An Edinburgh adventurer who promotes diversity in the outdoors has been named as the Overall Champion of the Scottish Walking Awards.
Joshua Adeyemi wowed judges with his work to improve representation within the walking community, particularly by sharing walking inspiration via his influential “@talesbyjosh” Instagram account.
Joshua scooped the Media/Online Walking Champion award as well as the Overall Champion title, beating many dozens of entries to the awards run by Paths for All, Ramblers Scotland and Living Streets Scotland.
Nominations included everything from businesses, councils and land managers to the journalists, staff and local volunteers who are inspiring others to step out.
Joshua, who works as a financial analyst, said: “Winning this award is a deep honour, and I hope that my achievements will inspire others to connect with and care for Scotland’s natural spaces. As a first-generation immigrant in Scotland, I consider myself fortunate to have quickly become acquainted with the Land Reform (Scotland) Act and its provisions for accessing wild spaces. The ability to freely explore Scotland’s natural spaces has been of immense benefit to my physical and mental wellbeing, and I am passionate about sharing this privilege with others.”
Joshua moved to Scotland about a decade ago from Nigeria and has been exploring the nation on foot ever since. Joshua is a co-founder of the popular Black Scottish Adventurers, a group that now has hundreds of members and thousands of social media followers.
Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport presented Joshua with his award during a walk in Holyrood Park and sent her congratulations to the eight other Scottish Walking Award category winners.
Ms Todd said: “It’s been wonderful to meet Joshua and hear his passion for raising awareness of the benefits of walking. That’s certainly a passion I share. We want more people to walk and wheel more often. It is vital to our aim of creating a healthier nation and people like Joshua who give so much time, commitment and enthusiasm to helping others are vital in making that happen. I would also like to extend my gratitude and warmest congratulations to all the other worthy winners who continue to champion walking in Scotland.”
The awards are announced during National Walking Month – other winners include:
· Public Sector Walking Champion: Dumfries & Galloway Council Environment Team
For securing investment and delivering the Galloway Glens Scheme, the Rhins of Galloway Coast path and the Criffel Summit to Sea path. McNabb Laurie, from Dumfries & Galloway Council Environment Team, said: “We’re just so excited to have won the award. There are so many things that we’ve been doing recently that are really nationally significant and exciting.”
· Community Walking Champion: Walk in the Park volunteer Kath Millar
For helping run hundreds of health walks in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, to support people to reconnect with their communities and rebuild their health. Kath said: “I’m very pleased although it feels strange to be given an award for doing something that I enjoy! My group in Callander has grown over the past year and I hope that it will continue to grow. I think walking with someone and chatting with them is very good for people.”
· Business Walking Champion: Walkhighlands
The walking website, which is used by an average of 35,000 people a day, has just launched an app. This allows over 2000 walk descriptions with detailed mapping to be used offline in places where there is no phone signal. Over 44,000 people have downloaded and used the app since March. “We’re thrilled to have won this award; the fact that the nomination came from members of the public makes it even more special,” said Paul Webster who runs Walkhighlands with his wife Helen. “We hope that the app will help people discover new places to get outdoors, whether it’s near their homes or when travelling in all corners of the country. We’re committed to keeping Walkhighlands a completely free resource so that we can make these benefits accessible to more people.””
QMU Wellness Walks, NHS Grampian, Go Jauntly, and the RSPB were also recognised by the Awards. The Scottish Walking Awards are held every two years and showcase work happening in Scotland to help increase walking and wheeling. They are run by Paths for All, Living Streets Scotland and Ramblers Scotland and aim to recognise people, businesses and organisations who are helping Scotland to become a walking nation.