by Fliss Dowding
Where’s My Bus? A Peak District Bus Story by Fliss Dowding is a project about the importance of and problems with buses in the Peak District. It centres on real-life stories from the people who use and drive buses within the Derbyshire Peak District to learn more about why the services have been failing and what can be done to improve them. Fliss’s film aims to educate people on different perspectives of public transport and the different ideas to improve it.
Thank you to National Lottery players
Fliss’ film captures the extreme balancing act that is organising rural bus services, but also the power of community and how, when we put our minds to things, changes happen.
I’m Fliss, I’m 23 years old and based in the Peak District. Growing up I’ve always had a real interest in nature and wildlife, something I took with me to university, studying Natural History and Media at the University of South Wales. From this course I developed a fascination with telling stories of real life and using filmmaking and photography as a tool for sharing my home with the world. When I’m not out in nature with my camera I love to sing as part of a choir and have a habit of getting completely absorbed into video games!
“My inspiration came from a frustration with my local buses. Living rurally and not driving means that compromises have to be made to get around, allowing a minimum of half an hour extra time to get to your location and praying that the bus hasn’t randomly been cancelled. After trying to find a way to my nearest train station, a 10 minute drive away, that turned out to be physically impossible to do (the only option was a 40 minute bus into Sheffield to catch a train to the train station which renders it pointless), I began to wonder why our services are the way they are and question, can we make them better?”
“National Parks are hugely important to me. I’ve been fortunate enough to have many great experiences exploring National Parks, from being lucky to be born and raised in the Peak District to having my first University fieldwork trip to the Pembrokeshire Coast. National Parks always feel warm and welcoming to me, with so much beauty within them. I have a real respect for the hard work that goes into keeping them as lovely as they are.”
Right now we have a once in a generation opportunity to change how National Parks operate. It’s essential that future generations are part of it.
Will you help us shape the future of National Parks?
Our National Parks New Perspectives project aims to give young people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to influence and connect with decision makers to change the narratives on who National Parks are for and who has a say in their future.
As part of our New Perspectives project we have offered grants to young people to share their stories of National Parks
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund we provided storytelling grants, Future Leader Courses and opportunities for young people to join us as Ambassadors
