The far right should be challenged everywhere but it makes me feel particularly sickened to see a group of morons unfurl a ‘white lives matter’ banner on Mam Tor. I’m not going to share it because these people crave viral attention but I feel the need to say something. 1/

The group behind it (‘Patriotic Alternative’) was founded by ex-BNP neo-Nazi lifer Mark Collett. They are very ‘fringe', but it wouldn’t surprise me if they conceived this stunt because of the recent prominence of the debate around diversity in the countryside / outdoors. 2/

We all saw the tsunami of gammon rage which followed Dwayne Fields’ thoughtful feature on Countryfile, and the suggestion that the outdoors was seen as a ‘white’ space by many. The thought that some boneheads took the opportunity to reinforce that impression sickens me. 3/

The idea that people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds might see this and have it confirm their fears is beyond depressing. For me, as for many, the hills are a place of joy, peace and refuge where you often see the best in humanity. It’s a space for everyone. 4/

Anyone who values that view of the outdoors should be prepared to defend and fight for it. If this happens again we should meet them and make very clear they’re not welcome in the hills. We can’t let our landscapes be abused in this way. 5/

Just across from Mam Tor is Kinder Scout. The 1932 trespass was led by young communists from an ethnic minority background. Benny Rothman - himself Jewish - said the police deliberately arrested ‘Jewish looking’ trespassers and the judge drew attention to this at their trial. 6/

Literally everyone - politicians, NT, even the Duke of Devonshire’s descendants - celebrates that protest as a milestone on the way to the legal freedoms we enjoy today. But this daft racist stunt shows there is still a long way to go before the countryside is truly ‘open’. 7/

P.s. Mam Tor landowners the @nationaltrust, and the @peakdistrict, should both condemn this and send out clear messages that everyone is welcome in the outdoors