The Mayor is encouraging people to take a hike for charity.

The Mayor of the City and District of St Albans Cllr Mohammad Iqbal Zia will be taking part in the Oxfam Herts Hike this Saturday.

Now he is encouraging other people to get in touch and take part in the Heartwood Forest with a choice of routes to suit all abilities.

Walkers can choose to take on a three, five, eight, 14 or 20 mile course and although it is free to take part, participants can choose to make a donation which will go towards bringing clean water supplies to villages in Kenya.

The Oxfam project looks to stop women and girls from having to undertake long journeys to collect unhealthy water, which currently stops them from going to school or looking after their families.

This cause is supported by the Herts Asian Women’s Association (HAWA) and the local branch of the Woodcraft Folk, an organisation teaching children about the environment and sustainability.

The event hopes to raise more than the £6,000 raised last year to help villages in Honduras adapt to climate change.

When the Mayor met with the Oxfam Herts group, he was given an Oxfam wristband and agreed to get his walking shoes on and take part.

He said: “Join me on the Oxfam Herts Hike and enjoy the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside while raising funds for this much-needed project in Kenya to bring clean water supplies to villages.”

The walk kicks off from the Scout Hut in Heartwood Forest and walkers can start from 10am but the shortest route can be started up to 3pm.

The event can be accessed either by car, by bus to Sandridge village, or from Jersey Farm by walking across Woodland Park.

For more information visit www.oxfamstalbans.org, the Facebook page for St Albans or email hertshike@gmail.com.