The Big Green Hike is a nationwide sponsored walk in which anyone can take part, to raise money for environmental charities across the UK.
In 2023, Chloe Hequet walked across the southern uplands with her dog, Jura, raising over £300 for SCOTLAND: The Big Picture. This is her story.
'Rewilding is close to my heart. Being outdoors in nature is both mentally and physically good for me, so I feel strongly about giving nature the chance to thrive. When I moved back to the UK from the USA, it hit me how few trees there are here. It seemed ‘normal’ when I was growing up, but it’s obvious to me now that we’re a nature-depleted country.
Rewilding gives me hope that we can change this.
I discovered SCOTLAND: The Big Picture almost by accident. I was living in Fife and looking for inspiring places to explore, when I stumbled upon the Northwoods Rewilding Network. This led me to a local estate, which was an oasis of young trees and scrub, with wild grazing highland cattle. What struck me was how different it looked to the surrounding bare hillsides. It showed me how a landscape can be transformed by allowing nature to take the lead. That led me to delve deeper into SBP’s work. I really admire their willingness to be bold about rewilding, and their vision that people and nature can thrive together.
The Big Green Hike appealed to me because you can totally make it your own. Personally, I needed to choose a route that wasn’t too technical or strenuous, but would still feel like an accomplishment once completed. I chose a walk in the Pentland Hills, which boasted a ‘pathless’ route so I had an opportunity to challenge my navigation skills!
I set up a JustGiving page and sent it to friends and family via WhatsApp. It quickly gathered momentum and before I knew it, over £300 had been pledged to my cause!
On the day of my Big Green Hike, the sun shone and we enjoyed incredible views over the Firth of Forth. We barely saw a soul the whole day and it was exciting to imagine how this largely treeless, intensively-managed landscape could look if it were left alone to regenerate naturally. In a strange way, that kept me going.
'It was exciting to imagine how this largely treeless, intensively-managed landscape could look if it were left alone to regenerate naturally. In a strange way, that kept me going.'
It turned out to be a long day – nearly 10 hours! – but I enjoyed taking my time to appreciate everything I saw, and it gave Jura and I some quality time together. Completing the route felt amazing and I was so happy to have done it for all the people who supported me, as well as for the cause I support.
My advice to anyone thinking about the Big Green Hike is to pick a walk that feels interesting and enjoyable. It’s easier to motivate donors if you feel excited about the walk yourself. Be mindful of your fitness level, bring loads of snacks and take your time. It’s not a race.
I hope to join everyone taking part in the 2024 Big Green Hike. Good luck and enjoy!'
