A Shared Love of Nature

Black Girls Hike’s community (Photo courtesy of Black Girls Hike)

When it comes to people who are lovers of the outdoors, Rhiane Fatinikun MBE is among those at the top of the list. In fact, Fatinikun, who is from the Greater Manchester region of the United Kingdom, has always been an active person. But it wasn’t until 2019 while riding on a train through England’s 555-square mile Peak District National Park, when she started
to wonder, “Were there others like me?” It quickly
became clear that she wasn’t the only Black woman who enjoyed a good hike.

“I am the type of person that when I see a problem, I want to solve it,” Fatinikun says. The problem: a lack of spaces where Black women can connect on their love of hiking. The solution was created that same year when Black Girls Hike was born.

The organization’s core mission involves finding ways that allow Black African, Black Caribbean and mixed-race women and girls — who are inclusive mixtures of cis, trans and nonbinary — to access the outdoors and travel the world in safety and free of judgment. This includes establishing a safe space where more than 20,000 group members of all ages connect with each other, which is primarily online through Instagram.

A few years after its birth, BGH’s success is proven in the results. What started only as a few members has now translated into a major accomplishment: “We are the largest outdoor group for Black women in Europe,” Fatinikun says.

Representing Black Women

Growing up in a city, Fatinikun observed stereotypes claiming Black and brown people did not belong in or want to explore the countryside — and that the natural environment was solely for white people. Yet, as her group proves, it’s completely untrue, she says. Many Black and brown people living in the U.K. descend from countries with beautiful landscapes, she adds. This includes Black people from Africa. According to England and Wales’ Office of National Statistics, Black Africans are the largest single group within the “Black” category. Africa is home to some of the world’s scenic spots, including Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania — the highest point in the continent.

When it comes to dismantling stereotypes about Black people not enjoying nature, “it’s not our job to combat views or change minds,” Fatinikun adds. BGH exists to take up space and be unapologetic for experiencing the outdoors. One of its most meaningful initiatives included a collaboration with the Manchester Museum in 2024 for the Wild exhibition, in which it showcased the importance of BGH and the impact it has on its members — including increasing their overall wellbeing.

“In the UK, Black and brown people are still very much the minority,” Fatinikun says, “and it’s up to organizations like ours to create these opportunities.”

Through its popularity and growing membership, BGH proves that it is needed now more than ever, Fatinikun adds. Aside from its continuous hiking trips that take place throughout the U.K. (including hikes to places like Downham Woods, Beckenham Place Park, among others), this year the organization began including international trips to Brazil, South Africa and Sri Lanka as it looks to build more Black travel experiences.

“It’s really about reminding ourselves that we belong in the outdoors, too, and more than that — we can thrive in it,” Fatinikun says.

Another important aspect of BGH includes its social justice efforts. As the group’s objectives shift with the changing world, it also evolves with political movements important to Black and brown people, such as Black Lives Matter. Fatinikun says Black people are part of Britain’s history and society, with many of them fighting beside their white counterparts in famous battles including World War II. Likewise, Black people deserve that freedom to hike.

“[The United Kingdom] is just as much [Black and brown people’s] country,” she says. “We have the same rights to access to go anywhere — especially the countryside.” With her organization, there is no doubt that she and other Black hikers are exercising that right.

Rhiane Fatinikun created a safe space for Black women. (Photo by Mountain Warehouse)

Keeping the Ball Rolling

Through her leadership of BGH, Fatinikun has obtained several accolades, including a Member of the Order of the British Empire award by King Charles III during the 2024 New Year Honours for services to Nature and Diversity. BGH also became the first Black-owned British company to become an official Mountain Training company – an awarding body for skills and leadership qualifications in climbing, walking and mountaineering — in the U.K. She was also featured in the The New York Times and in May, was listed as one of the top female trailblazers in Elle Magazine’s “40 for 40 Women of Hope.”

Among BGH’s successes, obstacles existed along the journey. Receiving funding has always been an issue, Fatinikun says. The organization tries to provide members as many resources as possible for the lowest cost, resulting in a need for funding and partnerships to “top up” all events and hikes and to pay for BGH’s back-of-house team. As a result, the organization works closely with Intent Brand Work, an engagement agency that helps clients connect with communities that are hard to reach.

Still, a hurdle isn’t enough to stop BGH from living out its mission. In fact, Fatinikun says the organization is starting to carve out partnerships with Black men’s groups so they can construct new mixed experiences that bring together younger generations. She also wants to continue finding and connecting with more people who are just like her.

“There are women and young girls all over the world who felt like I did, and we want to reach them,” Fatinikun adds.

Leading a group that impacts others has also had an impact on Fatinikun’s own life — including giving her a purpose that she spent her younger years searching for, she says. It’s also given her a place to focus her energy, helping her grow as a person while developing her own brand and “traveling the world doing amazing things with inspiring women,” she says. Not surprisingly, she has no plans to stop, wanting to impact future generations.

“When I look at my nieces and nephews, they are who I do this for,” Fatinikun adds. “I want to make sure future generations are not forced to face the same challenges I did and see the outdoors as part of their everyday life.”