and Water, some are Creeping Toad: most are a bit of both!

More details are still to come for some but get these in your diary!

September

Sunday 21st: Autumn Kites 1: make and fly a kite inspired by the winged wildlife of Buxton. Drop in an exercise your flying skills! Design and make your own kite: we’re hoping for swallows, swifts, falcons, bats, bees and butterflies…..

Venue: Ashwood Park, Bakewell Rd, Buxton, SK17 9TB. (At the Morrisons end of the Park)

Time:10:30 - 15:30,

Cost: free

Organiser: Stone and Water

Project: Art in Action: setting out to build skills and bring people together

October

Saturday 4th: Autumn Woodland: a Fun Palaces event looking at trees and woodland wildlife: making bee houses, pop-up forests and giant drawings

Venue: Serpentine Walks, Burlington Rd, Buxton, SK17 9AL.

Time: 10:30 - 15:30

Cost: free

Organiser: Stone and Water with Creeping Toad, Buxton Wild Weeks and the Babbling Vagabonds

Project: Celebrating Woodland for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

Sunday 5th: Wirksworth Wizarding day

I am telling stories through the day on this amazing festival of magic, wizards, witches and wildness!

Magical creatures and wonderful monsters
old tales of enchantment. Here you may meet unicorns and dragons, boggarts, mermaids and stoorworms. Our stories will take us from the hills and rivers of Derbyshire to the wild north of Scotland. Add your own monster to the mix and slide a page into - or out of - The Wirksworth Bestiary. Suitable for families.

Details and booking: https://www.wizardingday.com/activities

A Creeping Toad day

Friday 24th

Assembly Rooms Buxton: a day with Buxton Wild Weeks exploring sustainability, biodiversity and the richness of our local environments Details to follow

More details to follow

Tuesday 28th: Autumn Kites 2: make and fly a kite inspired by the winged wildlife of Buxton. Drop in an exercise your flying skills! Design and make your own kite: we’re hoping for swallows, swifts, falcons, bats, bees and butterflies. Given that we are very close to Hallowe’en, we’re expecting a few broomstick kites and maybe some floating ghosts tangled in the treetops…we’ll be making indoors in the library and flying in the Rec

Venue: Buxton Library, Kents Bank Rd, Buxton, SK17 9HW.

Time: 10:30 - 15:30

Cost: free

Organiser: Stone and Water with Creeping Toad

Project: Art in Action: setting out to build skills and bring people together


Friday 31st

And at end the month, join us for a thoroughly spooky day at Ryecroft Hall, Audenshaw for Tameside MBC. There will be stories, masks to make, gargoyles build and sinister grinning goblins to hide in corners at home!

Details to follow

Organiser: Creeping Toad

Lost Species Day, Buxton

 Lost Species Day

November 30th 2024

Free event in Buxton

We have lost many species of animals and plants over the last few hundred years. Some by human action, some in the more natural way of things, but we know that now our human activity is accelerating the loss

Monte Verde Golden Toad, Moroccan Bustard, Great Auk, Du Toit’s Torrent Frog, Galapagos Amaranth 

There is a lot we can do now as individuals, as communities and as a species ourselves, to slow those declines but this day and its events offer an opportunity to pause and reflect

Join us for a Lost Species Day event at the Green Man Gallery, Hardwick Studios, Hardwick Square South, Buxton, SK17 6PY

Times: 11:00 - 15:00

Follow on fb: https://fb.me/e/2ylY3MR7P

Steller’s Sea Cow, Levuana Moth, St Helena Heliotrope, Giant Fiji Ground Frog, Stubble Quail

Step out of busy lives and Saturday busy-ness and take to time to stop. Think about the plants and animals we have lost. Find your own resolution to act: on a domestic scale, a local scale or on engaging with something bigger. All sorts of action helps from planting bumblebee friendly window boxes to active membership of conservation, environmental or social justice organisations. Just talking about it all helps: keep the thought active, keep the conversation alive, pursue your local councillor down the street or wave a lost frog flag at your MP

Caribbean Monk Seal, Little Swan Island Hutia, Kalimantan Mango, Montane Hutia, Puerto Rica Hutia

But mostly, this day is a chance to take time to pause and reflect on why these animals and plants matter to you and which of the current ones you’ll champion.

