The Pedal 4 Parks Expedition
LOOKING BACK: MOTIVATIONS, MEMORIES AND MOVING FORWARD
As July is coming to a close it’s hard not to reminisce about the beginning of the month when excitement was in the water as we crossed the finishing line in the Isles of Scilly. After finishing the world’s first cycle, it took some time for our team to slip back into normality… rumour even has it that Isaac slept for 14 hours straight! Over the month the Pedal 4 Park’s team have still been working away on the next part of this journey and preparing for the release of our film this coming September! 14 Days Over Land and Sea is at the heart of this project and when complete, it will share all we have learnt on our journey for your benefit!
The team after smashing the first water crossing! Photo Credits: Amber Jade
After a few weeks of recovery from the 1,200 mile cycle, we caught up with three of the fantastic five adventurers to find out their thoughts on the expedition. A lot happened over the three week journey, but here’s what Isaac, Sal and Lukas had to say about the once in a lifetime trip.
What were your expectations going into this expedition? Were they met?
Isaac
The long answer is this whole project was an experiment, I have never done anything like this before in my life. An adventure film documentary has always been a dreamy idea, but now it is real. I knew from the start that we could pull this together and make it happen, what i didn’t know was it would be the most challenging 3 weeks of my life. First of all this expedition is logistically, physically and mentally the toughest and most complex project I have been involved in organising. Managing a team of 5 expedition crew, 2 film crew, 2-3 photographers and up to 10 support crew across the UK and two seas in two weeks made the expedition logistics incredibly big and there was a lot to make this dream happen. To make things even tougher there was the film documentary element which introduced another first for me. This is my first documentary making experience and was a huge learning experience, with lots of hurdles, adaptability and creative thinking. Then if all that wasn’t enough there was the small part of cycling 100 miles a day, conducting press and organisation interviews and cycling over treacherous seas on water bikes! So, I expected to come away from this project knowing much more than before, but the various elements were much more challenging than I expected. I am humbled by the scale of the whole thing.
Sal
I guess I expected it to be pretty hellish… I had never done anywhere near that amount of cycling before! The most I had ever cycled in one go was about 100km and that resulted in me taking a long nap straight after, so I was a little bit apprehensive about how I was going to manage the constant distances day after day. Not only was I preparing for my legs to fall off, but I was mentally preparing for the worst bum pain in the world! Were they met? Actually I was pleasantly surprised! My bum survived, my legs survived and somehow I managed to get up each day and smash out the ridiculously long cycles. I think I owe a lot of that willpower to the support of my teammates, all of our amazing support team and the encouragement being sent by people supporting the cause!
Lukas
It’s pretty hard to know what to expect when going into an adventure, especially when it’s a world first; there’s no rule book or how-to guide you can follow. I went into the adventure hoping I would learn something, and it’s fair to say that’s an expectation that was more than met! I’m slightly embarrassed by how little I knew, or more so, how much I thought I knew about environmental conservation & regeneration projects. This adventure shone a light on my naivety, but also opened my eyes to all the fantastic new (and old) projects out there, all pushing for a greener future.
What were your most and least favourite parts of the trip?
Isaac
My highlights were being able to cross both sea crossings at the start and end of the expedition. Most sailors, ocean rowers and friends laughed at me when I said I was going to cycle across these waters on water bikes. They are notoriously difficult seas to navigate and can be extremely dangerous if the weather is not too kind. There have been lots of shipwrecks and I was quoted by many as having a 25% chance of success for the Pentland Firth and even less chance for the Isle of Scilly. We were blessed by the weather gods and took our chance to make it happen!. Another highlight was the wildlife, we saw so much biodiversity it made for a surreal experience especially Orca (i missed these) sightings, which I sadly missed, and seeing Puffins for the first time. Experiencing the changing environments and wildlife across the UK was also amazing, I feel lucky to have seen it all!
The lowlights I have to say were cycling through town after town in the pouring rain about halfway through the expedition. Between the Lake District and Chester we did a lot of road cycling and there was just not a lot of green space. To put it simply it was very dull and boring, especially after the cycling through Scotland and the Lakes.
Sal
The highlight for me has to be the wildlife. Out in the Orkney’s we saw Orca whales, which I have never seen before and was incredible! We also saw Puffins and a huge amount of awesome marine birdlife. We saw dolphins, porpoises and even managed to see a red squirrel when cycling through the woods in Scotland. Loads of amazing wildlife and for me that’s a massive highlight. Second to that was probably the lovely swims I got to do, particularly the gorgeous early morning swim in the freezing Loch Morlich when we wild camped in the Cairngorms! I am also overwhelmed by all the lovely people we met, many who I was lucky enough to interview. Ones that spring to my mind are the interviews with Pam and Jim from Endura where we heard about their amazing business values and also with my great friend Pete from Peak UK who has been doing wonderful charity work for a long time and deserved the opportunity to voice it!
Lukas
The best parts of the trip were the epic views and the incredible team we had. Nothing brings more to a project than a team you enjoy working with, and to do that while cycling through some ammmmazing scenery, it’s a win win!
The lowest point of the trip was my rear derailleur cable breaking, meaning I couldn’t change gears. It’s usually not too bad of a fix, but the tight schedule we were on meant we didn’t have the time or the equipment to fix it in the field. I ended up having to run the uphills of the last 20 odd km of one of the days!
Beautiful views at Loch Morlich. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
What was your favourite place you visited?
Isaac
Scotland was by far my favourite part of the trip, the scale of nature was inspiring. There were huges nature reserves and mountain ranges left untouched, especially Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park where we cycled through the best forest I have ever been in. I must go back there! I also loved finishing on the Isle of Scilly. Visiting the unique island of Tresco was really interesting and strange with its diverse flora. It was like we had stepped into the rainforest!
Sal
I got to see so many new places that I have never been to before so it’s hard to choose! I have done lots of kayaking around Scotland, so I’ve seen a lot of the rivers but not much of the National Parks or woodlands which I was able to see on this trip. A lot of that was pretty new to me and it was really cool to see the UK in a new way, rather than just in my kayak on the rivers.
