Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Read more

If you find yourself driving through the Peak District next week and do a double-take when you spot signs for the Peaq District, don't worry – your sat-nav hasn't suddenly developed a sense of humour.

For one week only, from 27 July to 2 August, Skoda is temporarily renaming one of Britain's oldest national parks as the "Peaq District" to celebrate the arrival of its biggest electric model yet – the new seven-seat Skoda Peaq SUV. The Peaq goes on sale from 20 August with prices starting at £51,980, becoming Skoda's first seven-seat electric SUV and the biggest EV the Czech brand has ever built.

The week-long takeover also coincides with the Peak District National Park's 75th anniversary, with special Peaq District signs appearing around the park and free cycle hire on offer at Parsley Hay Cycle Centre throughout the week.

The new Skoda Peaq goes on sale on August 20 (Skoda)

The campaign is designed to encourage more people to explore Britain's national parks after research commissioned by Skoda found that almost a third of UK adults (29 per cent) have never visited one of the country's 15 designated national parks.

It's perhaps surprising, given that most of them are completely free to visit. Yet the research also found that 37 per cent of people think there's an admission charge, while almost one-in-five believe the UK has more than 20 national parks rather than the actual total of 15.

The Peak District itself was the second best-known national park among those surveyed, recognised by 42 per cent of respondents, behind only the Lake District on 47 per cent.

For Skoda, it's also a chance to highlight the adventure-focused credentials of the new Peaq. The SUV offers seating for up to seven adults, a claimed driving range of up to 390 miles and as much as 2,075 litres of luggage space with the second and third rows folded flat – enough, Skoda says, for eight large suitcases.

Eric Boutin, director of Skoda UK, said: "The new all-electric Skoda Peaq is the ultimate SUV for families with an everyday sense of adventure, and it fits perfectly with the ethos of the Peak District National Park. We're passionate about encouraging more people to get outdoors and experience these incredible protected spaces. Cycling has always been part of Skoda's DNA – after all, the brand started life on two wheels – and that heritage still shapes how we think about mobility today."

Cycling remains a big part of the brand's identity, with Skoda tracing its roots back almost 130 years to bicycle manufacturing. More recently, it appointed four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome as its Brand Cycling Ambassador, making free bike hire a natural fit for the campaign.

Skoda is offering free cycle hire at Parsley Hay Cycle Centre throughout the week (Skoda)

The Peak District National Park has welcomed the initiative, too. Chief executive Phil Mulligan said: "As the stewards of this incredible part of the UK, we want to make it as accessible as possible to as many as people as possible. Whether that's walking some of our beautiful pathways or cycling the many bike trails we have, we want more of the visitors to the Peaq District to understand and appreciate its natural beauty."

While awareness of Britain's national parks appears patchy, those who do visit seem to be enthusiastic explorers. More than half of those surveyed said they'd visited a national park within the past year, while one-in-ten claimed to have visited more than half of all 15.

Whether the temporary name change becomes one of the summer's most talked-about marketing stunts remains to be seen, but anyone heading to Derbyshire over the next couple of weeks shouldn't be too surprised if they suddenly find themselves arriving in the Peaq District instead of the Peak District.