In UK, Scottish and Welsh devolved governments have set up species champions where MSP and MS individuals take on campaigning on behalf of their chosen species…maybe you could be your own Species Champion

https://www.scotlink.org/link-campaigns/nature-champions/

https://waleslink.org/category/species-champions/

We’ll be inviting participants at our event to add the names of the species that feel most strongly connected to to our “determination list” and offering participants the chance to make their own memorial to those who have gone - or to create their own little Determined Shrine for those species they will champion

• We’ll be making triptych Icons and Nichos like the ones illustrating this post
• This is a free event and materials are provided
• Just come along for an hour or so and join in
• The Green Man Gallery Christmas exhibition will be on then as well so lots of lovely things of all prices will be available

Jamaican Wood Rail, Parana Pine, St Kilda House Mouse, North Island Little Spotted Kiwi, Aurora Frog, McPhee’s Shrew Tenrec, Rodrigues Solitaire, Dodo

Banner on the first paragraph features images from the 

Extinction Files by Ruth Evans: find  out more HERE

Summer events!

Summer events with Creeping Toad, 2024 

July and August are looking lively with events 

hopping out of the undergrowth 

(not much Creeping in the next few weeks)

 

Events are listed below...there are still some waiting to confirm final details and I'll update these as plans finalise

 

For day-to-day updates, keep an eye on the Creeping Toad facebook (creepingtoad)  and X (@creepingtoad)pages

 

The Serpentine Community Garden, Buxton: there are three events taking shape at the beautiful Gardens. Plans are taking root for these. If you are a Friend of the Garden look out for news of these - you'll hear about them first - before those flowers open in public!

 

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery: as our museum building remains closed and plans take shape for a reviewed and revised museum here at Creeping Toad, we're part of a series of events over the summer designed to keep the museum collections "alive" and vibrant in people's thoughts. Museum events below are labelled with (BMAG)

 

And thanks in advance to all those excellent organisations who are offering space and supporting the Museum: Buxton Library, Buxton Civic Association and Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust

 

July

Sunday 14th

Tiny! Wild and Wonderful

Where: Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, SK 17 6BE

When: 11am -3pm

Find us on the lawns between the young children's playground and the miniature railway station

What3words: sprains.crispy.airfields

From dragons to mermaids, monstermice to flying rabbits

A chance to stop, think and make some weird, wild, wonderful and simply fantastic creatures who might, or might not, should or definitely should not live in the Gardens.

A joint event between Creeping Toad and Stone and Water

·      Free.

·      No booking or tickets needed

·      Materials provided

·      Just bring a smile and be ready to join in

This will be our 15th annual Tiny! day as part of the Buxton Festival Fringe!

 

Thursday 25th

In Prehistoric Seas: making a rockpool from an ancient Derbyshire sea (BMAG)

Where: the classroom, Buxton Country Park, Temple Rd, Buxton, SK17 9DH

When: 10.30 - 3.30pm

What animals might we find on a walk along a beach 290 million years ago as our Derbyshire limestone was being formed under the waves? Trilobites, and ancient fish, ammonites and belemnites and beautiful corals. Make your own prehistoric rockpool!

·      Free.

·      No booking or tickets needed

·      Materials provided

 

 

August

Thursday 1st

Mammoths and sabre-tooths: make an Ice Age animal mask (BMAG)

Where: the classroom, Buxton Country Park, Temple Rd, Buxton, SK17 9DH

When: 10.30 - 3.30pm

Once there were mammoths here, and scimitar-toothed cats. We had wild horses and fierce wolves (and maybe a Museum Bear!) Make your own Ice Age Animal mask then go for a walk and take photos of our wild animals in the woods of Grin Low

·      Free.

·      No booking or tickets needed

·      Materials provided

 

 

Thursday 8th

The Haunted Houses and Lost Palaces of Buxton: invent the streets we never knew we had! (BMAG)

Where: Pump Room, the Crescent, Buxton, SK17 6BH

When: 10.30 - 3.30pm

Inspired by the buildings of Buxton, we'll go to town and invent some new houses.  There might be spectacular palaces, sinister dens, beautiful gardens and haunted houses. Then we can add the adventurous people of Buxton exploring their streets

·      Free.