Lukas
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park had some lovely tracks through the forest. It was amazing to experience this let alone cycle through it! I also have to mention how gorgeous our cycle through Cheddar gorge was, sorry for the pun!
Cycling through Cheddar Gorge. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
What is the most important thing you learned about National Parks and UK green spaces?
Isaac
The biggest thing from this trip is that there are even less green spaces and National Parks than I thought! Despite this, the places we did see were far more beautiful than I could have imagined, especially the National Parks. I generally thought we would see more green space that wasn’t impacted by humans but I was proved wrong. Everywhere we went had some form of human impact. I know we planned a specific route and we haven’t been to every square inch of the UK, but our journey from A to B proved that the little green spaces we have left need protection, conservation and most importantly regeneration.
Sal
I wouldn’t say this is a new thing I’ve learnt, but this trip certainly reinforced how much we need our green spaces and wild spaces and how we need much more of them. Also, how we must look after the ones we’ve already got, these places are incredible but we still need more. Really our country should be made up of a majority of green and blue spaces. This is so important for us as humans but also for the rest of the planet.
Lukas
The most important thing I learnt is that there’s a lot going on, and it works! There are so many unique projects out there, along with so many motivated people & teams. From what I’ve understood, the current obstacles are funding, education around such projects, and a need for a change in mindset. My mind has definitely been opened to all these new projects, now we just need to get them heard by more people.
Seeing the rewilding project at Exmoor National Park. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
How do you feel now?
Isaac
I almost feel rested now. It was an incredibly fast paced 3 weeks with a lot of emotional, physical and mental energy. I think it will take some more time to fully recover, take it all in and reflect on the trip. Getting back to regular work and normal life has been difficult as the pace is much slower and I am not experiencing as many new things, so adjusting is key right now. I am humbled and thankful to have had the opportunity of a lifetime and to have shared amazing memories with so many lovely people. I have seen some of the most gorgeous landscapes and wildlife I have ever seen. A real privilege.
Sal
Yeah, I feel pretty good! The legs have recovered, the bum is all good and it feels good to come back feeling like I’ve learnt loads. I feel like I have a better understanding of our environment and perhaps what I can be doing to help spread these messages.
Lukas
Not too horrendous. I’m definitely glad to sleep in a clean, dry bed and not have to sit on a bike saddle for 8 hours a day!
Roadside naps one week in! Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
What’s next?
Isaac
Pedal 4 Parks are now doing talks about our eco-adventure. We will be talking about motivational resilience, mental health (purpose not pills), and sharing the eco stories and climate solutions we have discovered. We have added a new page to our website so check it out there! (https://pedal4parks.co.uk/speaking/) We are also making the film documentary as we speak. We will be working on this for the next few months, going over the footage and creating a film which can inspire others to help regenerate our National Parks and green spaces and support the climate solutions popping up across the UK. In addition to this I am training to keep adventurously fit for our next adventure which will be released soon. We are now in the process of starting a side business with the Pedal 4 Parks brand to educate youth of the importance of getting outdoors for improving mental health and helping the environment. Maybe a book too! Lots more to come it seems….
Sal
What’s next for me is to go kayaking! This is the longest time I’ve had out of my kayak for a while due to the expedition and also the restriction of the pandemic. Prior to this trip I also had the Ocean 8 challenge down in Cornwall where I was swimming everyday so I wasn’t able to do much kayaking then either. It’s pretty unheard of for me to be away from the kayak for so long so I’m excited to have lots of fun on the rivers again! I am also excited to continue sharing what I have learnt on the Pedal 4 Parks trip and can’t wait to put out the documentary to spread the wonderful stories we heard.
Lukas
There’s still lots to do for the Pedal 4 Parks project; we’d like to make the launch of the film as successful as possible to get the valuable message out to as many people. Our aim is to provide a means to showcase amazing eco-projects that are out there. We’ve done the first part of talking to these amazing people and letting them share their wisdom; now, the next challenge is to make sure their message is seen! It’s odd to come out of an expedition with so much work still to do, but given the cause we are all excited to see where the next steps take us!
Behind the scenes filming on the road. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
So, it seems our team have all slipped back into normality without too much after effects and it’s clear that they are all overwhelmed by the wealth of information they found out from all the amazing people we interviewed on the expedition. There is no better way to experience green spaces than being present in them and I think the team have got some new favorite spots to revisit when they can! We are all so grateful for all the support we have had before, during and now after the expedition so thank you to everyone who is following this journey with us! Of course the cycling was difficult, but our team also had to consume lots of new information which meant their brains were constantly working alongside their legs. This was all in order to share the experience with you, so keep an eye out for the Pedal 4 Parks film and all the other exciting plans the team have in store.
Smiling with our sponsors at Land’s End. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
Where can you find us?
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
What can you do to help?
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Check out our speaking opportunities at https://pedal4parks.co.uk/speaking/
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 12 – A Warm Welcome to Cornwall: From Devon to Newquay
Day 13 – The Last Day on Land: Reaching Land’s End
Day 14 – Conquering a World’s First Journey: The Isles of Scilly Water Bike Crossing
This post was brought to you by media team member Emily, follow the link to her socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 14 – CONQUERING A WORLD’S FIRST JOURNEY: THE ISLES OF SCILLY WATER BIKE CROSSING
After 14 days, 1,200 miles, 60,000 feet of elevation and LOTS of food, the final day of the Pedal 4 Park journey has come. Across the two weeks of cycling we have experienced all sorts of weather, injuries and bike mishaps, but none of this mattered as the team rolled out of their tents at 5am ready to cycle across the water to the Isles of Scilly. The team would be crossing from Sennen Cove, right next to Land’s End, and pedalling all the way to Porthcressa Beach on St Mary’s island.
