Churchwarden Mike Parkes writes…
Back at the beginning of 2020 I started planning to walk the length of the Cotswold Way with my daughter Lucy and our dog Orla, starting at the market place in Chipping Campden and finishing 6 days later after 102 miles at the Abbey in Bath.
Our goal, apart from a week’s walking enjoying the joys of the Cotswold ridge, was to raise funds to be donated to the World Land Trust to be used to plant trees in an area which has been deforested and needs our help.
Much time was spent organizing the itinerary, how far to walk each day and where to stay. Finally, it was all arranged and we were set to start our expedition at the end of March.
Then Covid arrived and it all had to be put on hold. It was very frustrating but there was nothing we could do but wait for restrictions to be eased.
Finally, a window of opportunity arrived and the walk was rearranged for the end of September.
We spent six days walking. We started in typical Cotswold countryside, going on to the Cotswold ridge and then to the lower (and flatter) ground to end up in front of the Abbey in Bath arriving happy and with a great sense of achievement, and slightly sore feet. Officially the Way is 102 miles long, but altogether we actually managed to cover just over 120 miles!
Lots of people from Lapworth and Baddesley Clinton were kind enough to sponsor us and I was very pleased that in the end we managed to raise a sum of £390, which was enough to plant 78 native trees in the forests of Borneo by the World Land Trust. I specifically chose Borneo as I was lucky enough to visit the island a couple of years ago and witnessed with my own eyes the devastation that has been caused by deforestation to make way for palm oil plantations.
Here is a copy of the certificate I received from the World Land Trust in recognition of the money raised.
Many thanks to all those who sponsored us.
Mike Parkes