Kendal will welcome a climate justice campaigner as he makes his way on foot to COP 26 in Glasgow.

Climate action campaigner and veteran walker, Pushpanath (‘Push’) Krishnamurthy, will be in the South Lakes on October 21 to talk with school pupils at the Lakes School, Kirkbie Kendal School and Heron Hill Primary School and the public about the environmental challenges facing the planet.

He is currently taking on a 400-mile walk from London and will speak at a meeting hosted by the town’s Quakers, along with fair trade campaigners, in the evening.

And in the afternoon from 12pm to 4.30pm, volunteers from several Cumbrian organisations will be at the Birdcage, Kendal, gathering messages of support and protest for Mr Krishnamurthy to deliver to the global meeting of political leaders at COP26 in November.

A giant greetings card will be available for the public to read and sign and will state the following demands:

“All politicians at COP26 to acknowledge the climate emergency; Commit to actions to slow the rise in global temperatures; Drastically limit greenhouse gas emissions immediately; Introduce measures to protect the environment and biodiversity; Promote climate justice between the peoples of the world; Create a sustainable planet for future generations; Support fairer trading practices across the world.”

The 69-year-old described the purpose of his long walk as: “Making sure that the voices of those most impacted by the climate crisis are heard. With COP26 just a few weeks away there has never been a more urgent time to demand action on climate.”

Alison Gilchrist, who is coordinating the Birdcage activity, said: “In recent years we have seen how climate change is causing extreme weather conditions, devastating people’s lives in our area and across the world.

“The climate summit in Glasgow is a critical moment for political leaders to make firm commitments on global warming by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and supporting countries that are already being badly affected by rising temperatures and sea levels.”

More than 1000 postcards plus letters have been written by the area's school children expressing their views on climate change and they will be presented to the mayor of Kendal tomorrow.

The postcards will then be passed on to MP Tim Farron to take to COP-26, along with the giant card signed by residents.

To reserve a seat or to receive the zoom link for Push’s talk in the evening at Kendal’s Friends Meeting House, contact Ann LeMare at annlemare@gmail.com.