Our cycle team stayed the night at the Lower Treave Caravan and Camping Park which was only a few minutes away from Sennen Cove. Once all their tents and essentials were packed up it was time to make their way down to the cove and pump up the water bikes! As we travelled to the cove there was a thick mist around the coast, making us a little concerned about the weather for the crossing. However, as the sun rose the mist started to settle and it became clear that we were in for another sunny day! Not only was the sun shining, but the water was calm. Again we had struck gold with the water conditions and we were confident that the cyclists would make it across without any trouble.
Setting up at Sennen Cove. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
Similarly to the Orkney crossing, our team was joined by a support vessel to ensure their safety on the water and make sure the conditions were suitable for our team. Supporting us over to the Isles of Scilly were two awesome water experts, Jack Carter and Glenn Eldridge. Jack is the owner of Coast Boat Trips Cornwall, taking visitors out into the Cornish seas to spot various wildlife and attractions along the coast. Glenn is the runner of the Oceans Sports Centre in Carbis Bay, where he offers a variety of activities and tours to make the most out of the Cornish waters! As you can tell, both these guys are very familiar with the waters that our team were about to cross and we took all their advice onboard as we prepared to set off.
Getting ready to board the support vessel. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
Setting off at around 8am, our team estimated that the crossing would take around 11 hours. As the distance was so much longer than our previous water crossing, it was near impossible to predict the conditions for the entirety of the day, and we all know the British weather can be very unpredictable! The larger distance also meant that our team would need to make sure they had all the food, water and first aid supplies for the day with them, as they wouldn’t come across any coffee shops on this cycle…
Out on the calm sea water. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
Once the cyclists were on the water, the support crew headed over to Penzance Harbour where they jumped on the Scillonian ferry with the entire team’s bags. The ferry across only took 2.5 hours and our eagle eyed team could just about see our cyclists from the deck as we sped ahead of them. Once docked in the St Mary’s harbour we were joined by a very exciting guest! Wally the walrus has been popping up along European coastlines for the past few months, and today he decided to welcome us onto the island. It is thought that Wally, an Arctic walrus, has travelled over 2,500 miles around Europe looking for his home. We don’t quite know how he has ended up so far from his natural habitat but we were happy to see him basking in the sunshine as we stepped onto the island.
Wally the walrus! Photo Credits: Gav @ Osprey Imagery
With the support team on the island, it was now a waiting game for the cyclists to arrive. The beach they would cycle into was no more than a 5 minute walk from the harbour, so our support crew got to enjoy some time on the beach as they waited. It came as a surprise when the team received word that the cyclists ETA was 4 o’clock, about three hours earlier than we had expected! It wasn’t long before we saw the support vessel turn the corner, followed by Alex P and Isaac on the water bikes! Our excited support team jumped up to wave at the cyclists and soon a crowd had gathered on the beach cheering on the team as they came closer to the finishing line. With Isaac and Alex P on the bikes, Sal, Lukas and Alex E all jumped into the water to swim alongside them. The extra pairs of hands came in really useful when the bikes got caught up in some seaweed, but they escaped the tangle quickly. The closer the cyclist came to land, the more noticeable the big grins on their faces became. Not only had our cycle team conquered the well-known JOGLE, they had completed a world’s first expedition, travelling from the furthest corners of the UK and then some! With only a few more metres to go, Lukas, Alex E and Sal climbed up onto the water bikes and the cyclists crossed onto the beach together as one awesome, but very tired, team!
Crossing the finishing line! Photo credits: Amber Jade.
Stepping onto the beach our team was overwhelmed with emotion. It is surreal to think that in 2 weeks we had travelled all the way from the Orkney Islands to the Isle of Scilly, and manage to all stay in one piece! It didn’t take long for the fizz to come out and the team celebrated in true expedition style. The rest of the day was spent exploring St Mary’s and more importantly relaxing on the beach. For the cyclists they would go to bed tonight knowing that they wouldn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn AND they wouldn’t have to get on a bike for a long time!
The celebrations begin! Photo credits: Amber Jade
At this moment the Pedal 4 Parks world’s first expedition finished, but by no means is our environmental journey over! Over the course of this trip we have met with numerous environmental advocates to learn more about the issues being faced in our UK national parks and green spaces. For this journey we also partnered with National Parks UK to support the protection and awareness of the stunning parks the UK has to offer. It is our mission to understand what problems these spaces are facing and share with you all the ways we can work together to prevent them. Alongside Skyrise Productions we will be producing our film 14 Day South: Over Land and Sea, so you’ve not heard the last of us yet!
Filming in action on the island. Photo credits: Ollie Axon
Every incredible journey has equally incredible people behind it. Alongside our five cyclists was an incredible film and support team who offered their time to document and support the Pedal 4 Parks mission. You will find all of their awesome faces on our team page! We were also blessed to have been supported by our sponsors, endorsers and the simple kindness of people. THANK YOU! Together we are making a difference and let’s keep it going. The more people who know about our journey and mission, the bigger the impact we can have. The journey for Pedal 4 Parks has only just begun, so stay in touch and keep your eyes peeled for the next steps!
The Pedal 4 Parks dream team! Photo credits: Amber Jade.
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 11 – Misty in the Moors: Exploring Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks
Day 12 – A Warm Welcome to Cornwall: From Devon to Newquay
Day 13 – The Last Day on Land: Reaching Land’s End
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 13 – THE LAST DAY ON LAND: REACHING LAND’S END
Today our team completed the JOGLE leg of the Pedal 4 Parks expedition. Over the past twelve days they have cycled an impressive 1,200 miles on land, seeing the beautiful green spaces the UK has to offer and interviewing some of the people who are trying to make a difference. It was as if the sun knew today was an important day for our team and it decided to come out in full force to cheer them on towards the finishing line. The route today covered around 75 miles, taking the team from the Northern to the Southern coast and then along to Land’s End.
