Woodland animal trail created in memory of teenager

A children's walking trail has been created in Buxton in memory of a teenager who died in a fall.

Metal discs with animals and dinosaurs painted on them have been suspended from trees in Grin Low Woods in memory of Thomas Theyer who was a regular visitor before he died in 2013, aged 18.

Thomas's Trail is funded by the Thomas Theyer Foundation, which was set up by his family to improve the lives of children in the area.

His mother Chris Theyer said: "The whole idea [of the trail] is that we wanted to do something for the local community that gets young people out and is something fun for people to do, because the charity we set up in Thomas's name is to support their physical and mental health."

Thomas, who had dyspraxia affecting his co-ordination and attention deficit disorder, was described by his mother as kind, gentle and generous.

"Thomas was on a walk. It was not arranged," she said.

"He went up a steep hill in the High Peak area. Unfortunately we were not with him and he fell off the top of the hill and he died."

The walk in his memory takes about 20 minutes and features 14 different pictures of animals from the present day like a fox and a badger to prehistoric creatures like a woolly mammoth and ichthyosaur.

Buxton Civic Association is responsible for the woods and its staff have climbed trees to hang the pictures, illustrated by Buxton artist Beth Pearson.

A totem pole and a bench have also been carved in the shape of different animals by sculptor Lorraine Botterill.

"It has been very emotional [creating the trail]," Chris Theyer said.

"The craftsmanship of the people who have put the trail together has been magnificent. As well as it being for the community it is a memorial for Thomas."

Dave Green, chief executive of the civic association said: "It has been a real honour to do the work and to actually think of a project to engage young people and get them out exploring in nature - because we know the great benefit that it has in terms of mental health and physical fitness.

"I personally loved the challenge of thinking of the logistics around it all, because actually getting some of these things up high into the woods, thinking of a way to do it safely, thinking of how it can cope with the harsh weather conditions, that called on my team's full set of skills.

"But who wants to go to work and have it easy?"

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.