Follow the bear: Bamber Hawes takes it in his stride

‘I can think of nothing better to do to show the earnestness of my belief.’

Calling anyone who would like to be part of a commitment to our living, breathing Earth and the future of all life. I am organising a Climate Crisis Pilgrimage from South Shropshire to the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. Would you be interested in joining me for a day of walking as I progress northward?

I will be walking for 306 miles, which will take twenty-two days. Each day I will be joined by local people from the area that I have reached.

The unusual thing is that I will be accompanied by a ten-foot high sculpture of a polar bear (see photo). The bear, called Clarion, is made from thin bamboo poles, willow withies and many layers of heavy duty tissue paper bonded together with waterproof glue. He is carried on a palanquin.

He ain’t heavy!

I am looking for people to join me for a day walking along footpaths, bridle paths, canal towpaths and B roads. The intention for this pilgrimage is to come together to walk, to talk, to connect with each other, to connect with the landscape by moving through it slowly, admiring its beauty and grandeur. The aim is be positive and kind, and to build active hope; to smile and laugh while being serious.

Walking to the climate talks will not change the world, but I can think of nothing better to do to show the earnestness of my belief that we must learn to talk together and build community. Only in Oneness will we make a better, more just, world.

Clarion and I will be coming through your area on these dates: Day 1: 10 October, Bishop’s Castle to Longden; 2, 11 October, Longden to Platt Lane; 3, 12 October, Platt Lane to Bulkeley; 4, 13 October, Bulkeley to Kingsley; 5, 14 October, Kingsley to Rainhill; 6, 15 October, Rainhill to Appleby Bridge; 7, 16 October, Appleby Bridge to Middleforth; 8, 17 October, Middleforth to Garstang; 9, 18 October, Garstang to Lancaster; 10, 19 October, Lancaster to Hincaster; 11, 20 October, Hincaster to Sadgill; 12, 21 October, Sadgill to Askham; 13, 22 October, Askham to Calthwaite; 14, 23 October, Calthwaite to Cargo; 15, 24 October, Cargo to Stapleton Grange; 16, 25 October, Stapleton Grange to Lockerbie; 17, 26 October, Lockerbie to Mosslands; 18, 27 October, Mosslands to Elvanfoot; 19, 28 October, Elvanfoot to Douglas; 20, 29 October, Douglas to Strathaven; 21, 30 October Strathaven to Busby; 22, 31 October, day off; 23, 1 November, Busby to COP26.

Please consider coming along as a treasured, intrepid pilgrim. This will not be a shouty, banner-waving demonstration but I am confident it will get some attention.

Bamber Hawes can be contacted on social media platforms as @Clarion_the_bear.

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