Teaching assistant takes on coast-to-coast charity challenge... for her beloved hens

An Oldham hen lover is preparing to ride 230 miles across the north of England to raise funds for the British Hen Welfare Trust, inspired by her much-loved flock of rehomed ex-commercial hens.

Emma Scott, who lives in Oldham and works in a special educational needs secondary school, will set off from Fleetwood on July 21 and ride to Hessle in East Yorkshire over 12 days, following cycle routes and the Trans Pennine Trail. 

She will be spurred on by her six rehomed hens at home, including Trudy, Lucky, Tracy, Percy Peckerhead and Tommy Toetapper, and plans to check in on them during the ride using cameras set up in her chicken coop. 

Emma’s route will start in Fleetwood and head east towards Hessle, taking in sections of Route 62 and the Trans Pennine Trail. She expects one of the toughest stretches to be around Penistone, where the route climbs higher and becomes more exposed. 

She said: “I think that will be the point I’m not looking forward to. I’ve got a feeling it could be quite isolated if the weather turns. Where I live, you can’t avoid hills, so you just have to buckle in and get going. Hopefully there’ll be a nice ice cream stop or two along the way.” 

The challenge was originally planned as a joint adventure with her dad, who had long hoped to complete a coast-to-coast ride. Sadly, after suffering a bad fall from his bike, he is no longer able to take part. 

Emma explained: “Cycling is how my dad and I spend quality time together. We’ve done the Manchester to Blackpool ride a couple of times, and this coast-to-coast ride was on his bucket list. 

“Unfortunately, his balance has gone now, and he had a bad fall about a month ago, so it’s just me doing it. I’m slightly nervous, but I’ve committed to it now.” 

Emma is raising money for the British Hen Welfare Trust, a national charity which rehomes ex-commercial laying hens and has so far found retirement homes for more than one million hens. 

She first kept hens around 10 years ago, after a friend who was moving house asked if she would take on their birds. Since then, she says she has become “utterly obsessed” with hens and now has six rehomed hens at home. 

Emma said: “The flock I have now is my third adoption of ex-commercial layers. I wouldn’t have hens from anywhere else. 

“The day you get them home and they take their first steps on grass and soil, and they smell the earth, and another bird flies past them, it is magical to watch. 

“They are so happy and carefree in my back garden. If I can help more chickens find forever homes, that’s what this is all about.” 

Emma is also a passionate believer in the therapeutic value of hens. In her spare time, she offers respite care for young adults with additional needs and said her hens have helped one young woman overcome a long-standing fear of birds. 

She said: “She was absolutely petrified of any bird, but over about two years we gradually helped her get used to the hens. Now she’ll cuddle them, pick them up, and she’s not scared anymore. She’s got a favourite hen, Trudy, and it’s just so nice to see. 

“I’m a big advocate of hens and therapy. They are interesting, funny and full of character, but they are also small enough not to be too intimidating.” 

Emma is now preparing a proposal to introduce chickens at the special educational needs secondary school where she works. 

She plans to post updates from the ride on her hens’ Instagram account, @what_the_flock_2024, and said that when the hills get tough, she will be thinking of her flock back home. 

She added: “I’ve got chicken cameras set up on my coop, so when I’m out on the ride I can dial in and talk to them.” 

Andy Hill from the British Hen Welfare Trust said: “Emma’s story is wonderful. This is a massive physical challenge, but it’s also full of heart. 

“She is raising vital funds for rehomed hens, taking on a ride with real personal meaning, and showing just how much joy, confidence and comfort these remarkable birds can bring. 

“We’re so grateful to Emma, and we’ll be cheering her on every mile of the way.” 

Support Emma with a contribution to her JustGiving page:  https://www.justgiving.com/page/emma-scott-50 

To adopt hens simply visit bhwt.org.uk/hen-adoption and click ‘adopt’ next to the location nearest to you. Alternatively, call the BHWT Rehoming Team on 01884 860084.