28th May 2024, by jclough@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk

Osbert Lancaster, Co-founder and Director of sustainability leadership consultancy Realise Earth, explains how getting a breath of fresh air can help us discover new approaches to the challenges we face.

What is sustainability netwalking?

Free flowing conversations with other sustainability leaders and pioneers while enjoying relaxed walks in country parks, woodlands and hills.

Why it’s good for you, your organisation and society

It sounds attractive, but is it anything more than a refreshing break from work? Just an opportunity to meet interesting people and discover or re-visit beautiful green spaces on your doorstep or further afield? Is it really worth taking the time from your busy life?

Sustainability netwalking is a deceptively simple format, but dig deeper and it’s a surprisingly powerful process. Not only can it help you personally and professionally, but it also contributes to real progress on sustainability in society.

Leading on sustainability can be tough. The day-to-day pressures of competing demands and expectations, the frustrations of engaging colleagues and stakeholders to implement real change, and underlying all of this: your concern about the scale of the social and environmental disruption and the urgency for action. The people who understand these realities best are other sustainability leaders and pioneers. They also know that time to reflect, to explore ideas, to innovate, is rare and precious – as are opportunities to slow down, relax and refresh yourself.

Sustainability netwalking is some informal time and space for you and your peers to support each other by sharing practical experience, sparking new ideas and exploring the (often unspoken) challenges we face. All this helps us look after ourselves and make greater progress on sustainability in our organisations and sectors, confident that we’re contributing to meaningful change in the world.

 

A lovely way to explore new places, get active, connect with like-minded people and explore ideas. I thoroughly enjoyed my walk – the surroundings were gorgeous and we covered a lot of ground – both physically and mentally! It helped me to re-frame challenges and gave me a real boost. Becky Plunkett, Ecology and Biodiversity Officer, West Lothian Council

 

 

This might seem to lot to expect from walking and talking in nature without predefined topics or outcomes and just the lightest facilitation. But it works.

How sustainability netwalking works

It works because participants share similar goals and values, while bringing a diversity of skills, knowledge and experience. This combination is just what’s required for reflection and learning, for new ideas and perspectives to emerge, and to build the connections that can lead to cooperation and collaboration.

 

A genuine conversation is never the one we wanted to conduct. Hans-Georg Gadamer, Philosopher

 

It’s not just the right people that make the difference. Beyond its wellbeing benefits, walking boosts creativity and makes for a very different type of interaction, where we are more relaxed and authentic, open to deeper, more worthwhile conversations.

 

Sustainability netwalking combines three of my favourite things – being outside in beautiful parts of Scotland, including places I’ve never been; spending time with interesting people; and working through sustainability challenges with likeminded folks. Sarah Beattie-Smith, Sustainability Strategy Manager, SSEN Transmission

 

 

 

Being outside, noticing nature and the changing seasons, reinforces these benefits. It also strengthens our commitment and capacity to act for the greater good, working with, not against, nature.

The practicalities

Sustainability netwalks are hosted every month or so across the Central Belt by Osbert Lancaster and Morag Watson, co-founders of Realise Earth, sustainability leadership advisers and facilitators, and qualified hill and moorland leaders. Usually held in country parks and lowland hills you can expect walks on tracks and paths with occasional muddy or steep sections. With a gentle pace, the emphasis is on enjoying the place, the company and the conversations, with breaks to admire the view, have some coffee and food, and open up discussions.

For most walks you don’t need to be particularly fit or have any special kit beyond a waterproof jacket and comfortable, waterproof footwear. Some walks are in more remote and rugged areas. For these you may need to be fitter with some experience of hill walking and appropriate kit. Many walks are accessible by public transport and car sharing is encouraged.

If you would enjoy being part of a growing community of people who care and are doing good work, and walking with them in the Scottish countryside, find out more and see upcoming events at realise.earth/sustainability-netwalking/

 

The Scottish Forum is supportive of creative ways to collaborate and foster shared understanding on natural capital challenges and the netwalking opportunities provided by Realise Earth allow for this to happen in the inspiring landscapes around Scotland. The activity of being present in nature while discussing concerns and seemly disconnected topics provides a low key way for new connections and potential solutions to emerge. The secretariat of the Forum highly recommends these walks if you’d like to extend your awareness of accessible natural places in Scotland and extend your professional network.