The team set of on their final day of land cycling. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
The Cornish coast is full of wonderful bays and beaches at every turn, so it was hard for the team not to stop off and get an ice cream every chance they got! Most of the morning was spent cycling towards these beautiful beaches, cutting through the Cornish capital Truro to eventually reach our first checkpoint, The Lizard. The Lizard, not actually named after the reptile-like shape of the coastline, is the most southerly point of British mainland. Natural England, The National Trust, and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust are all working together at the Lizard Peninsula to ensure the landscape is protected. The Lizard National Nature Reserve is now one of the largest nature reserves in the UK and is home to a variety of rare plant and animal species. Beyond its environmental integrity, the Lizard coastline offers some stunning views of the ocean, so it is definitely worth the ten minute detour if you are in the area!
The cliffs at Lizard Point. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
After stopping for a bite to eat at the Lizard, it was off to the next stop. Today our team were lucky to visit some of Cornwall’s most renowned and beautiful attractions with St Michael’s Mount being next. If you’re travelling along the southern Cornish coast it is hard to miss the small island and its stunning medieval castle. The island is accessed by a short causeway, but you have to be careful you aren’t trapped by the tide as the path is sometimes covered by the water. When our team arrived the tide was out and we were able to walk right up to the island!
Walking up to St Michaels Mount. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
From the beach at St Michael’s it was time to make our way to Land’s End. On the way the team cycled through Penzance, passing the harbour where they would soon be making their return from the Isles of Scilly. The closer we got to Land’s End, the more remote we felt. The number of houses became significantly less and the coastline began to surround our cyclists, indicating how close they were. Our support and film team had raced ahead to see the cyclists as they crossed into Land’s End and importantly cheer the team on as they hopped off their land bikes for good! After lots of hugs, photos and ice cream, the team quickly became aware that they were looking across the water that they would soon be cycling across. The Isles of Scilly are around 28 miles from Land’s End and it was quite unsettling that we couldn’t see them from the mainland!
Excited team at Land’s End. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
Fuelled by excitement and hunger we soon moved onto dinner, which was again provided by the fantastic Chorley’s restaurant. Tonight they served up a BBQ meat feast alongside a delicious stir fry for the veggies in the group. As expected, the dinner tasted amazing and was the icing on the cake for our final day cycling on land. With the sun shining and the beautiful Gwynver beach in front of us, we had a stunning view to look at while we ate. Some of the team were so welcomed by the beach that they went for an evening swim, fully embracing the adventure!
Dinner with Chorley’s! Photo credits: Amber Jade
As the sun is setting there is still a lot to prepare for tomorrow as we need to work out what bags are coming with us to the Isles of Scilly and what can stay on the mainland. Our cycling team will be up at 5am to get down to Sennen Cove and start preparing for the 12 hour water cycle! Then our support team will need to rush back over to Penzance to catch the ferry and touch down in the Isles of Scilly. Tomorrow promises to be an exciting and emotional day as the team pedal those final miles of the expedition. We have already come so far and we cannot thank our sponsors and supporters enough for following us on this eco-mission. Without the shared determination to make a positive environmental impact through our film, none of this would have been possible. This is as much your journey as it is ours, so well done us!
Smiling with our sponsors at Land’s End. Photo credits: Amber Jade.
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 10 – Say Cheese! Journeying from Hay-On-Wye to Cheddar
Day 11 – Misty in the Moors: Exploring Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks
Day 12 – A Warm Welcome to Cornwall: From Devon to Newquay
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 12 – A WARM WELCOME TO CORNWALL: FROM DEVON TO NEWQUAY
This morning the team finally woke up to sunshine and the forecast promised much more! Today’s route would take the cyclist into Cornwall, the final county of the expedition! If you have ever travelled to Cornwall you know that the hills are constant. So although our team were cycling a shorter distance, they had around 3,500 feet of elevation to climb in one day!
Sunny start to the day! Photo Credits: Amber Jade
The early morning breezed past with our team making good time on the hills. It was later on in the morning when things started to look a little less bright. Sal’s foot injury took a painful turn and we were unsure if she was fit to keep riding, but after roadside redressing and some words of encouragement Sal decided she wanted to continue. We are now so close to the finishing line and as long as we kept an eye on her foot we were all in support of Sal finishing the journey with the rest of the team! After that small hiccup, the team found the route they had planned took them across an unrecognised trail, so in other words they were lost. Despite being lost in the middle of Cornwall, the team soon came across a house on Bodmin Moor that they decided to ask for some direction. Little did they know this was the Thrussells studio, owned by Gary and Thomas, which produces incredible bespoke sculptures. Not only were the team now going in the right direction, but they also got to view some amazing pieces of artwork!
Once back on the road the team kept pushing through the tough elevation and found themselves on a section of the stunning Camel Trail. The Camel Trail links Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin along an 18 mile cycle track. Our team were only on the trail for a few miles as they travelled towards Bodmin, but they all spoke about stunning valley’s and woodlands the route took them through. This cycle-way is also a notable part of the National Cycle Network, owned by Sustrans who we spoke to a couple of days ago. Another noteworthy area the team travelled through was Bodmin Moor. The moor is another designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and hosts the highest point in Cornwall, Brown Willy.
Rather than heading straight to the campsite, the team were on their way to Mawgan Porth Beach where they would be meeting with the Oll an Gwella Male Chorus to listen to them sing. On the road Lukas’ bike gears broke meaning he could only cycle in a very high or very low gear. The end of today’s route was so close that he powered through, choosing to run his bike up any hills that he couldn’t cycle. Now that is one determined adventurer! Despite the bike issue, Lukas and the rest of the team reached the beach to listen to the choir with plenty of time. The Oll an Gwella Male Chorus performed a handful of Sea Shanties for our team. This was a once in a lifetime experience and was truly breathtaking to watch. The team are now just two days away from their final sea crossing and what a wonderful honour to have this experience to get them through this final push.
