It’s all very well and good aiming to complete 40 activities to celebrate and enjoy my life, but I’m very aware that not everyone is in a position to do so, and that our enjoyment has an impact on others and the wider environment. As such, one of my key intentions as part of my 40 at 40 bucket list is to complete a number of charitable activities. At the point of writing this blog I have not decided on every cause, and every activity, but it is my intention to support a range of medical, social and environmental causes.

To kick this off, I started by supporting the RSPCA as they celebrated their 200year anniversary. https://www.rspca.org.uk/200th

Formed by a small group of individuals in London, initially as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the SPCA worked to promote the development of laws such as the abolition of Bear and Bull baiting. For the full history, review the RSPCA’s website: https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/whoweare/history.

I spotted a Facebook advert (admittedly not always the best place to follow an advert) highlighting the RSPCA’s #WalkontheWildside scheme. This was for individuals to walk a choice of three different target distances, with Team Hedgehog (30miles), Team Badger (60 miles), or Team Fox (150), obtaining sponsorship and promoting the RSPCA’s causes.

Although 60 miles in a 30 day month shouldn’t necessarily be challenging – it is only 2 miles per day after all – knowing my schedule and how comfortable I get inside on wet/ windy days, I decided to join Team Badger.

Not only would it get me up and active whilst supporting a good cause, it enabled me to explore local walks that I have intended to do for ages.  Without really intending to, I set up a riverside theme with my longer walks.

• along the River Waveney from Beccles to the Geldeston Pub (4.8 miles, plus 2miles walking to/ from the river);
• the other way along the River Waveney for part of the route (return trip) to the Triangle Festival at Aldeby, Wheatacre and Burgh St Peters (a total walk of 11.4 miles);
• the other side of the River Waveney for the full Beccles Marsh Trail (7.18miles total walked)
• a short length of the River Deben at Woodbridge (a total walk of 2.5 miles)
• The first part of the Wherryman’s way took me along a short section of the river Wensum and several stretches of the River Yare (6.71miles of the Wherryman’s way, plus 1.78 miles to/ from the start of the walk)
• Walking a short stretch in opposite direction up the River Wensum as I explored Norwich under the guidance of a National Writers Centre walking guide (a total walk of 5.54 miles)

Having always enjoyed walking, though falling out of the habit since moving to East Anglia, it was great to get out and about again. Although my intention was to slowly increase the length of the walks, to avoid leg strain, I didn’t always manage this. Particularly when I walked to the ‘Triangle Festival’.

Not only did I set out later than intended – and therefore arrived in the closing hours of the festival – but I mis-measured my OS map, and didn’t manage to catch the shuttle bus put on between the venues. Working out how far I walked was not helped by my milage tracker switching off part way round the outward journey!

The walk from Beccles Quay (or more accurately the bus stop for the quay) was about 4.5 miles, with a further mile to Burgh St Peter and the burger stall (and toilet) – which was much needed having missed lunch. It was the perfect weather for walking, a mix of sun and cloud with a light breeze, and I enjoyed my ramble along the river, and over the fields across the rolling Norfolk hills (yes there are a few). I was joined with a variety of wildlife – red legs partridges scuttling along the path in front of me, muntjac deer leaping into the hedge as I approached, and red kite soaring overhead – and had a marvellous, if tiring, day.

I do love walking in a woodland, so I took the opportunity to explore a couple of my local Woodland Trust woods (3 gates farm, and St Mary’s wood in Aldeby) and discovering another (Porter’s Wood) in Woodbridge. The flickering of sunlight through the leaves, a contrast of light and shade; scuffling through the early autumn carpet of fallen leaves; the rustling of foliage; and the possible glimpse of wildlife darting for cover. There is inspiration to be found in the sweeping branches where fairies might take shelter, or in the isolated, unoccupied, bungalow in the woodland clearing.

To navigate, I used mix of exploratory meandering, following the OS map, and following routes described in guidebooks. I enjoyed all methods, though some descriptions in the guidebooks were more effective than others – and I have annotated my copies for future reference. The mix of urban and rural, open landscape and rippling woodland is one of the reasons I love this country. Such variety in relatively short distances.

Although I am very pleased that I managed to complete my 60 miles, my self-promotion/ marketing/ sponsorship tactics was less effective. It was disappointing to only achieve 33% of my target £150, but as the saying goes, every little helps. I shall consider how I need to improve on this for my other charitable activities.

RSPCA-200 #WalkontheWildside, #Team Badger 60 miles in September