THE Wildlife Trusts has launched the first ever ‘Big Wild Walk’ this week, with a series of challenges to the great British public to get out into nature this autumn.
Designed for people of all ages and abilities to take part, the campaign calls on participants to set a fundraising target linked to a simple, personal walking goal for the week, at one of three levels • ‘Hedgehog’ – walking 3km a day, the distance a hedgehog can cover each night in search of food and a mate. • ‘Nature reserves challenge’ – walking one of our popular circular nature reserve walks each day. • ‘Migration’ – walking 96,000 steps over the week, the number of kilometres an arctic tern migrates between the UK and Antarctica each year
For people in Wiltshire and Swindon, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has produced a handy local guide, as well as set up a dedicated facebook group the ‘#BigWildWalk Wiltshire Supporters Group’. This is open to any and all Big Wild Walkers, providing support for them through the week with chat, ideas and fundraising advice, and to share what they find along the way. The Trust also has some fun activities planned for each day of the week, including leaf-spotting, mammal-mapping, creative activities and ‘Wildlife Bingo’.
Local wildlife champion Linda De Santiz, right, said, “I am doing the #BigWildWalk in Wiltshire to raise awareness of the wonderful reserves and incredible amount of diverse wildlife we have here, particularly Conigre Mead Nature Reserve in Melksham, where I am involved as a volunteer. I want to make sure many more generations can enjoy what nature has to offer. I am doing the 96K ‘migration’ challenge.”
To join Team Wiltshire and download the guide, visit www.wiltshirewildlife.org/big-wild-walk