The Oll an Gwella Male Chorus on Mawgan Porth beach. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
The sun was shining and the entire team was on a high as we reached the Sun Haven Holiday Park in Newquay. The park is run by Lovat Parks, a holiday park chain and certified B-Corp business! The atmosphere around the camp was electric, not because of our arrival but as England were winning the football! We welcomed the happy mood as we pitched up camp in the sunshine.
Lukas fixing his gears at camp. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
This evening we were very lucky to have our dinner provided by Chorley’s, a local South African restaurant and creator of the BEST sauce we have ever tasted! We may be slightly biased as Chorley family member Deon is on our support team, but we dare you to tell us any different once you give it a try! Tonight we were treated to a delicious chilli with jacket potatoes, giving our team the protein they need in the tastiest way possible.
Chorley’s dishing out a delicious dinner for our team. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
We were joined later on by Lawrence Harmer who is the Director at Solve. Solve is the digital marketing and web design agency that powers our very own website sustainably. Lawrence is quite the adventurous character himself and encouraged some of our team to go for an evening swim with him in the cold cornish water! A pretty exciting way to end an exciting day!
Isaac, Ollie and Lawrence going for a swim. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
Tomorrow promises even more excitement as our team heads for Land’s End, finishing their JOGLE and the land section of the expedition.
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 9 – Back to the Countryside: Hard Hills in Hay-On-Wye
Day 10 – Say Cheese! Journeying from Hay-On-Wye to Cheddar
Day 11 – Misty in the Moors: Exploring Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 11 – MISTY IN THE MOORS: EXPLORING EXMOOR AND DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARKS
Today was an exciting day of exploring our final two national parks of the expedition. Exmoor and Dartmoor are renowned for their difficult terrain and unusual weather conditions, both things that our team battled with today. After the heavy showers from the night before, none of us were surprised to wake up to the sound of rain on our tents. Nevertheless, come rain or shine the whole team was up and ready to conquer the exciting day ahead! Our stay at Petruth Paddocks had been another great one, made that one extra bit more special by the send off from the owner’s beautiful golden retriever!
As with most other days, it didn’t take long for our cyclists to find a spot to eat once they had left the camp. We fell upon the Blackmore Farm Shop en route to our first interview in Exmoor and we were not disappointed! The shop sold a variety of locally sourced food products and accessories that promote local business, and more significantly for our cyclists, they had a long menu of breakfast grub that they could tuck in to.
Smiley cyclists at breakfast! Photo Credits: Amber Jade
From the farm shop we ventured deeper into the Somerset countryside, losing the rain and entering a thick fog in the Quantock Hills. The Quantock Hills were England’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and are made up of various ancient woodlands, heathlands and agricultural landscapes that make for a jaw-dropping experience. Usually you would be able to see stunning views from the hills, but today we were quite literally in the clouds. This made for an eerily beautiful journey across the area, but also a dangerous one. As you can see from the photo below, the mist was extremely thick and meant that we could only see a few metres ahead of us on the road. We made sure our cyclists were kitted with high viability clothing and lights, but they were still difficult to see through the fog.
Tricky climbs and thick fog in Quantock Hills. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
With our support crew ahead at the next interview the cyclists were able to take it slow over the hills. Up to this point we had been lucky with bike issues, many of them being punctures or chain snaps that could be mended quickly on the road. However, despite all the natural elements being thrown at the cyclists, Alex E’s rear wheel took a beating on the hills, calling for an emergency wheel change. With an interview around the corner Isaac, Lukas and Alex P powered on and Alex E and Sal hung back for our support car to deliver the spare. Luckily for us, Alex E is a wiz on the bike and changed his wheel out quickly so he and Sal could shoot ahead to our second interview location, keeping as much to our timings as possible. The unexpected weather and bike issues meant that our team would need to stay split up in order to keep to the interview schedule. We were extremely eager to hear from both Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks and luckily our awesome cycle team sped off in time to make sure nothing was missed!
Our first interview location was at Bye Wood in Exmoor National Park where we spoke to Graeme McVittie about the conservation and rewilding projects being headed in Exmoor. Much of our conversation with Graeme focused on the regeneration of woodland in the national park and the they are working to encourage the community to get involved. Graeme showed us where the new native woodlands had been planted, including the non plastic tubing being used to minimise environmental damage. Currently around 14% of Exmoor is woodland. The park are planning to build an education centre and continue promoting community involvement to increase this figure. A common theme of our interviews has been educating people about their local green spaces. We have the same desire to educate people on the importance of green space, so we hope that by reading or watching our journey you will take the time to explore some of your local natural environments too!
Exmoor National Park regeneration project. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
On the northern edge of Dartmoor National Park is the Meldon Viaduct and this beautiful location is where our team met up with Hamish, one of the park rangers for Dartmoor National Park. Given our luck with the rain, it was at this moment that the sky decided to open, drenching everyone. Despite this, Sal and Alex had a super insightful chat about the challenges being faced over the ownership of national parks and the restrictions this can put on the ability to promote successful conservation. Dartmoor is one of the UK’s most visited national parks, so preserving its beauty is crucial.
Dartmoor National Park interview. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
Feeling wet and cold, the cyclists all joined together at Hideaway Camping in Okehampton, where we would be spending the evening in some really cool repurposed accommodation. We were lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to stay in two igloos, converted from old cattle housing. This was the first time we’d seen a bed in a long time and we were all very happy about it! Innovations like this get more people out into nature and have made camping a much more widely enjoyed experience! If you are ever travelling through Devon we highly recommend you take a look at Hideaway Camping!
Cycle team at Hideaway Camping in Okehampton. Photo taken by support crew.
