They are set to do their Big Wild Walk on the 90-mile Eric Thurston Wildlife Way which runs from Hoylake, on the Wirral coast, all the way up to Shining Tor in the Peak District. Over the course of a day, teams will walk sections and complete the full route, from shore to tor. Along the way, they will pass 12 Cheshire Wildlife Trust nature reserves, home to everything from natterjack toads and curlew to beavers and barn owls.
If you’d like to sponsor the team, visit cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/cheshires-bigwildwalk. All of the money raised will go towards protecting nature, wildlife and wild spaces across Cheshire, Halton, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Warrington and Wirral.
“We’re really excited to be taking on our very own Big Wild Walk this year! Autumn is such a beautiful time of year to get outside. From walking along the Dee Estuary coastline, to reaching the top of Shining Tor, we’ll be able to show off how many beautiful wild places we have right here on our doorstep. However, nature in the UK is broken and it needs our help. We’ll be walking to raise awareness, and funds, to help protect these precious habitats and the wildlife under threat that lives there.
At Cheshire Wildlife Trust we all love nature and spending time outdoors. We range from hardened hikers to fair weather walkers but come rain or shine, we’ll be taking on the 90-mile challenge! It’ll be great to come together as a team and show people how much fun it can be to turn your hobby into donations for wildlife. Please consider sponsoring Cheshire’s Big Wild Walk. Any donation, no matter the size, will help us to get through the miles and make a huge difference to nature on our doorstep!” – Kat Wade, Senior Mobilisation Officer, Cheshire Wildlife Trust
"I am absolutely delighted that Cheshire Wildlife Trust has chosen to walk the Eric Thurston Wildlife Way as a fundraiser this year. The walk explores a wide variety of wildlife reserves, while celebrating some of the best scenery and historic sites across Cheshire. I encourage everyone who reads this to sponsor the walk to help them reach their target!” – John Thurston, creator of the Eric Thurston Wildlife Way
Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s Big Wild Walk is part of a wider initiative to get active for wildlife this October. The Wildlife Trusts’ Big Wild Walk takes place from Monday 21st October to Sunday 3rd November and aims to be the biggest yet to encourage wildlife lovers to raise money and help restore nature across the UK. It is half-term for schools – a good time for all ages to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Sign up at wildlifetrusts.org/bigwildwalk.
Supporters can create their own challenge with the aim of covering 30 kilometres in any way that suits them. The funds raised will support wildlife recovery and contribute to The Wildlife Trusts’ mission to protect 30% of the UK’s land and sea for nature by 2030.
This autumn, The Wildlife Trusts are encouraging participants to nominate friends and family to get involved too, with #NominateForNature. A digital fundraising pack will support everyone by providing a sponsorship sheet, distance tracking form and social media posts.
“Fundraisers like this provide the cornerstone for nature recovery at scale across the UK. By taking a walk or wheeling around the block, you are playing a vital part in bringing nature back. We want to plant forests where they once were, reintroduce animals like beavers back to the countryside, and rewild our seas. Take a walk on the wild side and help us revive UK wildlife this autumn!” – Rob Stoneman, Director of Landscape Recovery, The Wildlife Trusts