Our story   Trails in Hong Kong’s country parks are managed and regularly maintained by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). In 2017, AFCD invited The Green Earth to recruit public volunteers to attend a trail maintenance workshop and embark on a learning journey to explore the possibility of developing a trail volunteer team.

In 2019, The Green Earth officially established the “Repair Your Own Trail” volunteer team, inviting the public to participate in the training and protect the trails “by hand” together. Through theoretical and practical training, volunteers can learn the concept of sustainable trails and participate in hands-on trail construction and maintenance. Our initiative allows them to give something back to nature, to deepen their connection with nature and also to reflect on how to minimise the environmental impact of hiking, thus practising “Leave No Trace”.

“Trail maintenance is not just a matter of hoes, or else restoration will never be able to keep up with the rate of wear and tear.”

In 2020, AFCD issued a special permit to The Green Earth to allow the volunteer team to use its own trained volunteers to carry out simple trail maintenance such as clearing drain channels, repairing shortcuts and weaving stone baskets to slow soil erosion on designated trails in country parks.

Please do not dig up the soil or make paths in country park areas without permission.