#55 The Joy of Navigating Nature & Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival with Austin KnottIn this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I chat with Austin Knott, an outdoor enthusiast, founder of Walk the Moorlands, and facilitator of the annual Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival.We dive into the revival of the festival, which runs from Friday, 25 April to Monday, 5 May 2025, the types of walking and outdoor activities available, and how these events can serve as a canvas for community expression and engagement.Austin shares insights into his active lifestyle, which revolves around walking and outdoor navigation. He discusses the growing popularity of outdoor activities, the health benefits of spending time in nature, and his early memories of exploring the outdoors. Austin also provides tips for those looking to embrace nature in their daily lives and delves into the history and revival of the Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival as a response to local outdoor activity gaps.In this episode:Transitioning from a desk job to outdoor activities afterretirementSeeing nature exploration as simple as stepping outside your front doorInvolving the community to ensure the success of outdoor eventsEnhancing outdoor experiences by embracing landscape diversityRemembering nature helps shape our appreciation for the outdoorsProviding a supportive community for open-air activities.Outdoor activities are becoming increasingly popular as national and local governments invest in initiatives promoting nature's physical and mental wellbeing health benefits. The Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival has grown year on year since 2022, with 2024 seeing over 900 attendees, 50 activities, more than 30 collaborating organisations, and over 70,000 website visitors. Future aspirations for inclusivity and community bonding, the festival serves as a canvas for community expression and engagement.Please connect with Austin and the team to learn more about the events and activities available during the festival. Away from the Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival, contact Austin about leisure walks across the Moorlands and navigation training courses.Staffordshire Moorlands Walking FestivalFestival Events PageFacebookInstagramWalk the MoorlandsDiscover Staffordshire MoorlandsFreelancing in the outdoors allows for a flexible and enjoyable career. Austin is also an Associate at Peak Navigation Courses and a National Navigation Award Scheme Course Director.Also mentioned in this podcast:Staffordshire Moorlands District CouncilMyActiveMerlin Bird AppMind Over MountainsBlaze TrailsStaffordshire Wildlife TrustStaffordshire CPREMozaicOutside ArtsStuart MaconiePenny AndersonSoundbites from Austin"I should be retired, but I'm still active.""There are quite a few different strings to my bow, but it'salmost one-dimensional… it all involves the outdoors and walking.""I got a crazy idea to offer walks.""Long walks and Sunday saunters."Podcast Chapters00:00 Introduction to Austin03:01 A Day in the Life of an Outdoor Enthusiast05:02 Navigating the Outdoors: Skills and Experiences07:32 The Growing Popularity of Outdoor Activities09:48 Early Memories of Nature12:37 Tips for Embracing Nature in Daily Life14:38 The Festival: History and Revival21:32 The Birth of the Walking Festival24:34 Growth and Community Engagement27:37 Inclusivity and Accessibility in Events30:05 Mental Health and Nature30:19 Festival Logistics and Participation38:34 Personal Connection to Nature_ _ _A new episode is released every Saturday at 8 am.Please remember to subscribe, share and leave a review. This generous act helps other listeners find the podcast and allows me to continue providing valuable insight and resources.Please connect with me on your preferred platform by ⁠visiting my links pageAccess a free journal plannerJoin my bi-weekly Writing and Nature Connection newsletter

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