Don’t forget the gillies: Helen Benson takes on river tour

Helen Benson, CEO of the Gamekeepers Welfare Trust, is hoping to visit 15 Scottish rivers to raise awareness of the free support available to gillies and others whose livelihoods depend on rivers.

Helen has previously committed to covering miles by every means of transport gamekeepers have ever used.

Helen’s Way raised awareness of the GWT in 2022 and the Great Yorkshire Tractor Run raised money for the UK Sepsis Trust in 2024. She has also completed a bungee jump to raise funds for the GWT.

Helen is undertaking the latest challenge with her husband, Mick, who will be casting the GWT Fly on all 15 rivers. The pair are also documenting their journey on social media with photographs of the people and landscapes they visit, as well as interviews, history, stories and discussions on the issues affecting rivers.

Helen said: “We want to meet the gillies, boatmen and everyone whose livelihoods depend on the water quality, the habitat and the precious salmon that return year on year.

“We want to highlight the issues they face and the fact that their lives are intertwined with [the rivers], and make it as clear as the water we are following that we are here for the gillies, the boatmen and their partners, wives and families.”

Related article: GWT increases grants to meet cost of living crisis