Their story, in their words…
For our Mark Evison Award project, we spent five days camping and exploring the Peak District. Day one began at London Victoria, where we travelled up together and settled into camp. Over the next few days, we explored the area, went on hikes and visited Mam Tor, Lud’s Church, the Roaches, Dovedale and Bakewell. Each place gave us something different, from the incredible views at Mam Tor to the dramatic rocky surroundings of Lud’s Church and the Roaches.
One of the main highlights was our hike, which was challenging at times because of the steep and uneven paths. As the days went on, we became tired, but we encouraged each other and kept going. Visiting Dovedale and Bakewell also gave us the chance to explore more of the Peak District and experience different parts of the area. Camping for five days helped us become more independent and gave us the opportunity to spend time outdoors away from our usual routines.
The biggest thing we gained from the project was a greater appreciation for the outdoors. We learnt that you do not have to travel far to have an adventure, and that exploring somewhere like the Peak District can be so truly rewarding. We also gained confidence from pushing ourselves through the more difficult parts of the hike and felt a real sense of achievement when we completed it.
We would like to say a huge thank you to the Mark Evison Foundation for giving us the opportunity to take part. The Award allowed us to experience five days of camping, explore new places, challenge ourselves and create memories that we will remember for a long time. It was an experience we are very grateful for and one that has encouraged us to continue trying new things and exploring the outdoors.