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 8 – From Chaos to Calm: Bike Fixes and Friendly Faces
Day 9 – Back to the Countryside: Hard Hills in Hay-On-Wye
Day 10 – Say Cheese! Journeying from Hay-On-Wye to Cheddar
This post was brought to you by media team member Emily, follow the links to her socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 10: SAY CHEESE! JOURNEYING FROM HAY-ON-WYE TO CHEDDAR
The day kicked off to a hilly start, weaving into the Brecon Beacons as we made our way towards Cheddar, the birthplace of Britain’s most loved cheese. As well as hitting our fourth national park, today was full of interesting locations and sites to take in. Now at day ten, the team are really feeling the stress of the expedition. Cycling 100 miles a day is no walk in the park and with the roads ahead still offering some of the trickiest climbs that our cyclists will conquer on this trip. We left the campsite on a high after an evening spent with family and friends. The Borders campsite was incredibly welcoming and their homemade honey offered on site was the cherry on top of a great stay.
Misty morning in Hay-on-Wye. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
Our first pit stop came in Monmouth where we coincidentally came across a cycle market in the middle of the town. If not cycling, food is the number one agenda for our cyclists and this market hosted the perfect opportunity for them to stock up for the many kilometres ahead. Monmouth itself had some beautiful infrastructure so the whole crew were happy to stop for a bite to eat in the little town. A short cycle further we came into Tintern, another quaint town along the riverside. Surrounded by greenery, the town is home to a twelfth-century gothic abbey that is a stunning site on the River Wye. After seeing lots of urban architecture, it is nice to see some historical sites that have molded into the natural landscapes.
Tintern Abbey. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
Heading out of Wales our cyclists crossed over the old Severn bridge, aiming for their next stop in Bristol. The sun may have been shining, but the winds across the coast were so strong that the rest of the support and film crew were turned away from the old bridge and made to reroute across the new Severn bridge. It seems odd that the bridge remained open to our cyclists and we bet the high winds made for a thrilling ride over the river Severn.
Swept away on the Severn Bridge! Photo taken by cycle team.
In a day full of awesome locations, our next checkpoint was the Clifton Bridge in Bristol. The Clifton Suspension Bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and is seen as one of the turning points in the history of engineering. It was opened in 1864 and spans across the Avon Gorge, a stunning natural environment that is home to a huge variety of flora and fauna. We were also extremely happy to hear that Claire from the Plastic Free Shop was waiting across the bridge with homemade brownies! It was definitely a welcomed treat for our cyclists after what had already been a long day of cycling. In even more happy news, a big group of Sal’s friends came out to cheer her on as the team rode through Bristol. After a few days off the bike, there couldn’t have been a better way to support Sal and the Pedal 4 Parks journey.
Cycling over Clifton Suspension Bridge. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
With our campsite being in the infamous village of Cheddar, our cyclists were lucky enough to be just a stone’s throw away from the magnificent Cheddar Gorge. The limestone gorge is the product of meltwater floods in the ice ages that created the 137m drop and the numerous caves within the natural structure. Tourism is a huge part of the village economy, but the National Trust is committed to the conservation and protection of the wildlife and rare chalk grasslands in the area. In our research we also found out that Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton, the “Cheddar Man”, was found in the gorge. Estimated to be around 9,000 years old when he was found in the early 1900’s. Pretty awesome, but you won’t find us rummaging around those caves any time soon!
Racing through Cheddar Gorge. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
The cycle through the gorge put the team on an incredible high. Back at camp the support crew had made a delicious curry to fuel the team before they met with Dougal Driver from Grown in Britain. Grown in Britain work in every stage of the supply chain to promote the sustainable growth and use of UK timber. They are an independent not-for-profit organisation and are focused on the sustainable use of the resources we have in the UK. Through rewilding and reforesting plant species we can maximise British timber use without damaging the environment and prevent the environmental costs of transporting timber from overseas sources as far as China. Dougal spoke about the importance of embracing all types of woodland, introducing native and controlled non-native species to enhance our woodland and optimise the benefits of this new ‘wood culture’. We know that buying locally benefits the environment by removing large sections of transport in the supply chain, but have you ever thought about where our timber comes from?
Interview with Dougal Driver (Grown in Britain). Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
Once the interview was finished it was time to rush into bed before the downpour started! Ironically, it seems like the Scottish weather was kinder to us than in England. We are keeping our fingers crossed for sunshine in the Scilly’s… is that too much to ask after two weeks of cycling across the UK!
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 6/7 – Leaving Scotland: City Cycling and Disaster in the Lakes
Day 8 – From Chaos to Calm: Bike Fixes and Friendly Faces
Day 9 – Back to the Countryside: Hard Hills in Hay-On-Wye
This post was brought to you by media team member Emily, follow the links to her socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 9: BACK TO THE COUNTRYSIDE: HARD HILLS IN HAY-ON-WYE
Getting up felt a lot easier today with the lovely breakfast offered by Rebecca and Maddie at the Durham Heifer Cafe. Cycling takes up a lot of energy and breakfast is super important to set off the journey right. Once topped up with yummy breakfast sandwiches it was time to set off towards Hay-On-Wye, renowned for its book festival and shops. Today we also crossed over into Wales for the first time as our route hugged the border along the river Wye.
Cheerful team outside Shrewsbury Castle (one of our checkpoints of the day). Photo Credits: Amber Jade
With the forecast promising sunshine, Sal was able to get back on the bike. The fantastic five were finally back together and the few days off hopefully means that Sal’s foot will pedal her all the way to the Isles of Scilly! Sal picked a tough day of hills to jump back on the bike, but she wouldn’t let that minor detail stop her. After a few days of urban cycling, the route finally took our cyclists back into the countryside, experiencing some more of the beautiful environments the UK has to offer. We were all excited to touch down in Wales, taking our country counter up to three! However, our route down the west of the UK saw us cross the Welsh-English border so much that we weren’t even sure what country we were in at some points! Nevertheless, the winding roads and extensive woodland made for an enjoyable ride, even if we were a bit lost.
Surrounded by green space once again! Photo Credits: Amber Jade
Once on the road we met up with Mike Axon, Director at Vectos. Vectos is one of our gold sponsors and is a transport planning, design and flood risk consultancy company. They bring positive and sustainable developments into the industry, working to promote a sustainable future. Mike spoke to the team about his work in “New Town” planning and creating the structures for sustainable communities. These kinds of innovations aim to uncover the preventative measures we can put in place to limit our consumption and impact, lessening the stress on our environment altogether. One extra interesting aspect of this interview was the velomobile that Mike was driving! A velomobile is like a bicycle-car and Mike certainly stood out as he sped through the countryside with our cyclists!
