Cycling back through 50 years- Simon's Challenge

The head of Dorset’s foremost conservation organisation is cycling back through 50 years to find out how Dorset’s countryside, coast and wildlife have changed. Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, Simon Cripps, is marking the 50th Anniversary of Dorset Wildlife Trust with a two-wheeled road trip around DWT’s 42 reserves, which he hopes to complete in just one week.

What will Simon be doing?

He said: “This will not only be a trip of a lifetime but a journey through the lifetime of conservation in Dorset, in the style of Top Gear meets Coast! A 50th birthday is a great time to take stock and I am looking forward to discovering even more of the county and meeting some of the people who can tell me about the changes they have seen.”

The 42toDO route, specially devised for DWT’s 50th Anniversary this year, is 260 miles long and visits all 42 reserves, taking in some of the most beautiful and hidden parts of the county.

When does the challenge start?

Simon will set out from DWT’s headquarters at Brooklands Farm, Forston on Monday 30th May at 10am, cycling between 35 and 50 miles a day and meeting reserve staff and local people on his journey of discovery. Finishing (he hopes) back at Brooklands Farm on Sunday 7th June, Simon hopes to raise sponsorship on the way to protect Dorset’s wildlife for the future.

Simon added: “We can’t ever take this beautiful county for granted. The rolling flower-covered downs, the internationally rare heathlands, chalk rivers and our outstanding sea life can so easily be lost if we do not pay attention and take action when action is needed. I plan to learn where man has gone wrong and where we have had success and, most importantly, how we can do the right thing by our natural heritage in the future. I hope people will come with me on this journey, by literally cycling along with me, sponsoring me or just following my blog as I travel.”

You can sponsor Simon and follow his journey here.

The 42toDO route maps are available for anybody to take the journey in their own time here.

-ENDS-
Notes to Editor

For more information please contact Simon Cripps at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620 or 07500 104759.

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About Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Working for a secure future for Dorset’s wildlife enriching the quality of life Dorset Wildlife Trust works to champion wildlife and natural places, to engage and inspire people and to promote sustainable living. Founded in 1961, DWT is now the largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, with over 25,000 members and over 40 nature reserves. Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve. DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues and leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.

Read our Blog "Wildlife Matters"

The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) www.wildlifetrusts.org

There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney. All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000 members of our junior branch Wildlife Watch. Our vision is to create A Living Landscape and secure Living Seas. We manage around 2,300 nature reserves and every year we advise thousands of landowners and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We also run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine wildlife. Every year we work with thousands of schools and our nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of visitors. Each Wildlife Trust is working within its local communities to inspire people about the future of their area: their own Living Landscapes and Living Seas.

Simon Cripps and his bicycle - Dorset Wildlife Trust