Practice Sessions and Events for Members
Dates for 2026
Practice Dates and events – 2026. Dates, venues and instructors subject to change, check for availability via phone or email as detailed below.
| 2026 Schedule | Status | Location | Stone Type | Instructor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30th January 2026 | Christmas meal at the Devonshire Arms | |||
| February 2026 | No Meeting This Month | |||
| March 28th & 29th | Available | Hocker Barn, Longnor | Gritstone | Emma Yates |
| April 18th & 19th | Available | Kirk Field, Biggin | Limestone | Emma Yates |
| April 22nd | Available | Presentation by First Responders (branch meet) | ||
| May 5th | Available | Aqueduct Cottage, Near John Smedley Mill, Matlock (midweek practice session) | Gritstone | John Bown |
| May 16th & 17th | Available | Crossgate Farm, Tintwistle, Glossop | Gritstone | Sharn Whaites |
| June 2nd | Available | Aqueduct Cottage, Near John Smedley Mill, Matlock (midweek practice session) | Gritstone | John Bown |
| June 13th & 14th | BOOK NOW HERE | Summer Fete Weekend. Nightingale Centre | Limestone | Carl Hardman |
| July 7th | Available | Aqueduct Cottage, Near John Smedley Mill, Matlock (midweek practice session) | Gritstone | John Bown |
| July 18th & 19th | Available | Tideswell Community Park | Limestone | Tom Fenton |
| August 4th | Available | Aqueduct Cottage, Near John Smedley Mill, Matlock (midweek practice session) | Gritstone | John Bown |
| August 22nd & 23rd | Available | Nightingale Centre, Great Hucklow | Limestone | Ray Mellor |
| September 1st | Available | Aqueduct Cottage, Near John Smedley Mill, Matlock (midweek practice session) | Gritstone | John Bown |
| September 19th & 20th | Available | Hollowford Centre – Castleton, S33 8WB. | Limestone | Tom Fenton |
| October 17th & 18th | Available | Lockerbrook Farm, Ladybower | Gritstone | Carl Hardman, Ray Mellor, Howard York |
| November 14th & 15th | Available | High Ashes Farm – High Ashes Lane, Ashover, | Gritstone | Sharn Whaites |
How to book
Practice meetings are for DSWA members only. Attendees under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
All members wishing to attend a practice weekend must pre-book a week in advance, where possible, by contacting the appropriate instructor directly as follows –
| Billy McCallum | 07917 192604 |
| Tom Fenton | 07929 451388 or tom.fenton@ntlworld.com |
| Emma Yates | 07966 666463 |
| Ray Mellor | 07904 883902 |
| Carl Hardman | 07768 978846 |
| Sharn Whaites | 07867 330944 |
| John Bown | 07752 922593 |
| Howard York | 07890 889002 |
Please provide the instructor with your contact details. If you book a place and then cannot attend, please phone the instructor.
If the instructor needs to cancel the event, they will notify the member via their mobile numbers. There is no charge for members to attend practice weekends.
What to bring
The start and finish times are the same for all meetings, 9am to 4pm. You will need to bring with you safety boots with steel toe caps (mandatory), gloves, waterproofs, packed lunch, drink and a smile. Click here for recommended glove types.
If you have any additional equipment of your own such as a shovel, mattock, walling hammer, lines, tape measure etc and it is convenient to bring these with you, then please do so. The instructor will check the suitability of any tools brought to site.
How to get there
Wherever possible, DDSWA signs or flags will be placed to indicate where to turn into the site.
Ashbourne Showground The Showground is approximately 2 miles south of Ashbourne, just off the A52, in the village of Osmaston. Sat Nav – use DE6 1LW follow directions to the Showground from/via the A52 only. The stone here is Limestone.
High Ashes Farm – High Ashes Lane, Ashover, Chesterfield, S45 0LH. The stone here is Gritstone.
Hollowford Centre – Castleton, S33 8WB.
Lime Pit Project – The site is on the west side of the A515, 3 miles south of Newhaven or 2 miles from Biggin by Hartington. At grid reference SK 16430 57166 / E 416430 N 357166 there is a double gateway opposite a long wood. Turn into the left gate to access the site.
Lockerbrook Farm Outdoor Centre – Snake Pass, Bamford, S33 0BJ.
New House Farm – Stanton, Ashbourne, DE6 2DD
Turn off the A52 from Ashbourne to Leek at the main crossroads for Stanton onto Bullgap Lane. DO NOT take the first turning from Ashbourne (Stanton Lane) as the road is very narrow.
Follow Bullgap Lane to the T junction and turn left towards Stanton. Follow the road into the village and keep left. New House Farm is on the left going out of the village (Sally Field Lane).
Nightingale Centre – Great Hucklow, (Off B6049), Buxton, SK17 8RH www.thenightingalecentre.org.uk Great Hucklow is situated just off the B6049, north of the A623 (Stockport to Chesterfield road), near Tideswell. From Chesterfield take the A619. From Manchester and Stockport take the A6. From Sheffield take the A625.
There is ample free parking at the Centre. Note that the car park is at the rear of the centre and accessed via the entrance opposite the Old Chapel
Tideswell Community Park – SK17 8NE. Located next to the School. Driving from the Anchor pub into the village, turn right before the George Inn, then turn right in front of the school into car park at top of hill.
Aqueduct Cottage (for Derbyshire Wildlife) meet at John Smedley Mill, Lea Bridge, Matlock DE4 9AG see branch email for details
Hocker Barn Barrow Moor, Longnor, Buxton SK17 0QT
Crossgate Farm Crossgate Lane, Tintwistle, Glossop SK13 1HP
What 3 words: ///huddled.sprinkler.shrugging
The small print:
For health and safety reasons these events have a limit of 12 attendees plus instructor. Would all attendees make sure they provide a mobile contact number when booking in case any days need to be cancelled at short notice.