Plymouth Marjon University student, Oscar Lindsey-Turner, is swapping his 35-minute drive to campus for a 50-hour journey, to attend Marjon’s Climate Conference on Wednesday November 10.

The walk, from Oscar’s home in Totnes to Marjon’s campus in Plymouth, will take just over two days, starting early on Monday November 8. He’ll cross Burrator and Dartmoor and do two nights of wild camping before arriving on Wednesday November 10 in time for the conference.

Marjon’s Climate Conference marks the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, being held in Glasgow until November 12. It is part of an ambitious Marjon Zero project, which commits to making the university carbon-neutral by 2030. By March 2022 Marjon will be one of the greenest universities in the country. It has already installed 2000 solar panels and 120 ground source heat pumps are being fitted now, which together will save a total of 917 tonnes of carbon per year.

At the conference, staff and students will listen to guest speakers, share a free plant-based lunch, and engage in collaborative workshops to shape the next phase of Marjon Zero.

Oscar, an Outdoor Adventure Education student, says: “It’s not about doing the walk as fast as I can, and it’s not even about raising money. I’m doing it to spark conversations, raise awareness about sustainability and show that connecting to nature is essential for your mental health during this time of uncertainty. I want the walk to use it to inspire others.”

See this week’s newspaper for the full story.