A recent walk to the Lickey Hills brought our faith communities together and helped friendships blossom in nature, after the riots.
In the wake of tense scenes across the UK, Footsteps held our annual interfaith walk in the Lickey Hills on Sunday 18th August. Around fifty walkers – Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish and humanist – made their way from Barnt Green Quaker Meeting House to Bilberry Hill, with kids stopping off in the playground and elders enjoying the fine views across Longbridge and the South Birmingham suburbs to the city centre.
We are very grateful to Barnt Green Quakers for providing the Meeting House for a place to chill, eat, drink and socialise, and for the warm welcome they provided.
It was wonderful to see so many people really enjoying themselves, especially those who do not often have the opportunity to take part in community walks in the countryside. Children were visibly happy to be outside walking and enjoying each other’s company. We are reminded that there is something valuable in people from different communities coming together and walking alongside each other in Nature – that is a powerful eco-action in its own right.
Creative thinking is important to our eco-activism, and faith can help us open ourselves to this. If we are not grounded in nature ourselves, how can eco-activism be part of our being, rather than just abstract and intellectual? The walk stimulated these creative interactions in a natural way, simply by listening to each other and hearing what we have to say.
Andrew Cheffings, Buddhist representative on Footsteps steering group reflected:
“All the conversations I had were relevant, and included references to Footsteps and climate action. One Muslim boy was telling me lots of things about his interactions with Nature – with a squirrel, getting stung by insects and nettles, making structures with natural materials, comparing a dead tree on the walk with redwoods he was aware of, different heights of different trees, how far he can throw a frisbee compared to these different heights… That’s a really good example of someone taking an interest in Nature and relating it to themselves and the natural world around them.”
Fanniza Begum from Ward End, who is setting up a Community Interest Company to help local Asian women via a personalised English Speaking Skills Support Group, and came on the walk with other Muslim mums and their kids said:
“We had an amazing time today. The highlight was seeing people from different communities, like those from Ward End, coming together. It’s amazing how, despite not knowing each other, we connected so easily. This is something that needs to be shared and spread. Often, judgement comes from not actually knowing or experiencing something. As a mom, I always tell my children, ‘If you hear about one person or group causing riots, that doesn’t mean everyone is like that.’ I remind them to think about the people they know from different faiths and cultures. I would love to see something like this happen in our own community as well. I believe we all need to play a part, whether we come from a community or a faith organisation, to spread as much love as possible.”
Pete Doubtfire from Footsteps said:
“The aim of our annual walk is to share different faith perspectives on creation, and to take time to reconnect with our local environment. Earth Care is a shared value that all of our faiths teach: spending time with each other and with nature has helped remind us why we take action together to protect it. We can all boost our wellbeing through these activities, but access to green spaces is not equal across the city. By providing support to travel to the Lickey Hills via with public transport, we welcome people from different backgrounds to take steps with us towards a low carbon future”.
Climate and social justice activist Toqueer Ahmed Quyyam said:
“As a community connector for Footsteps, I can see the wonderful friendships that have blossomed, and that vital eco work has been done too in Birmingham”
Many thanks to Josh Neicho, Local Storytelling Exchange for support with this report, and the photo.