·      No booking or tickets needed

·      Materials provided

 

 

Sunday 11th

Action for Wildlife Day

Where: Carsington Water, Derbyshire

When: 11am - 4.45pm

Join us on this day supporting local wildlife initiatives and wear your favourite animal as a badge and make your own butterfly book, frog folder or even ant antcyclopedia (no-one ever said ants could spell)

A joint activity between Creeping Toad and Stone and Water

 

A day of talks, demonstrations and performances encouraging us to support local wildlife initiatives

 

More information: Hen Harrier Day

 

Monday 12th

Hyde Park Pirates!

Where: Hyde Park, Hyde, SK14 2J Z

Final details tbc

Telling the stories, making the stories, drawing the stories, of the famous (but never heard of before) Hyde Park Pirates: make your own tiny pirate, draw them a pirate ship, explore, find and decorate some natural treasures and make a treasure map of where your pirates might hide their loot!

We'll connect with the Summer Reading Challenge "Marvellous Makers" on this event

 

Thursday 15th

Graceful Gargoyles and Fierce Faces: there is always someone watching you! (BMAG)

Where: Pump Room, the Crescent, Buxton, SK17 6BH

When: 10.30 - 3.30pm

There are carved faces all over Buxton: smiling kings, beautiful women, dragons, monsters....help us invent some new ones. With folded card or heads of clay we'll invent the characters we would like to meet!

·      Free.

·      No booking or tickets needed

·      Materials provided

 

 

Wednesday 21st

Wild Books: make your own wildlife art book

Where: Werneth Low Country Park, Hyde

Final details, tbc

Draw, scribble, sketch, paint, print, stamp, cut, glue...join us for a bee-swarm, a butterfly-cloud, a bird-flock of art activities that will help you make your own wildlife book to take away and add more pages to over the rest of the holiday

We'll connect with the Summer Reading Challenge "Marvellous Makers" on this event, 

 

 

Thursday 22nd

Mermaids and Fabulous Creatures: make a world of underwater wonders! (BMAG)

Where: Buxton Library, Kents Bank Road, Buxton, SK17 9HW

When: 10.30 - 3.30pm

Buxton Museum's Mermaid is one of our favourite residents. While she is not available for visitors just now, help us create some glamorous new mermaids. There might be colourful fish, krakens and sea monsters as well! We'll make the inhabitants of a mysterious world!

We'll connect with the Summer Reading Challenge "Marvellous Makers" on this event

·      Free.

·      No booking or tickets needed

·      Materials provided

 

 

Friday 23rd

Unexpected Treasures and Marvellous Wonders: visit the pop-up museum and make your own display box (BMAG)

Where: The Assembly Rooms, The Crescent, Buxton, SK17 9BH

When: 10.30 - 4.00pm

On this special day, the Museum's new pop-up collection will feature unusual finds from Buxton. From mastodon teeth to Buxton diamonds to paintings by Henri Matisse. Inspired by that collection,work with our artists to make your own Cabinet of Curiousity to take home to display your own collection of wonders. You can also make a colourful badge of your favourite discovery to wear.

·      Free.

·      No booking or tickets needed

·      Materials provided

 

 

Thursday 29th

Victorians, Romans and Wild Cave People

peg-doll people and colourful dioramas

Where: Buxton Library, Kents Bank Road, Buxton, SK17 9HW

When: 10.30 - 3.30pm

From quick dioramas to adventurous peg-dolls, we'll make the landscapes and people of old Buxton. From the first residents of Poole's Cavern to Roman legionaries and inventive Victorians on penny-farthings, help us draw, shape and make the people of our town.

We'll connect with the Summer Reading Challenge "Marvellous Makers" on this event

 

·      Free.

·      No booking or tickets needed

·      Materials provided

 

 

September

Sunday 15th

A Day of  Dragons

Where: Rock Mill Centre, Rock Mill Lane, New Mills, SK22 3BN

When: tbc

 https://rockmillcentre.org/

https://newmillsfestival.co.uk/

There are rumours: dragons (Might) have been seen over New Mills. Knitted and magnificent, we ehar tales of dragons visiting Rock Mill. Join us for dragons tories, dragon celebrations and maybe make a small dragon to take home and care for and keep under the bed...

 

MORE DRAGON-DETAILS WILL BE FLOWN IN SHORTLY

An event in the New Mills Festival