The BMC Access & Conservation Trust sponsored Wildfire Walk fundraisers raised an incredible £11,146 to protect and restore the Peak District from wildfire.
The 18km Wildfire Walk on Sat 30 May from Hathersage was a satellite event from the BMC Big Walking Weekend (29-31 May in Edale). Thirty walkers were dressed brightly in ‘fire’ colours and moved along the Peak District edges together, like a human wildfire, raising awareness on the way round.
Several walkers attached red, orange and yellow ribbons to their backpacks, one had a bright yellow superhero cape and another had dyed her hair red and painted her nails to match especially for the occasion. Danny Udall from the Eastern Moors Partnership even joined us wearing his full wildfire fighting kit, complete with 20L water-carrying backpack. Two tail walkers also collected litter as they went.
Everyone wore fire colours for the sponsored Wildfire walk
The route started with free pastries and coffee at Alpkit in Hathersage, up to Stanage Edge and along Burbage Edge to the National Trust’s Longshaw Estate (where ice cold home-made lemonade and cookies awaited us), and back down past Grindleford station to Outside in Hathersage for a free cup of tea and flapjack. Many thanks to all three for such delicious refreshments, and thanks to Alpkit and Outside for providing 5 x £10 vouchers each to award to our top fundraisers at the end of the walk.
The Wildfire Walk was attended by over 30 fundraisers and staff from supporting organisations, including the BMC, Peak District National Park, National Trust, Eastern Moors Partnership and Moors for the Future Partnership.
Danny Udall site manager for Eastern Moors Partnership in full wildfire fighting kit
These funds will help protect the high-risk Sheffield Moors area (Stanage, Burbage, Curbar, Froggatt) from wildfires and rehabilitate the moorland lost to wildfire, in collaboration with the Moors for the Future Partnership and the above organisations.
The wildfire appeal
The overall aim for the wildfire appeal is to raise £100,000. Last December a grant of £50,000 was secured to fund a Wildfire Engagement Officer for the Peak District’s Sheffield Moors area and this May a £20,000 grant was secured from the National Lottery to to help restore the 81.2ha (114 football pitches) of peat bog burned within this area since 2018.
The fundraisers are still reaching out for donations, and if you’d like to fundraise for this cause please find some great ideas here and set up a JustGiving page here. There are some great prizes from our fundraisers (including from Beyond the Edge!) so do join the crew.
Burbage Moor Fire in 2023
The BMC now have a final £19,000 to raise to hit our target. Please give generously to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust wildfire appeal, or consider leaving a legacy gift.
For information on how to prevent wildfires and what to do if you find one, see the wildfire advice page here.
Beyond the Edge Ltd is based in the Peak District, easily reached by train from London and within easy travelling distance from Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and other Northern towns and cities.
We are one of the UKs most experienced providers of climbing, walking, scrambling, mountaineering and navigation training courses.
Most of our courses are run in the Peak District National Park which has some of the finest rock climbing, bouldering, walking and hiking in the world.
