Park Designs UK

21/08/2026

A BIG YELLOW HELLO… AND A LITTLE KINDNESS

Welcome to our big new yellow-fronted Gallery & Shop — inspired by a little bit of Elton John and a little bit of Joni Mitchell.

Every adventure begins with a first step. Rather than opening this new chapter with a promotion, sale or commercial fanfare, we’ve decided to begin with something a little different.

Something a little more Si.

It All Begins With Kindness

Our brand-new participatory exhibition invites everyone to help create a growing piece of artwork celebrating something we believe is a pretty good place to start:

Kindness.

The spirit of being kind, decent and considerate feels like exactly where this next phase should begin.

It’s quirky, perhaps, but it’s also our way of putting a flag in the ground and saying that we want to be in the business of being decent traders first — treating everyone with the respect, consideration and kindness we would hope to receive ourselves.

Treat others as you would wish to be treated.

It seems like a pretty good rule for life, business and just about everything else.

A new exhibition. A new beginning.

The work may not be particularly Peak Districty or National Parky — that comes next! — but it has given us the opportunity to create the gallery space, displays and boards I’ve been itching to make for a very long time.

And now it’s ready.

We’d love you to be part of it

Everyone who visits is invited to write a few kind words on the back of one of our Feathers of Kindness postcards.

Write a kind thought. Record a kind deed. Say something lovely about someone. Or simply leave a few words you think the world could do with hearing.

We’ll add every feather to the growing artwork in our gallery window.

We’d love to see how many contributions we can gather. If enough start arriving from Peak District villages, we may even need a carrier pigeon… or perhaps a taxi service to bring the sack loads of kindness into Sheffield!

So, if you’re passing, please pop in.

Pick up a feather. Write something kind. Become part of the picture.

Because every adventure needs a first step.

And we think kindness is a pretty good place to start.

Si x

06/08/2026

A huge thank you to Linda! ❤️
Linda was the lucky winner of our Christmas 2025 Competition, taking home the fabulous £250 prize to spend on whatever she chose.

I’m already looking forward to creating this year’s competition and I hope as many of you as possible join in again. It’s always such a joy seeing the enthusiasm, creativity and kindness that comes back from this wonderful community.

Sharing the Park Designs love of our National Parks with so many amazing customers, so many smiles, and so much warmth is a real privilege.

I genuinely feel like the luckiest person running this little business — thank you all for being part of the journey.

Kindest as ever,�

Si x

05/08/2026

Royal Academy - an uplifting, inspiring day at the RA Summer Exhibition

I finally made it to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition a few weeks ago—a visit I'd wanted to make for years—and it was everything I'd hoped it would be.

Seeing such an extraordinary breadth of talent was both inspiring and humbling. The sheer variety of styles, techniques, media and scale creates an exhilarating creative energy that leaves your head spinning in the best possible way.

One of my biggest takeaways from the day, aside from developing a strong desire to paint frescoes after seeing the beautiful examples featured in the restaurant, was the realisation that it's time to start submitting my own work again. It's something I'd been encouraging myself to do for years, but now that we're settled into our new premises, I no longer have any excuses.

The creative ideas are flowing once more, and I'm excited to see where they lead.

04/08/2026

Did you know our cotton aprons cost exactly the same today as they did five years ago?

Made here in the UK from quality pre-shrunk cotton, they're designed to last and bring a little inspiration into your kitchen every day.

If there's a design you'd love to see in the range, or you have an idea for a new apron, I'd genuinely love to hear from you.

The Wisdom of the Woods – John Muir Kitchen Apron

Inspired by the life and philosophy of John Muir, the grandfather of the world's National Parks, this vibrant artwork celebrates the joy, peace and wisdom that nature offers when we take the time to step outside.

At its heart are the two Barn Owls of Love and Kindness—a reminder that the simplest values often hold the greatest power. Surrounding them are thought-provoking words and ideas that explore what it means to live a rich, meaningful and wise life.

Whether you're cooking, baking, gardening or simply looking for a thoughtful gift for someone who loves art and the outdoors, this apron brings colour, conversation and inspiration wherever it's worn.

Features
• Premium cotton with matching neck loop and waist tie
• Machine washable
• Pre-shrunk for a lasting fit
• Proudly made in the UK

Order yours today:
https://www.parkdesigns.co.uk/collections/aprons/products/wisdom-of-the-woods-love-nature-cotton-apron

03/08/2026

03/08/2026

13 Years ago today - What were you doing?
This just popped up and it brought back a few memories. I’d just run to Bristol to see my son Max from and then carried on, caught a ferry from Portsmouth to Santander and kept going across France… It was beautiful weather, a clean break from all the stresses, trials and anxieties of running a small business and the start of my biggest adventure todate. is funnily always there somewhere for these big moments and went onto become the affectionate name of the yellow trailer Richard and co built for me at a few months later. Such happy memories, but as with a great many things counter balanced by the exquisite pain of leaving my son Max in as I disappeared down the road.
Love you all,

Si
x

22/07/2026

Happiness is a NEW T Shirt - NEW Colours for 2026 - A wonderful day taking pictures
It’s a wonderful thing seeing such energy from such wonderful young people. I can say that as an older person! It took a long time to get a T Shirt shoot organised - well tbh around 5 years since I wanted to photograph them at Laurencefield. The positive energy from Amelie, Dylan, Flo and Mina was lovely. Quite moving, if I’m honest, to direct such enthusiasm and get positive back - unprecedented in my career. Harry took a whole load of work alongside my endeavour. All of which will all appear later online and in news feeds. Thank you team, each and everyone of you - it was an unforgettable pleasure.

I hope people love the new colours like I do. I feel they are very in keeping with our current ethos of colourful positive and well made.
Love for now,

Si
https://www.parkdesigns.co.uk/collections/t-shirts
sheffielddesigner

21/07/2026

Scarthin Books
Who doesn’t love a good book. Well Scarthin Books in Cromford are the well established crown seat of well procured books. Thousands of the best titles, a smorgasbord of beautiful and interesting resource and a fine café to boot. I love this place so much. When Sunday comes around and you really can't decide what to do - There’s Scarthin sat there beckoning you to a relaxing indulgent few hours. Long may she reign!

My book choice for the day was Robin Ince’s book Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal, my adventures in Neuro diversity. Always been a fan and having quickly studied his Insta pages - a bigger fan. Thankyou for the Infinite Monkey Cage.

https://www.scarthinbooks.com/ The Promenade, Cromford, Matlock, DE4 3QF
https://www.facebook.com/ScarthinBooks

20/07/2026

Thank you Hathersage
Thank you ! - Gala Day last weekend was just one of those joyous quintessentially British full on Summer Days.
Everything was wonderful. One of those days when you feel so fortunate to be both alive, in such a lovely place and privileged to have so many kind friends who took time to come, chat and catch up with me. Exhausting as it takes so long to organise everything literally days - but worth it , because after all it’s the people in your life who really count. Thank you everyone who came, who bought, who chatted! Love Si

And then there was the thousand people at the end to watch the England Norway game tougher at the end. Wow.�

11/07/2026

Hi… a quick one to say how excited I am to be at our village gala today. Jodi’s running Sheffield so it’s a proper double act.. I’ll post some more pics later - love to all! X