Young, hard-working professionals are being encouraged to escape to the beautiful Peak District to recharge their batteries and experience new adventures in a new campaign launched by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire.

‘The Land to Forget Time’ was revealed to unsuspecting shoppers at Birmingham’s Bullring on Saturday as a young, innocent bystander hit a flashing escape button before entering an Escape Pod and, just minutes later, re-appeared carrying a mountain bike over his shoulder looking blown away by a recent adrenaline-fuelled experience of bombing down some of the best mountain biking trails in the country. The audience watched in awe as TV and video screens suddenly flashed on, revealing a short captured moment of a mountain biking experience viewed from the riders’ handle bars!

This was just one of three fun social media flash events designed to gather audiences, connecting them together and encouraging them to participate by sharing the experience with others through social media.

The pace slowed down on Sunday when the adrenaline-charged Escape Pod was re-introduced as the ‘Recharge Pod’. Shoppers were invited to inhale the fresh air offered by the Peak District and Derbyshire and even getting a taste of it from the oxygen bar, whilst enjoying a complimentary head and shoulder massage, before being handed a goody bag full of exclusive offers and a few extra surprises.

Following on from this event, both Manchester and Birmingham commuters will be wowed by billboards and mega bus rears portraying some of the iconic attractions and things to do in the Peak District and Derbyshire. Online and printed coverage delivered by the Guardian and a well-planned social media strategy will make sure this campaign drives up a successful return on investment.

“This campaign is very exciting and has really captured the imagination of our partners with many helping to fund it. We have every confidence this campaign will capture the imagination of our target audience, and successfully influence their ideas for a short break. We want to encourage people to help us breathe real life into the campaign by taking their own short videos and GoPro films that capture ‘moments’ in time”, said Jo Dilley, Managing Director, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire.

“Historically the area has always performed well in attracting families and over 50s – but this campaign has been carefully crafted to widen that reach by appealing to a young ‘hip’ urban audience, the results being twofold with the campaign attracting new additional visitors, increasing spend and boosting both the local and regional economy.”

‘The Land to Forget Time’ graphic is based on a photograph taken by Dronfield-based Mark Henson, one of Experience Peak District & Derbyshire’s Destination Partner Photographers.

To have your opportunity to get involved with this campaign simply take your own short video or GoPro film of your ‘moment’ in the Peak District and Derbyshire and upload it at www.thelandtoforgettime.co.uk for the chance to win a prize worth in excess of £2,000!

Businesses, local football clubs and individuals are being given the opportunity to play on the pitch at Chesterfield Football Club.

The Spireites are now taking bookings to give fans the chance to experience what it’s like to be a professional footballer.

From corporate events and inter-company matches with colleagues, to charity events, or even a game between friends who fancy an upgrade on a public park, the Proact Stadium will be available on the following dates:

• May 17 – 7pm kick-off
• May 18 – 7pm kick-off
• May 19 – 7pm kick-off
• May 24 – 7pm kick-off

One of the first businesses to take part will be the Proact themselves, based in Chesterfield, following their participation last year.

Each organisation that books will get the chance of a 90-minute, 11-a-side game, including full use of the stadium’s playing facilities, from the dressing room to the players’ tunnel.

A match co-ordinator and referee will be provided by the club and entry to the Proact Stadium will be free for spectators, with each business that signs up given two complimentary footballs to use during the game – and keep as a souvenir.

The cost to ‘Play at the Proact’ is just £1,750 per time slot. Playing slots are limited and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis, with a maximum of 16 players per squad, and a non-refundable deposit of £300 is required to confirm the booking. The full balance is due 30 days before the game.

To book, please contact Janice Kew on 01246 269300 (ext 4153) or email janicekew@chesterfield-fc.co.uk.

Residents in Brampton will soon enjoy an enhanced green space at Chester St Park thanks to a share of a £1.5m funding pot received from central Government.

Social enterprise Monkey Park – Brampton’s new cafe, artisan bakery, bicycle workshop and co-working space – has been awarded a £14,000 grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government ‘Pocket Parks’ programme to improve the green space opposite the centre.

Chester St Park is one of more than 80 unloved and neglected urban spaces across the country which will be transformed into green oases for everyone to use.

Working alongside Chesterfield Borough Council, the team at Monkey Park will use their funding to build a new riverside walkway with benches and a new entrance to the park, allowing people to walk along the Holme Brook and enjoy the natural green space threading through the heart of the community.

The project will support volunteers in their efforts to improve the river by providing flower bulbs and trees for planting, and will also fund an art and nature event which takes place in May.

Looking towards the future, the grant will also enable a sustainability plan to be produced, helping to ensure the park continues to improve over time.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing said: “The news that Monkey Park has received Government funding to create a pocket park is great for local residents.

“This will allow them have more access to nature, to take part in a wider range of activities in the park as well as make improvements to improve the look and feel of the park.”

The team at Monkey Park will work in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council to deliver the work before the end of March 2016.