Prizes worth £895 for our top fundraiser

Access News
22 May
2 min read

A prize bundle of £895 worth of outdoor gear and courses awaits the person who raises the most for the BMC Access & Conservation Trust wildfire appeal by the end of 2026.

As well as funding a new Wildfire Engagement Officer for the Peak District's Sheffield Moors area, BMC Access & Conservation Trust is aiming to raise a further £50,000 to restore the areas destroyed by wildfire.

We have just been successful in securing a National Lottery grant of £20,000, and our next fundraising event, a sponsored Wildfire Walk is taking place this Saturday 30 May, part of the BMC Big Hill Walking Weekend. Our fundraisers have been working hard with the aim of raising £200 each, and there will be ten £10 vouchers for Alpkit and Outside stores for the ten fundraisers who have raised the most by event day.

But the challenge is ongoing and open to all - the person who has raised the most money for our wildfire appeal by the end of the year will win these incredible prizes from top quality brands and a local outdoor provider!

Sign up for our sponsored wildfire walk!
Prizes worth £760 to be won for our top fundraiser!

Beyond the Edge training course worth up to £225

Beyond the Edge is a fantastic, Sheffield-based outdoor training provider who have promised the lucky winner their pick of these courses: beginners navigation, intermediate navigation, advanced navigation, introduction to rock climbing, intermediate rock climbing, learn to lead trad climbs, problem solving and self rescue, outdoor first aid and dog first aid.

Sprayway Maxen or Era GTX jacket worth £240

New for 2026, these are dependable GORE-TEX shells designed for all-weather outdoor adventures. Whether it’s a quick hike on the trail or a big hill day above the snowline, the Men’s Maxen or Women’s Era has you covered. The latest GORE-TEX ePE membrane, paired with a durable ripstop face and zoned mesh/taffeta lining, keeps you dry and comfortable.

Fjällräven Kajka X-Lätt 45L backpack worth £295

A light, durable trekking backpack that’s easy to repair, featuring extremely hardwearing Vinylon F fabric and a high-quality birch wood frame. The back length is fully adjustable, and the stretch side pockets and removable front pocket sleeve offer extra storage to its 45L capacity. The inside pocket is detachable and can be used separately as a small crossbody bag for essentials.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up to the sponsored Wildfire Walk here, or design your own fundraising challenge with our advice and inspiration here using our JustGiving page.

Keen Hightail Mid hiking shoes worth £135

Crafted from ethically sourced leather, the KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane keeps your feet dry, while PFAS-free water repellency protects against moisture without using harmful forever chemicals. These walking shoes are grippy on all terrain types, a comfy, secure fit, and and sporty cushioning with a high-rebound midsole. Great for hiking all day long.

 

Why are we raising these funds?

A devastating 81.22 hectares (114 football pitches) of Peak District peatland and its associated wildlife been decimated by more than 12 wildfires in the Peak District’s Sheffield Moors area since 2018, releasing thousands of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. To combat this, BMC Access & Conservation Trust has funded a Wildfire Engagement Officer for the Sheffield Moors area as part of The Climate Project and Mend Our Mountains campaigns. The charity also aims to raise a further £50,000 to restore the areas destroyed by wildfire, in collaboration with Moors for the Future Partnership and helped by many BMC volunteers who plant sphagnum moss in the bog as the final part of the restoration process.

The BMC Access & Conservation Trust are raising funds to rehabilitate the moors after wildfires like this one from May 2025 on Froggatt Edge, a popular climbing and walking destination. Photo: Villager Jim

What's the deal with wildfires?

  • Zero tolerance on naked flames - barbecues and campfires are strictly prohibited in the Peak District. One stray ember can devastate centuries of peat growth, sending thousands of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere, degrading water quality, killing thousands of insects and ground-nesting birds, endangering firefighters (including volunteers) and harming local businesses.
  • Emergency protocol - if you spot smoke or flames, dial 999 immediately and ask for the fire service. Provide a precise location using What3Words or a grid reference.
  • Rapid ignition - do not be deceived by wet weather; vegetation can dry out within the hour even after heavy rainfall, creating ideal wildfire conditions.
  • It could be you. No one thinks their fire will get out of control so they try one anyway despite the ban - instead, take a hot flask or use a camping stove with care.

Resilience through restoration

Ted Talbot, Programme Manager for Conservation and Land Management at Moors for the Future Partnership (MFFP) says, “Wetter is better. Healthy, water-logged peat acts as a natural firebreak and colossal carbon store, whereas dry, degraded peat provides high-energy fuel for deep, long-burning wildfires that devastate the landscape, wildlife, farming, tourism and human health. Investing in peatland rehabilitation work is the most effective long-term defence against wildfire. MFFP and this collaboration of organisations are already carrying out restoration work by re-vegetating bare peat, damming gullies to trap water and planting sphagnum moss, the vital peat-building plant.”

 

How to support

  • Donate: Contributions to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust’s Wildfire Appeal (part of The Climate Project campaign) are most gratefully received. Donate here.
  • Participate: Join our upcoming sponsored Wildfire Walk (Sat 30 May 2026) in ‘fire’ colours, part of the BMC Big Walking Weekend, to help us raise further funds. Sign up here.
  • Corporate sponsors are welcome, please get in touch with the BMC Access & Conservation Trust for opportunities to share news of your support with the BMC’s 82,000 members.
The BMC Access & Conservation Trust is raising money to protect the Peak District moors from wildfire

Did you know that you can donate to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust entirely FREE simply by shopping online as you usually would, at any time of the year with Easyfundraising? It only takes two minutes to set up, here's how.

If you want to contribute to upland and mountain access and conservation causes like the above, then simply click here to donate to The BMC Access & Conservation Trust via The Climate Project or Mend Our Mountains campaigns at any time. One-off or regular donations of any amount are always most welcome.

Volunteer

Fancy fixing footpaths in the Lake District, placing stepping stones in Eryri or planting peat-building sphagnum moss in the Peak District? Sign up to one of our Get Stuck In events here. And if you can't volunteer, why not gift us the amount you would have spent in fuel or on a train fare getting to a volunteer event?

Leave a legacy

A wise person once said, the most noble thing you can do is to "plant trees under whose shade you will never sit" and, likewise, fund path repair projects on which you will never walk and moorland restoration projects which you will never see. If you'd like to make a lasting impact on the landscape long after you've left this world, please consider leaving us a legacy.

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