North Shore locals Susie and Belinda found joy in helping people explore the picturesque area of Castlecrag before thinking ‘this could be a great way to raise money for charity’.
‘A Bushwalking Teascape’ was created the pair as a not-for-profit bushwalking experience around Castlecrag, accompanied by tea and treats.
“The idea started a few months ago when I came across a group of bushwalkers who were lost in Castlecrag, an easy thing to do with the many hidden paths,” Belinda tells North Shore Living.
The group’s walking guide had been unable to lead them due to having COVID-19, so Belinda offered them help to get back to the local shops.
“I really enjoyed telling the walkers about the suburb and showing them some of the suburb’s hidden gems. I thought this could be a great way to raise money for charity, doing something we love,” she says.
“I asked my friend Susie if she would like to help host. We’ve been friends for 10 years. Susie is considered gentle, and I am more impulsive, so I thought the ying and yang would be good for hosting.”
“We all know that being in nature and connecting with other people promotes good mental health, so we are trying to practice what we preach”
Susie, founder of A Bushwalking Teascape
“We all know that being in nature and connecting with other people promotes good mental health, so we are trying to practice what we preach,” Susie says.
Susie says that she and Belinda feel ‘very privileged’ to live in Castlecrag and that it has a ‘warm sense of community’.
“It’s lovely to share that with people from outside the area,” she says.
The locals arranged their first event in early September, raising money for Moorambilla Voices which provides singing opportunities for children in rural and remote areas of NSW.
People who would like to join in on the unique experience pay $25, which is sent straight to the chosen charity. They then go on a lovely walk around the area before finishing off with some tea and scones.
Belinda informs North Shore Living that the charities change each time, depending on which charities the participants would like to support.
“For example, we were approached by a group of university friends who have known each other for 30 years and they wanted to do a Teascape with their mums, who were in their 70s, for lung cancer research. Many walkers in the group knew people impacted by lung disease, and so they wanted to raise money for The Lung Foundation.”
As Belinda and Susie both work, this is something that they do in their own time and say they would like to continue to host the walks twice a month to show people the hidden gems of Castlecrag on the North Shore.
“We listen to what people tell us about their Teascape experience and how we can improve it. One walker said she wanted more time to enjoy the scones! Overall people love the experience –we get to walk down by the water and right up the top of Castlecrag at Tower Rock,” Belinda says.