Regular donor stories: Beyond the Edge, via 1% for the Planet

ACT articles
16 Jul
2 min read

Meet Alex Ekins, a director of Beyond the Edge, one of the UK's leading outdoor training providers, that donates annually to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust.

Beyond the Edge outdoor training provider have been donating 1% of their annual profits to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust since 2022 through their commitment to 1% for the Planet. And, in 2026, they gave one of their outdoor skills courses worth £200 as a prize for our Wildfire Walk fundraisers. Thank you Beyond the Edge!

We caught up with one of their directors, Alex Ekins, to find out more about why this Sheffield-based outdoor company has chosen to support the BMC's path repair, access and conservation charity, and why they think more outdoor activity providers should do the same.

Beyond the Edge offer navigation courses for all ability levels.

What is your day job?

I’m one of the directors of Beyond the Edge, a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and a photographer. I also train and assess Mountain Training qualifications.

Where are you based?

I live in Sheffield and spend most working days in the Peak District, out on the crags and moors. Beyond the Edge run training courses mostly in the Peak District, Eryri, Scotland and Morocco. We also organise bespoke training and expeditions  in Europe and the Himalayas.

How did you get into the outdoors?

I started climbing as a teenager and rapidly got obsessed. I have climbed throughout the world but love the Peak District as much as anywhere. I love rock climbing, bouldering and gravel biking. I also have an interest more generally in the environment and nature.

What is Beyond the Edge?

Beyond the Edge is one of the UK’s most respected providers of outdoor training. As a specialist mountain adventure training company, we offer courses in rock climbing, navigation, hill skills, mountain skills and mountaineering in the UK and abroad.

We also provide a range of training in first aid, leadership development, technical advice and consultancy. Our courses are aimed primarily at individuals or small groups, but our first aid, technical advice and consultancy services are used by everyone from individuals, schools, climbing walls through to major national companies.

We also offer training, assessment and reassessment for the Nationally accredited Mountain Training courses including Bouldering Wall Instructor, Climbing Wall Instructor, Climbing Wall Development Instructor, Rock Climbing Instructor, Lowland Leader, Hill and Moorland Leader, and Mountain Leader schemes.

Bouldering at Stanage Plantation, Peak District, with Beyond the Edge.

Why are the staff at Beyond the Edge interested in mountain footpath repair and upland conservation?

All of us who work for Beyond the Edge are rock climbers, boulderers, walkers and mountaineers but collectively we are also bird watchers,  naturalists, rangers and Mountain Rescue volunteers. We all have a deep interest in the environment and ecology and believe passionately in the value of the outdoors and the need to protect and preserve it.

We also acknowledge that to some extent through sharing our passion for the outdoors, we contribute to the erosion. Whilst we do everything we can to minimise the impact of what we do, we can’t remove our impact completely. By contributing to repair and restoration we hope that overall, we leave the uplands we love so much in the best state possible for future generations.

What first drew Beyond the Edge to supporting the BMC Access & Conservation Trust in particular?

The BMC has been fundamental in advocating for access to the outdoors for climbers and walkers in the UK. The reason we have so much free access to rock climbing and walking areas is because of the work of the BMC.

How have you supported the charity in the past?

We are members of 1% for the Planet and consequently give 1% of our annual turnover to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust.

What current campaigns are you involved with?

On a personal level, I am an adventure photographer and took shots for the BMC’s Mend our Mountain campaign a few years back. Beyond the Edge have previously supported the BMC with a series of free skills workshops, up-skilling both instructors, climbers and walkers. Currently, in addition to our cash donation to the BMC ACT, Beyond the Edge has offered a prize for the Wildfire Walk fundraisers.

Beyond the Edge offer hill walking training for all ability levels.

Why is it important to the company to give back to the outdoors?

Beyond the Edge are passionate about protecting our natural environment – it is both our office and playground. It provides so much joy to all of us at Beyond the Edge, to our clients and to the public more generally. It is incumbent on all of us to protect our precious living environment not only so that we can safely enjoy it but also for the generations to come. We are all custodians of our environment and at Beyond the Edge, we believe that being an active supporter of the BMC Access & Conservation Trust is one of the best ways of doing this.

Would you recommend supporting the BMC Access & Conservation Trust to other outdoor activity providers?

Yes of course. We all love and value the outdoors and consequently we should support organisations that are working to conserve and protect but also help to educate users. If your business relies on the British countryside we believe that you should contribute to its preservation. We also believe in access for all, so wider campaigns by the BMC and other organisations promoting access are highly beneficial.

What’s next for Beyond the Edge with the BMC Access & Conservation Trust?

We are looking forward to contributing in whatever way we can. We will always support the BMC wherever we can.

Support us through 1% for the Planet!

If your business is keen to help the BMC Access & Conservation Trust repair paths, conserve upland landscapes and habitats and restore the moorlands in our Mend Our Mountains and The Climate Project campaigns, support us via 1% for the Planet here!

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Protect the Eastern Moors

We have already raised £50,000 to fund a dedicated Wildfire Ranger to protect the Sheffield Moors area from wildfire this season. Please now help the BMC Access & Conservation Trust raise a further £50,000 to support the team with equipment and restore the moorland for future generations.

£10 funds a roll of 20 sphagnum moss plugs

£25 fully restores 1m2 of moorland

£50 stabilises bare peat with cut heather

£100 funds ten educational social media posts

£200 builds a 2m dam to rewet an eroded gully

£2,000 hires one wildfire-prevention road sign

£10,000 buys a wildfire-detection drone

Did you know that you can donate to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust entirely FREE simply by shopping online as you usually would, at any time of the year with Easyfundraising? It only takes two minutes to set up, here's how.

If you want to contribute to upland and mountain access and conservation causes like the above, then simply click here to donate to The BMC Access & Conservation Trust via The Climate Project or Mend Our Mountains campaigns at any time. One-off or regular donations of any amount are always most welcome.

Volunteer

Fancy fixing footpaths in the Lake District, placing stepping stones in Eryri or planting sphagnum in the Peak District? Sign up to one of our Get Stuck In events here. And if you can't volunteer, why not gift us the amount you would have spent in fuel or on a train fare getting to a volunteer event?

Leave a legacy

A wise person once said, the most noble thing you can do is to "plant trees under whose shade you will never sit" and, likewise, fund path repair projects on which you will never walk and moorland restoration projects which you will never see. If you'd like to make a lasting impact on the landscape long after you've left this world, please consider leaving us a legacy.

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