Smartwool, in collaboration with not-for-profit initiative OUTO and outdoor retailer Ellis Brigham, successfully hosted Healing with Nature and Embracing Diversity, a powerful community event that brought together changemakers, creatives, and outdoor enthusiasts to champion equitable access to the outdoors. The group was made up of individuals from the community who are passionate about this topic.
Led by OUTO Changemaker and adventure speaker Tinuke Oyediran, the day began with a group hike through Hampstead Heath, offering participants a chance to connect with nature and each other. The scenic walk was followed by games and reflective moments in the open green space, reinforcing the therapeutic strength of time spent outdoors. There were games like journaling in nature and photo bingo followed by prizes for the winners.
The group then gathered in Covent Garden for lunch, continuing the conversation around belonging and connection before settling in for an impactful roundtable panel discussion.
The discussion featured voices from across the community including Tinuke Oyediran and Toni-Ann Murphy, founder of TouchGrassCIC. The panel tackled themes of emotional well-being through nature, the barriers faced by underrepresented groups, and what true
inclusion looks like in outdoor spaces. The energy in the room reflected a shared desire to build a more welcoming and representative outdoor culture. At the end the panel hosted a Q&A session where participants engaged in some interesting discussions on what is such an important topic.
Each guest received a Smartwool tote bag filled with Smartwool goodies and an Ellis Brigham voucher – small gestures to support attendees’ ongoing journeys into nature.
This event marked a continued commitment from Smartwool, OUTO, and Ellis Brigham to amplify underrepresented voices in the outdoors, celebrate cultural differences, and advocate for accessible and inclusive experiences in nature.
About OUTO
Opening Up The Outdoors (OUTO) is a UK-based not-for-profit initiative founded in 2021 to tackle systemic racism in outdoor spaces. OUTO exists to make nature more inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable for people of colour. Through education, community engagement, and leadership support, OUTO works to break down the barriers to outdoor participation. The OUTO Changemaker Programme empowers emerging leaders across the UK and DACH region, equipping them with the tools to create lasting impact and build an anti-racist outdoor community.
About Smartwool
Based in Denver, Colorado, Smartwool® is a sock and apparel brand whose products are designed to get the most out of the inherent benefits of Merino wool and to bring comfort, confidence, and community to a life lived outside. For information on the full range of Smartwool® products or to find a dealer near you, please visit www.smartwool.co.uk. Smartwool, a division of VF Outdoor, LLC, is a brand of VF Corporation.
About Ellis Brigham
Ellis Brigham began in 1933 as a small Manchester boot-fitting shop founded by Frederick Ellis Brigham. Still proudly family-owned, the brand has grown into a leading UK outdoor retailer known for embracing innovation, from Ventile to GORE-TEX and Vibram soles and for offering expert advice, inspiring brands, and cutting-edge gear that brings the spirit of the mountains to the high street.
