‘Plus-size people face a lot of barriers’: the campaigners helping larger walkers to enjoy the great outdoors

It is raining. Heavy drops hit so hard they bounce back into the air. Cloud hangs over the highest peak, today’s destination. I gather with the small group of women in larger bodies, all facing the same challenge as me, with similar demons whispering into their ears, “You’re too fat, you’re not fit enough, you don’t belong here, you will embarrass yourself … ”

Despite the rain, I am dry, comfortable and well prepared for a day of British weather in the Peak District. For the first time in my 41 years, I am wearing a pair of walking trousers that fit. I have a backpack that is full of kit yet sits correctly, with weight distributed properly. My waterproof jacket not only zips up, but also covers my hips, lower back and is actually waterproof. It may seem odd to mention technical outdoor clothing functioning, but lots of people have to try to enjoy the outdoors in ill-fitting clothes or unsafe kit. Which is why Steph Wetherell, with the support of fellow outdoor enthusiasts Emily Williams, Kumbi Kariwo, Sara Huws and Rebecca Dawson, set up Every Body Outdoors (EBO) – a community campaigning for clothing, gear and representation for larger bodies in the outdoors.

But it isn’t just kit that’s the issue. Although EBO initially came together through shared frustration at not being able to find suitable outdoor clothing, the community soon grew to a safe space for people to share advice, adventures and experiences. In turn, this inspired the team to develop a range of outdoor courses specifically designed for plus-size people, offering not only an opportunity for people to gain more confidence in the hills and mountains, but teaching essential skills such as map reading, route planning, what to do in emergency and understanding what kit one might need.

“Plus-size people can face a lot of barriers when accessing training and skills in the outdoors,” says Steph. “If you’re worried about being slow up hills, needing regular breaks or just feel out of place in outdoors groups, these courses offer an opportunity to upskill, increase confidence and meet some other lovely, larger outdoors lovers.”

Via Positive.News

Nyamal Traditional Owners celebrate first new Pilbara conservation estate in more than a decade

Nyamal Traditional Owners are celebrating the creation of Purungunya Conservation Park and Purungunya National Park — the first new conservation estate created in the Pilbara for more than ten years.

East of Port Hedland, the park will be jointly managed by Nyamal Traditional Owners and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA). Through joint-management, Nyamal people will make decisions with DBCA about how their Country is managed. Nyamal Traditional Owners will be engaged in a variety of positions across the new parks, including in management and as rangers.

The Nyamal People have traditional rights in around 35,000 square kilometres of land in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Tuesday's announcement was described by Traditional Owners as the first step towards embedding their perspective in the management of these areas. Their cultural views will inform the protection of plants, animals and water as well as historic and cultural sites, and the land itself.

The Purungunya parks are in a national biodiversity hotspot — one of 15 in Australia — and will provide protection to 91 threatened species, including the bilby, Pilbara olive python, Pilbara leaf-nosed bat, night parrot and northern quoll. The parks will also protect a world-best example of fossilised stromatolites — formations that were involved in processes that transformed Earth's atmosphere 2.72 billion years ago, enabling complex life to evolve.

The new parks and reserves will protect more than 200,000 hectares of Nyamal Country, contributing to a total amount of 4 million hectares added to WA's conservation estate through the WA government's Plan for Our Parks initiative.

Nyamal people have been connected to and lived on this land from time immemorial. They celebrated the recognition of their connections to Country in the creation of these parks and said they look forward to collaborating with the Department to manage this part of their Country.

Via Fix the News