Isaac and Mike (Vectos) cycling together ft. Mike’s groovy Velomobile! Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
Later on in the day we met with Hayley from Sustrans. Sustrans work to make Britains bike-ways safe, usable and accessible and have a mission to make cycling more inclusive. They are custodians of the National Cycle Network, so the majority of our route has been on cycle-ways made by Sustrans. They are an incredibly important company for cyclist safety in both urban and rural landscapes and they are now starting to focus more on diversity on the road. Hayley was particularly passionate about the need to improve the lighting on many of the paths, encouraging more women to feel safe when cycling. The importance of inclusivity also extends into the outreach programs that Sustrans have set up to encourage kids to get into cycling at an earlier age, promoting confidence and appreciation for the sport.
Interviewing Hayley from Sustrans. Photo Credits: Ollie Axon
Tonight we pitched up camp at the Borders Hideaway Holiday Home Park and were blessed by more beautiful views over the hills. Unluckily, this meant our cyclists had a big climb to reach the campsite, but it was well worth the extra challenge. With many of us living in and around Hereford and Wales, lots of our cyclists and support crew were able to meet up with their families to celebrate the expedition and give a boost for the final few days. Those of us who weren’t out with family didn’t miss out as we tucked into a delicious Mexican feast cooked up by the support crew!
View from the Borders Hideaway Holiday Home Park Campsite. Photo taken by support crew.
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 5 – From Park to Park: The Cairngorms to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Day 6/7 – Leaving Scotland: City Cycling and Disaster in the Lakes
Day 8 – From Chaos to Calm: Bike Fixes and Friendly Faces
This post was brought to you by media team member Emily, follow the links to her socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 8 – FROM CHAOS TO CALM: BIKE FIXES AND FRIENDLY FACES
After surviving the majority of the trip without rain, we certainly got our fair share today. From the moment we woke up the downpour didn’t let up, making for a tough start and some very wet tents! With the torrential rain, Sal made the decision to hold off getting on her bike to recover a bit more from her injuries. We would much rather her finish with the team than be unable to ride at all!
The disaster of yesterday has left everyone a little on edge, but by 9am the flat tyre on the support vehicle was mended, leaving us with the mess that was Isaac’s bike to sort out. Luckily for us, the team were meeting up with Chris Spray from Kelsall Cycles later on, who kindly offered to look at the team’s bikes as they passed through Chester. With the problems on the mend we got on with the day, looking forward to the two exciting interviews ahead. When stressed and tired what do we do…? We EAT! And our cyclists were certainly working up an appetite after the rushed rainy morning. There is only so much food you can have at 6am, so here they are tucking in to a nice full english with heaps of coffee. That kept them going for the next hour…
The team (minus Sal) tucking into a hearty breakfast in Preston. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
Sal took the lead on the interviews today, saving the remaining cyclists some time to enjoy their very rainy cycle and make it to the campsite earlier than scheduled. The first interview put us in Byron Hall Woods, where we met with local MP James Grundy to discuss the controversial building of HS2 in the well-loved woodland area. HS2 is a high-speed rail being built between London and Birmingham cutting through crucial community woodlands. James was joined by a group of locals who are against the railway, upset as HS2 will rip apart the environmental work the community had been doing to extend and protect the woodland. Worryingly this is only the first phase of the project, so if so much stress has already been put on the natural landscape, what more is there to come?
Crowd gathered at the HS2 interview with MP James Grundy. Photo taken by support crew.
As Sal was chatting away, the cyclists were joined by Chris Spray, co-owner of Kelsall Cycle Shop and co-founder of the Mind Over Mountains charity. Alongside his friend Mike Speers, Chris set up the coffee and repair shop over lockdown to offer local cyclists a riding pit stop and place to fix any cycling mishaps! Alongside Alex Staniforth, Chris founded Mind Over Mountains which combines hill-climbing and mindfulness, embracing the mental benefits of nature alongside a group of people you have never met. We have a podcast with Mind Over Mountains and they are still hosting these incredible walks so please take a minute to find out more.
Our cyclists with the incredible team at Kelsall Cycles. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
Now nearing the campsite, the team stopped at Kelsall Cycle’s where Sal had already started the second interview of the day with Graham Donoghue, CEO of Sykes Cottages. Graham had a lot to say about the responsibility he has as a CEO to run his business as sustainably as possible. Using the B-Corp protocols, Graham is pushing for positive change in his business and sees it as his role to ensure this is put through, making himself liable. This mindset is one many leaders in business choose to hand-off, so hearing Graham’s perspective was refreshing and hopeful. Once the interview was over, we all tucked into some ice cream, cake and coffee while Chris and his team had a look over the cyclists bikes (particularly Isaac’s destroyed hanger!). After over a week of cycling the team’s bikes have really been put to the test, and we cannot thank Chris and the team at Kelsall for their help!
Interview with Graham Donoghue, CEO of Sykes Cottages. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
Once the bikes had been given a new lease of life, the cyclist headed for camp. Tonight’s stay was at the Durham Heifer Cafe and Campsite and we were truly overwhelmed again by the generosity of our hosts. If the sight of a shower wasn’t enough, Chris, Rebecca and Maddie offered our team a delicious curry to warm us from the rain. There couldn’t have been bigger smiles all round and we truly cannot thank them enough. Hearing and feeling the support for our cause makes the journey worth while and we find hope in the numbers of people who align with the Pedal 4 Parks mission to recognise the importance of the UK’s green spaces.
