Pilgrimage to protect the earth's green lungs

Retired art teacher Jennie Hewitt, 60, is taking on the challenge of walking the length of the Thames, from its source to London, to raise money for The Size of Herefordshire Rainforest Project as part of Climate Change Action Week.

The project fundraises on behalf of the Forest People's Programme, a charity that secures land rights to protect rainforests and prevent deforestation by loggers, palm oil agri-businesses and others.

Herefordshire supporters aim to raise money to protect and sustain an area of tropical rainforest the size of Herefordshire - some 2,180 square kilometres.

And although the Amazon may seem a long way away, grandmother-of-one Jennie says that in order to secure a sustainable future for generations to come, it is vital that efforts are focused on protecting this delicate and unique ecosystem.

"It is time to stretch our minds and think beyond our own patch," Jennie said.

"The rainforests have been called the lungs of the world, so although far away, they have a direct effect on the capacity of our planet to breathe and thus our own survival here in Herefordshire.

"Tropical rainforests play an absolutely vital role in fighting climate change, currently absorbing nearly one-fifth of the world's man-made carbon emissions every year.

"Their destruction not only reduces this absorption, but the 'slash and burn' methods employed actually contribute between 15 and 20 per cent of global carbon dioxide produced annually.

"We need to consume less fossil fuels, but that won't be enough. We also need to stop the destruction of the tropical rainforests."

Jennie's 190 mile journey, which began on March 28, will see her pass through towns and villages along the banks of the River Thames, including Lechlade, Oxford, Henley, Windsor and Winchester, before she reaches her destination, the Greenwich Thames Barrier on April 15.

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