A MALVERN couple walked almost 40 miles to show their support for a village climate change project.

Mike and Julia Goodfellow-Smith walked from 1010s offices in Camden in North London to Balcombe in West Sussex in two and a half days, a distance of 38 miles.

In September 2013, the villagers of Balcombe decided that they wanted to generate as much electricity from solar power as they use in the village.

Mrs Goodfellow-Smith said: “We’re inspired by the villagers of Balcombe who have taken such positive action to reduce climate change.

"We presented them with green hearts to show them our gratitude for providing such a good example and for supporting others to take similar action.”

The village now boasts solar panels on a school rooftop as well as a solar farm and the villagers came together to get planning permission, raise funds and work with investors to make this happen.

They have plans for more rooftop solar panels soon, as well as providing funding for energy efficiency schemes for community buildings and they are supporting other towns and villages who want to do the same.

The walk took place between Friday October 21 and Sunday October 23.

Following on from the Green Heart Gratitude Walk around Great Malvern with WI members and Harriett Baldwin MP, Mr and Mrs Goodfellow-Smith have continued on their quest to thank people for taking action to address climate change.

Last Friday (November 4) a presentation took place with Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion and Co-leader of the Green Party coming to Malvern to talk to local people.

Mr Goodfellow-Smith said: "Caroline Lucas is a principled MP who is taking action to reduce climate change.

"She recognises that climate change is a social and economic issue as well as an environmental one, and I believe that she is acting not out of self-interest, but out of a strong sense of humanity.

"She fearlessly challenges actions and proposed actions that threaten to cause further damage to our climate and has acted in support of her constituents who are themselves taking positive action, such as the villagers of Balcombe.

"Julia and I are grateful to Caroline for setting us all such a good example and taking positive climate action on our behalf."