A trike travelling eco warrior has highlighted the ‘disgrace’ of Perthshire’ s litter strewn roads.
Mild mannered but passionate Martin Hutchinson (61) spoke out as he and his rescue dog Starsky peddled around the county on a bright orange cycle-trailer.
The environmental educator and his pooch, aka “Starsky and Hutch – 21st Century Eco Explorers,” are on a tour of Britain.
He said the plastic he witnessed dumped by the roadside was possibly the worst he’d encountered in Scotland and described the scene along the A912 as “shocking”.
Martin began exploring in 2006 on a trip starting in Mexico and, following a desire to slow down and see the globe by foot and bike, has the goal of reaching Australia by 2030.
On Monday they stopped in the Errol area by Cairn O’Mhor winery, then Tuesday night they camped under an old Royal Navy aircraft wing at Errol Airfield and on Wednesday night they found a spot in Aberargie.
Martin told the PA he has walked 34,000km across 21 countries and cycled 35,000km a cross 16 countries. He’s spent the past 16 years on the road and visited 752 schools to give talks on the need to appreciate the planet and particularly to be aware of the curse of fly-tipping and careless littering.
He adopted a rescue dog - Collie/Lab mix Starsky now aged eight - while in Portugal. They became Starsky and Hutch, named after the 70s TV cop show.
The pair have never been apart since and returned to the UK to see out Covid.
Martin adapted to the pandemic by taking time out from world travel to explore Great Britain and he currently finds himself taking a gentle touring of roads through Perthshire.
Taking in the area slowly by trike is causing Martin some concern though: he has expressed “surprise” that he’s seen so much litter chucked along Perthshire roadsides.
“I don’t tell people what to do, but I have to say I was very surprised to see so much litter along your lovely country roads,” he said.
“When you ride a trike you’re at ground level, you take in everything.
“I found fly-tipping beside the River Farg at Aberargie, I was also passing loads and loads of rubbish all along the A912. Every few yards, junk.
“It’s just pure laziness.
“People get away with it and they do not realise the damage they are causing.
“In one place there was a baby’s plastic high chair, just thrown in a hedge, looked brand new, nothing wrong with it.
“I want to tell people in Perthshire you have a beautiful place to live. Don’t spoil it.”
He told the PA he’d got through 35 pairs of boots so far, had “incredible” adventures and been “humbled” by the kindness of strangers who feed and host him.
Martin turns down money and gets by with “very simple” needs.
All his adventures are shared on Martin Hutchinson’s YouTube channel as man and dog visit different environmentally friendly projects and raise awareness about environmental challenges around the world.
He stopped by Perth and Kinross Council at the beginning of the week and met Provost Xander McDade, Council Leader Grant Laing, chief executive Thomas Glen, executive director communities Barbara Renton and Climate Change lead Divindy Grant to talk about activities and climate change goals in Perth and Kinross.
The travellers enjoyed a visit to Scotland’s oldest winery, the Cairn O’Mhor drinks makers near Errol. Martin filmed a blog video of owner Ron Gillies explaining how he and wife Judith keep their tree plantation wild to encourage pollinators.
He was welcomed to visit Glenfarg Eco Park on Wednesday and saw the Binn Group’s energy saving and recycling innovations.
Martin goes into schools to encourage children to really appreciate where they live, but that wasn’t possible on this visit to Perthshire as the holidays are on now.
Martin comes from Manchester, didn’t go to university, doesn’t care for reading “I’m the son of an antiquarian book dealer - that put me off!” but is passionate about the “incredible” planet we share.
The reason he gives for travelling thousands of kilometres by foot, first in the Americas and even further by recumbent trike all over Europe, is brief: “It’s all about making the world a better place.”
The humble traveller has stayed overnight in barns, dog shelters and underneath bridges. He spoke of sleeping in empty water pipes under a highway in Patagonia, of getting shelter in a Bolivian prison and taking cover for the night at a pig farm.
When he was near Errol, he was unsure where to pitch his tent. Then two friendly cyclists crossed his path.
Nick Johnston from Dundee explained: “I had gone out for a few miles with my pal Blair.
“We were going to cycle up Kinnaird to Abernyte and we happened upon Martin.
“Martin asked if we knew any spots he could camp and we said we’d ride with him to the Errol airfield which might be good.”
Explaining why he would keep talking to people, particularly the younger ones Martin said: “I want to show the youngest generation the beauty of this planet, through my adventures and the things I’ve seen”.
