We protect what we love 

FRIDAY . 26 . 03 . 21 .

Happy Friday FWP folks! 

We hope this week’s newsletter finds you safe and well, in particular to our friends in NSW and QLD who have experienced yet another unprecedented weather event.  As tragic as it is seeing the devastation unfold across the media, it certainly stokes the fire within me to continue to do what we can to address the climate crisis.  

After spending several days in takayna/Tarkine in Tasmania, I for one am feeling very inspired and motivated to take immediate action to try and return our home planet to equilibrium and ensure a long and healthy future for all creatures great and small.

takayna Trail holds a very special place in the hearts of the For Wild Places team, as it’s at this event that FWP was born, only 12 months ago. After the event last year, TT co-founder Simon Harris reached out to a bunch of us who were all keen to continue using our passion for trail running and love of the wild world to make positive change.  

Cue endless Zoom meetings, back and forth WhatsApp messages and a huge investment of time from every FWP member, and we find ourselves where we are today.  Some of us had never met one another in person til this weekend, which is strangely normal in these times, but made for a very fun and memorable weekend, full of incredible new friendships and faces. 

This reunion, combined with incredible weather, beautiful surrounds, boundless energy from all involved and the incredible organisation of the Bob Brown Foundation made for an incredible event and experience.  Collectively, the 121 runners have raised $190,000 to help support the BBF to continue protecting the native forests of Tasmania and beyond. If you'd like to help get us to the $200k mark, you can still donate here.

It was a jam packed weekend, with plenty of smiles and hugs to be had.  Here are just a few highlights from our time in takayna

THE TRAIL

United through adversity, all runners had a story to tell about their experience sloshing through the often waist deep ‘puddles’ along the course.  With muddy legs, scratched hands, smiling faces, the challenging trail gave runners a first hand experience of the wildness of takayna and its unique climate (it’s some of the only rainforest in the world that receives snow!)

Surrounded by towering eucalypts, falling leatherwood flowers and fragrant sassafras forest, the beauty of takayna was the real hero of the day, leaving all runners with a lasting impression of why protecting these rainforests is so vital.

THE RECOVERY

On Sunday, with tired legs but smiling faces, the FWP crew led a hike up the nearby majestic Mt Murchsion to host our first ever PEAK OUT.  Inspired by the paddle out movement in the surfing world, this endeavor gathered the FWP community to call for action on native forest logging, surrounded by the very landscape we are fighting to protect.  It was amazing to have such a great turnout and to get to know our community better as we scrambled up the rocky trails, unfurled banners and made our voices heard from the mountaintop.

Check out more photos from the Peak Out here.

THE INSPIRATION

Post Peak Out, the crew headed to the Pieman River Blockade, a camp run by the BBF.  This camp has been in operation for almost 90 days, in place to prevent mining and logging companies from accessing land scheduled for drilling and logging.  Surrounded by felled trees and debris, Campaigner Scott Jordan shared with us the current threats facing this particular coupe of old growth forest.  Meeting and talking with the forest defenders who volunteer at the Blockade Camp gave us great insight into the complex nature of the takayna/Tarkine campaign and reaffirmed our desire to continue fundraising and fighting to protect the native forests of lutruwita/Tasmania and beyond.

THE ACTION

At 5am on Monday morning, a group of takayna trail runners joined the Pieman River Blockade forest defenders in an action at the Riley Creek Mine Site. Operated by Venture Minerals, this strip mine is extracting iron ore from the mineral rich soils of takayna/Tarkine.

Standing in front of the entry to the mine, our 20 strong group chanted 'No new mines, protect takayna' as contractors arrived on site to commence work for the day. Despite our surly faces in the photos, the morning was one of singalongs, snacks and friendship. When the police arrived at 9am and asked us to move on, we politely obliged and vacated the mine site.

To see more from the action, check out this video.

And finally, a huge thank you must go out to all those who made this incredible weekend come together in such a magical way. The event would not be possible without the tireless efforts of the Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) and event sponsors Paddy Pallin and Patagonia. Together they gave a voice to the wild places that cannot speak for themselves.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Thank you to all those who were part of takayna Trail from within the FWP community, as we hope to see you in a few months' time in the Pilliga for the first Pilliga Ultra. We now have 28 people already signed up, and with everyone feeling very motivated and inspired by the weekend's events, I'm sure the remaining 70 odd places will be snapped up very soon.

For more information on the event, check out the FAQ's and sign up here.

As always, thank you for taking the time for wild places and have a swell weekend!

Hilary & the For Wild Places team

CHECK US OUT ON INSTAGRAM

We acknowledge the the First Nations people who have been custodians of land, waters and culture for tens of thousands of years. We pay respects to First Nations Elders past, present and emerging. This email was created on Dja Dja Wurrung land. Always was, always will be.

By For Wild Places

We're a group of adventurers who love to

protect wild places we run on