I won't pretend to be an utterly selfless soul that's quit my comfortable and fulfilling life in order to traipse hundreds of miles, all in the name of charity. This walk is something I very much wanted and needed to do for myself. But at the same time it seemed the perfect opportunity to raise what funds and awareness I could for a charity that's making hugely positive changes to the landscapes I'll be walking through.

That charity is Rewilding Britain.

 

Even though our little home island looks very green from above, sadly it's one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries. We rank in the bottom 10% globally for biodiversity, having lost half of our plant and animal life since the industrial revolution. Fields full of livestock, crops and moorlands that support very few species have gradually replaced more and more of our meadows, forests, wetlands and large free meandering rivers.

 

Many people have misconceptions that rewilding is about taking acreage and livelihoods away from farmers in order to leave large expanses of land to regenerate. Or that it's all about releasing large predators like Eurasian wolves on the borders of landscapes grazing sheep. In actuality rewilding is the understanding that we only thrive whilst nature thrives. Our crops can only grow when pollinated, and our drinking waters only run clear when protected upstream. It’s about restoring natural processes that allow ecosystems to repair, supporting farming and farming practices, and helping communities prosper through nature-based enterprises. The kind of projects that have seen such wonderful results and shifts in cultural perceptions overseas!