A free mobile phone app which helps people find Derbyshire’s hidden gems is set to boost the ‘visitor economy’, a key sector for the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) covering the county.
The LEP is a partnership between business, local authorities and universities which promotes and finances economic growth in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. It has identified eight key sectors for growth in the area; the visitor economy plus transport equipment manufacturing, life sciences, food and drink manufacturing, construction, low carbon goods and services, transport and logistics, and the creative industries.
D2N2 partner organisation, Derbyshire County Council, and Audio Trails Ltd of Higham in the county have designed the ‘Discover Derbyshire & Peak District’ app; which showcases what’s on offer to visitors to Derbyshire in an accessible, mobile format.
The village of Ashbourne, one of the many locations featured in the ‘Discover Derbyshire and Peak District’ app
The app will allow people to unlock hidden walking trails and listen to local stories which bring the past to life. Using archive photography, the app also allows its users to overlay old images onto the scene as shown on their mobile phone’s camera view, to see how today’s scene might have changed compared with the past. Information is currently being added about the Pennine Way – the UK’s first long-distance trail and stretching 256 miles from Edale in Derbyshire to the Scottish Borders – to celebrate the trail’s 50th anniversary.
More locations, trails and stories will be added through the ‘Made in Derbyshire 2015’ campaign, as people are encouraged to share their stories or old photographs. The app is being promoted through ‘Made in Derbyshire 2015 – which promotes good ideas and places of interest, including through its website at www.madeinderbyshire.org – and which itself is being supported by local councils, arts and cultural groups, museums and tourism organisations.
Lindsay Allen, Senior Programme Manager for Sector Development at D2N2, said: “Derbyshire has a fantastic visitor economy offering and is a fascinating and vibrant place for people to experience. I am confident that this innovative new app will allow visitors to experience Derbyshire to its fullest.”
Ann Wright, Head of Arts at Derbyshire County Council added: “We want people to discover things people may not know about Derbyshire.”
The Discover Derbyshire & Peak District app is currently available to download for iOS devices via the AppStore, with plans for an Android version to follow later this year.
You can click on any of the links below to find out about:
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Key Sectors, ‘Made In Derbyshire 2015’ campaign‘Discover Derbyshire & Peak District’ app
