Mya-Rose Craig
The conservationist increasing access to nature.
The fourth word Craig ever spoke was ‘birdie’, pointing at a rare black lark near her pram on a trip to North Wales. Born into a family of keen birders in Somerset, she goes by the name Birdgirl on her popular blog, and has now seen over half the world’s 10,738 avian species.
She also saw how habitats were being destroyed, and conservation became a top priority, particularly working with indigenous people ‘who have been caretakers for millennia’. Last year she published We have a dream, showcasing 30 young people of colour campaigning to protect the planet.
Craig also works to promote access to the countryside for all. ‘I’m half Bangladeshi and I couldn’t see a lot of people who looked like me.’ So aged 14, she set up Black2Nature, running activities and nature camps for Visible Minority Ethnic young people. Find out more at birdgirluk.com
WALK HERE: Find a Somerset Levels route at walk1000miles.co.uk/bonusroutes