Swapping Heels for Hiking Boots

Aspiring environmental lawyer and 2023 Miss Wales finalist, Grace Gavigan, is preparing for this year’s Big Wild Walk. Grace will be undertaking a 70km challenge across 7 days in support of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. This inspirational A level student is passionate about our planet and protecting our most precious species, which is why she’s dedicated to being one of our trailblazing #WILDFundraisers.

At just 16, Grace has inspired us with her ambition, tenacity, and passion for all things nature and sustainability. This year alone she passed all of her GCSE exams with flying colours, has successfully placed as a finalist in the Miss Wales pageant, and is now studying for 5 A-level exams at Sixth Form. Grace would like to pursue a career as an environmental lawyer following her higher education. Grace says:

“I’m very excited to participate in this year’s Big Wild Walk Challenge for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. I’m looking forward to swapping my heels for walking boots to highlight the urgent need to take action for nature and bring awareness to the climate crisis. Autumn is such a beautiful time of year to get outside and discover nature on our doorstep, and the Big Wild Walk challenge also enables me to fundraise for a cause which is so close to my heart.”

This year’s Big Wild Walk takes place between the 24th and 30th of October to raise money and awareness for our #30by30 goal. We are calling everyone to help us protect and connect at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 for nature’s recovery. Making more space for nature to become abundant once again will give our struggling wildlife the chance to recover, as well as restore beautiful wild places. These spaces provide vital carbon storage which will help us tackle the climate crisis.

30% is the bare minimum that nature needs to start recovering but we are far short of this and need your help to turn things around...

Join us for the Big Wild Walk and take on your own challenge – it can be as big or as small as you’d like! Join Grace for a 70km adventure or sign up for the Hedgehog Challenge and walk 3km over the whole week. This challenge really is for everyone. Walk, wheel, or run for nature this October!

Our #WILDFundraiser campaign is an opportunity for YOU to join us and champion change for nature. Together, we can show that nature’s recovery is at the heart of our own decisions and that every individual’s action can make a difference. There are countless ways you can fight for a Wilder Future.

Get involved with the Big Wild Walk this year and join Grace, along with thousands of others, to fundraise for a future in which both nature and people thrive. By joining our mission for nature's recovery, you will make a real difference to wildlife and our natural world. Every pound donated will help us achieve our vision for a wilder future.

Nature has given us so much, now it’s our turn to give back.