I’m Katy - working mum to two young daughters, and founder of Blaze Trails. I wanted to share how Blaze came about because it made itself - that is, as soon as we started walking with other parents and babies, we couldn’t stop, it felt too good. I hope it shows you that getting out walking with your baby or toddler and other parents is not only achievable, but feels downright awesome.
2017
My partner Stuart and I have always loved getting outdoors together, and when our first daughter arrived in Autumn 2017 I knew I wanted to raise her to feel happy and at home in nature too. Like any other new parents finding their way, the first few weeks were a heady blur of unparalleled joy, sleep-deprivation and poo (so much poo!?). When things got difficult, the things that helped were: family & friends (all the feels), tea (on tap), chocolate brioche buns (too many), and walking (a little, then more, then lots). I soon realised that if we didn’t get out for a walk each day, the baby and I would really feel it. My other new mum friends said the same, so in between the health check-ups, the coffee stops and the weird and wonderful baby classes, we’d meet for a wander round the local park. Always arriving back home feeling knackered but happy, and like we’d achieved something.
2018
With the new year dawning and as I gradually felt more like I had the whole mum-thing down, I started to look ahead to the rest of my maternity leave. I decided that as well as love-bombing my little one and caring for her development, I also wanted to nurture myself and make the most of this somewhat strange interlude to ‘real (working) life’. I knew it would involve walking, and my daughter seemed to love being out in her pushchair or in the sling, looking up at all the trees, sleeping well in the fresh air. Stuart and I also went for our first proper countryside ramble with the baby in the sling and it was a success - no-one got hypothermia or fell in the mud! So I googled variations on ‘parent and baby walk/pushchair walk/baby hike London’ to see if there was some kind of parent and baby walking group we could join.
I found nothing local. I couldn’t believe there weren’t more parents out there who wanted to get out walking with their babies. Surely, I thought, there are thousands of people who like getting out for a walk, and who happen to have a baby at some point? And surely there are people who have never really been outdoorsy types, but who have a baby and find that walking (somewhere, anywhere, for any length of time) helps keep them sane and the baby soothed? So I started organising walks.
Our walks started off with a few other mum friends and their babies, just getting out locally for short walks with our pushchairs in London’s parks, along the Thames at Richmond, or in wild spaces such as Hampstead Heath. We gradually built up to weekly walks going further afield, into the greenbelt, out of London, leaving the M25 behind. We travelled by train, by bus, by car. We went up hill, down dale. We got the slings and baby backpacks out, put the walking boots on, lathered up in suncream and just got out.
The babies loved it, we loved it. And the motley crew of us grew and grew. As friends of friends started to come along and we were meeting people we didn’t know, I wondered what it would be like to open it up to the public and reach other parents. All we were hearing was how exciting and liberating it was to get out in nature with other families, and that people had wished they had known about the group and started coming along sooner.
2019
I went back to work and continued to walk on my days off but juggling the walking group and busy family life was hard! So I was adamant that when I was on maternity leave again with my second daughter that I would really make a go of Blaze and take it out to more people.
2020-21
What a shocker of a year for everyone. Getting outdoors walking with my daughters is a huge part of what’s got me through this hard time.
My youngest daughter arrived in January 2020, so when lockdown hit in March I had a newborn and toddler to care for. We had the most incredible snuggly days together, but I also really struggled without the usual support of our families and friends. Getting outdoors each day for our hour of exercise was one of the few things that kept me going. No matter how low or anxious I felt, getting out with the girls for a walk made me feel so much better. They loved it too.We started discovering new parts of our local parks, finding joy and interest in small things like collecting twigs for 'campfires' or building dens.
As lockdown no.1 started to ease and I spoke with more mums, I realised how all of us were desperate for more connection and support. I started asking other parents out for socially distanced walks - saying hello to random mums in the park and telling them about Blaze Trails. Many said they were so pleased I had talked to them as they were feeling isolated. They started coming along on my walks.
Throughout 2020 I organised baby walks twice a week, and the turnout got bigger with each walk. The groups were really diverse - women from every background come together to walk, chat, people new people and connect with nature. There was a lot of demand - everyone said how liberating and important it felt to connect with other parents when there were so few other options.
The Blaze Trails model is resonating so strongly with parents that it’s growing into a national network of parent-led walking groups. Through lockdowns and more relaxed periods we have walked - always adhering to safe walking precautions. Adapting and formalising our structure to adhere to the guidance for parent and baby support groups. Making sure we can always be there as a resource to parents in these most difficult of times.
We now have 25 local branches and I'm supporting other parents to set up their local groups in other parts of the country. I’m incredibly proud of our amazing community of Organisers - they’re getting out every week bring other parents together for some well-needed fresh air and friendship.
My goal is for there to be a Blaze Trails baby walking group in every town across England!
I really hope Blaze Trails can inspire you to get outdoors with your baby or toddler. There are a range of ways to get involved, and we are growing and learning as we go, so please do share your ideas and feedback.
Thanks and hope to see you on a walk with us soon!
Katy