This year our Investor in Wildlife Partner, okoHaus took on the challenge of the Wildlife Trust’s Big Wild Walk, fundraising to support our work for a wilder Suffolk. The Big Wild Walk is an annual fundraising challenge encouraging businesses, families, and individuals to step foot into nature in the autumn and walk a set distance of 30km (find out more here).

This isn’t the first time they have taken on the Big Wild Walk. In 2023 the okoHaus team saw the Big Wild Walk challenge as a motivational opportunity to get up and get moving at a time when everyone gets more sedentary with the changing seasons. In 2023 the team raised £137!

This year they’ve gone even further and donated £1 for every kilometre each team member walked. Taking on the challenge over the set two-week period (21 October – 3 November) here’s what they got up to.

"The walk has allowed us to embrace the beauty of the wild and truly appreciate the natural sights around us, not only surrounding the office, but all across Suffolk from the woods, footpaths and school fields to the river Orwell, and even the beautiful fields around the Royal Harwich Yacht Club.

The Big Wild Walk has made our Autumn a highlight of 2024 so far, seeing so many beautiful creatures in the wild like caterpillars and butterflies around Rendlesham Forest and basking in the beauty of the sun outside the isolated life of the offices." 

"At the end of the first week, we had already raised £313"

"(taking on the Big Wild Walk has) enriched our team spirit. The team is constantly sharing updates and screenshots of our steps, how far we have been, and comparing our accomplishments with the average steps walked. One week in, many of us had taken it on as a habit and found true enjoyment in the process. "

"...with an average of 44km for each team member. Our actual total was 615km, resulting in a £615 donation."

"Not only has The Big Walk been an eye-opening and team-building experience, but it has also been an educational one, shedding more light on environmental awareness and how fundraising and donations can better help the community.

This only further proves the multifaceted nature of sustainability and the fact that it not only benefits our environment but also boosts community engagement and fosters a greater understanding of our natural surroundings.

Overall, the partnership with Suffolk Wildlife Trust has allowed us to not only embrace the natural world but to enhance our eco-friendly lifestyle and approach that we aim to incorporate in all our services through our sustainable solutions."