Modern Hayfield
Hayfield is no longer an industrial town and nowadays is considered a thriving Peak District village with a strong community spirit. In the 2001 Census, the parish had 2,852 residents, across 1,205 households (2,164 of those residents living in the village itself). Many residents work outside of Hayfield in nearby Stockport and Manchester, or in neighbouring towns and villages, although there are a handful of local businesses providing employment, including farms.
Hayfield is considered a desirable place to live within the High Peak and this is reflected in higher property prices compared to neighbouring towns and villages. An increasing number of residents have moved from nearby Manchester and Stockport in order to experience a better quality of life, and it is possible to argue that Hayfield is undergoing gentrification.
An annual May Queen procession is held in the village each year in May, as are sheepdog trials at nearby Little Hayfield in September. Well dressing has recently been introduced. An annual jazz festival was last held in 1989.
Prior to the arrival of ADSL broadband in the village, Hayfield Development Trust pioneered village-wide wi-fi, known as the Digital Parish, allowing broadband-like Internet access for most villagers . The main up/downlink was initially provided via satellite, although it now utilises commercial ADSL. The Digital Parish scheme remains the only method of Internet access for some remote villagers, and is preferred by many others.
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