Penhale Dunes. Image by Ben Watkins
As Chief Executive here at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, a great deal of my time is spent listening and communicating – with our staff, partners, members and supporters, and those we hope to reach and influence through our work. That said, it’s not enough to simply talk the talk if, as a leader, you don’t also walk the walk. In my case, quite literally….
I’m going to be out walking this year, and here’s why…
Imagine growing up without nature? Not going to the beach, or the woods, or even a park or garden? Whether as a child or an adult, think of all the joy that would be missed, the inspiration, the learning ... not to mention the health benefits, if nature was out of reach.
For many people, even here in Cornwall, that’s a reality. Some may lack confidence or motivation, others may not have the means – there are multiple barriers that can prevent people accessing nature and thus missing out on its benefits.
Yet there is a growing mountain of evidence of the positive impact that nature has on our mental and physical wellbeing, and my own experiences confirm that – it’s in part why I’ve chosen a career that allows me to connect with nature on a regular basis. I have been lucky to live my life immersed in nature from an early age. Many people aren't so fortunate. If you don’t experience nature, how can you value it?
High Cliff (near Crackington Haven). Image by Matt Walpole
You may ask, why is this important to us at Cornwall Wildlife Trust? Well, our vision is of a Cornwall where nature thrives, with our wildlife and wild places valued and enjoyed by all. Furthermore, our strategy recognises that, to deliver nature recovery at scale, we need far more people taking action for nature. Everyone has a role to play in tackling the nature crisis, which is why we are working to engage, inspire and mobilise more people than ever before, including younger people, more diverse audiences and those not currently connected to us.
This last point is particularly key for us. Inclusivity is at the heart of our collective values as an organisation. We don’t believe anyone should be left behind. Everyone should have the opportunity to access, benefit from and take action for nature.
In a place like Cornwall, where millions of visitors each year come to enjoy our open air and wild places, including our magnificent coastline, it can't be right that many people living here are excluded from that.
The team here at Cornwall Wildlife Trust have been working to understand and overcome the barriers many people face in accessing and experiencing nature. I believe that we can make a real and lasting difference for people and for nature by tackling these barriers head on.
It’s something that’s shaping the work we do across the Trust and across Cornwall. This includes helping people who otherwise wouldn’t or couldn’t to spend time outdoors in a natural space, helping people to truly connect with the nature that’s around them, and helping individuals and community groups to improve natural spaces for people to enjoy where they live.
We are also introducing a Wilder Wellbeing programme as a form of green social prescribing, because nature really can be the best form of medicine. Not to mention a growing programme of events and volunteering opportunities to support a wider audience to engage with nature. We’re working to improve accessibility on our own nature reserves whilst continuing to support community groups to grow their own activities elsewhere. Yet there’s much more to be done.
So, I've decided to challenge myself to help my team here at Cornwall Wildlife Trust to reach more people who otherwise would struggle to access, benefit from and take action for nature.
Over the course of this year, I will be walking the iconic Cornish coast path in its entirety. That’s 300 miles in total. I’m doing it as a sponsored event, and everything I raise will go towards Cornwall Wildlife Trust's work to enable more people to access, experience, benefit from and take action for nature. You can find out more about it and how to support me on my JustGiving page.
Matt Walpole selfie on the coast path near Boscastle.
So far, so good….
As I write, I’ve covered the length of the north Cornwall coast from the Devon border all the way down past Trevose Head to the west of Padstow. It’s a wild and stunningly beautiful stretch of coastline, with the highest cliffs in Cornwall and some of the steepest climbs. But also, if you pause for a moment, some wonderful nature. Gnarled and stunted oak copses fringing exposed sea slopes and nestled in hidden valleys, colourful bursts of bluebell glades and dazzlingly pink sea thrift framing clifftop views, skylark calls over the fields and hosts of seabirds nesting amongst rock faces. Not to mention a riot of emerging springtime insect life.
Sea thrift near Padstow. Image Matt Walpole
At this time of year, there are young livestock too. I came across a field of calving red ruby cattle and noticed one expectant mum that seemed in distress. Unsure what to do, I phoned a farm shop that I had passed some minutes before to ask if they knew the farmer. Fortunately, they did and passed on the message. A little later they called me back to report that the cow’s calf was found to be stuck in a breeched position and without help would not have survived. I’m glad I made that phone call that day.
There’s a long way still to go on my trail, and I’ll be posting regular updates. I’m hoping there will be opportunities for people to join me on a stage or two, so do look out for more on that. My aim is to complete my Walk of the Wild Side by late September, just in time for this year’s Annual General Meeting where I’ll share my experiences with our members and showcase the work it supports.
Most importantly, of course, I’m hoping to smash my fundraising target of £3,000 by the time I reach the end of the trail. Incredibly, I’m already halfway there thanks to some very generous early supporters. If you are able to help or if you can spread the word and the details of my JustGiving page where anyone can make a donation, it would mean a great deal to me.
Thank you for your support!
And do look out for my next update….
Higher Sharpnose Point (north of Bude). Image by Matt Walpole
