A GROUP carrying a tree from Hereford to Glasgow are reaching the end of a 350-mile journey across Britain.

The "Marches Camino" set out from Hereford on September 14, and after six weeks of walking the group are scheduled to finish the journey on Saturday, October 30 in Glasgow.

The group's aim has been to reach Glasgow in time for COP26, the United Nations' international climate conference.

Throughout the journey, the walkers have carried a ginkgo sapling tree with them, which was blessed by the Bishop of Hereford and local interfaith leaders before their departure.

Nick Sherwood, the project instigator, said: “I heard about Extinction Rebellion's CaminoToCOP climate pilgrimage early this year, and as a Buddhist who’s been pushing for interfaith activity on the climate crisis for many years, I was immediately motivated.

"Around the same time, I met an Argentinian activist opposed to fossil fuels, who had instigated a camino there walking hundreds of miles from village to village with a tree blessed by the Pope... the tree was eventually planted in the provincial capital as a symbol of belief in nature.

"We thought it would be great to do something similar on the COP Camino here."

The ginkgo was chosen as at 290 million years old, it is one of the oldest tree species on earth.

Mr Sherwood said: "To get through the climatic changes that lie ahead, humanity will need to dig deep and find inner resilience as well as wisdom and faith. What better symbol of capacity to survive and thrive, than a ginkgo?”

The group has been invited on-stage to present the tree at Glasgow's George Square, as part of a mass open-air COP26 vigil.

The ginkgo will be planted at faith-based events in Glasgow during the following ten days, before being ceremonially planted in Toryglen Park on November 10.

Dr. Gemma Jennings, of Glasgow environmental organisation Urban Roots, explained why they and other community stakeholders were enthusiastic about the project and happy to provide a site.

"Hosting this tree enables us to celebrate the environmental gains already achieved, create greater awareness and understanding of COP26, and to engage people in considering what more needs doing to meet the oncoming challenges of climate emergency," she said.