A happy team outside The Durham Heifer with our wonderful hosts Rebecca and Maddie. Photo Credits: Amber Jade
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 4: Mountains and Gravel Path Madness: Lock Morlich to Lock Tay
Day 5 – From Park to Park: The Cairngorms to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Day 6/7 – Leaving Scotland: City Cycling and Disaster in the Lakes
This post was brought to you by media team member Emily, follow the links to her socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 6 & 7- LEAVING SCOTLAND: CITY CYCLING AND DISASTER IN THE LAKES
On Day 6 the team sacrificed the extensive green spaces of the past week to cover a bigger distance and make a leap down the country towards the Lake District. The 95 mile route was mainly on road surfaces increasing the risk for our cyclists but also bringing home the purpose of this journey. We are lucky to have had a week immersed in nature, but the reality for many are these urban landscapes.
The team cycling away towards England! Photo taken by Amber.
Without any interviews or stopping points the cyclists were speeding to the next campsite in Carlisle. After an exciting week it was sad to leave Scotland, but the route ahead is equally full of exciting people and green spaces! Here is the team crossing through Gretna back into England!
The team posing by the Welcome to England sign. Photo taken by Amber.
As usual we were overwhelmed by the kindness of the two pubs that put our team up for the night. With thirteen of us altogether, the team was split up for the first time since the beginning of the trip. The Wellington Inn and the Inn at the Bush offered their garden spaces to our tired team and provided a lovely location to escape the rain for the night. At The Bush Inn we spoke to the owner, Colin, about his own adventures, conquering the channel swim and going down to the Lake District every week to keep up the spot! We cannot thank both these locations enough for their hospitality so definitely check them out when you’re in the area!
The support crew with the owner of the Inn at the Bush. Photo taken by support crew.
The cycling team enjoying some much needed rest at the Wellington Inn. Photo taken by support crew.
Day 7 had a great start, with rest and sunshine pushing us through the morning. This day the cycle team travelled through the Lake District covering some of the hardest elevation on our whole trip! The cycle team headed off early from their campsite ready for the tough day ahead and the support team shortly followed after collecting the trailer from the cyclists camping location.
Sadly, after smashing 30km in the morning, Sal had to come off her bike and rest her leg. A couple of days before when unpacking the trailer Sal dropped a metal stand on her foot, leaving a nasty gash on her foot. Despite this, Sal kept going for the past few days until this morning when the combination of an injured knee and her foot meant it was safer for her to swap off the bike. We were conscious of the rest of the trip and also the incoming rain… the last thing we want is an infected foot that would stop her from cycling completely! Luckily for us, Fiona on the support crew is an avid cyclist and quickly offered to take Sal’s place over the hills and through the rain. We are positive Sal will be back on the bike in the next few days, but Fiona will smash the cycle while she is resting!
Fiona from support crew with the rest of our cycling team. Photo taken by support crew.
While off the bike, Sal was able to head the interviews for the day. The first interview was with Andrea Meanwell who is the farming officer for the Lake District National Park Authority.
Sal’s injury was the first problem in a disastrous day for the team. While cycling uphill in the Lake District, the derailleur hanger on Isaac’s bike tangled with the back gears, flipping him off his bike and leaving it unrideable. Thankfully he was near the top of the hill and could carry his bike to the support crew at the top… we knew it was smart to bring a spare bike! After a few phone calls we managed to find a repair shop in the local area to fix the disaster, so thank you Wheelbase in Stavely for coming to our rescue!
Isaac carrying his bike. Photo taken by support crew.
If the bike complications weren’t enough, within minutes of Isaac’s accident one of our support vehicles hit an unspotted pothole and with the luck of today it left us with a flat tyre. Volvo have kindly sponsored the travel of our support crew and after a quick phone call with them they advised us to change out the wheel and find a garage ASAP to get a new one. After lots of phone calls we finally reached success with the HiQ garage near our next campsite who would change the tyre by early the next morning, ready to continue with the journey as planned!
Team member Lukas helping to fix the support car tyre. Photo taken by support crew.
Despite the stress, we managed to reach our interview at Footprint in Windermere. Here we spoke to Gareth from Woodmasters, who works at the educational base in Cumbria. The site allows people, especially school children, to reconnect with nature and explore the great outdoors by immersing themselves in nature through guided activities and workshops.
Interview with Gareth from Woodmasters at Footprint in Windermere. Photo taken by support crew.
It seemed the world was against Pedal 4 Parks today, but every cloud has a silver lining! Today we cycled through our third national park of the trip and the Lake District certainly didn’t disappoint. The team passed beautiful rivers, waterfalls and unsurprisingly lakes! Our favourite was the Aira Force falls, a popular site in the park but definitely one worth visiting!
Lucky enough to be passing through the Lake District, it was a shame we couldn’t stay much longer. As one of the most gorgeous places in the UK, the Lake District is home to many possible adventures and unforgettable landscapes. Just to name a few, it is work exploring what is on offer, including Derwentwater, Keswick and Borrowdale – only ten minutes from the central town, you can easily walk around the entire lake! The North Lakes are also a favourite at the Lake District – far from any motor boats, it’s tucked away in a peaceful part of the National Park where you can take a quick dip in the water or enjoy a family day out in a canoe. If, like our cycling team, you prefer to stay more local to a town area where you can rest and grab some delicious local food, then Windermere and Ambleside in the Lake District are some better choices to explore – home to the largest lake in England (10.5 miles long), the views are nothing short of spectacular. There are endless possibilities of fun and family day trips out at the Lake District, and I am sure the team would have stayed for as long as possible to enjoy all that is on offer, should they not be on their cycling challenge!!
View from the Lake District. Photo taken by support crew.
Better still, the Sandvilla Stays campsite we stayed at was home to a lively group of Alpacas. So, even though the heavens opened for the whole evening, their cuteness just about kept us going.
Alpaca friends at the Sandvilla Stays campsite. Photo taken by Gavin.
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 3 – Camping in the Cairngorms: Cycling from the Ocean to Loch Morlick
Day 4: Mountains and Gravel Path Madness: Lock Morlich to Lock Tay
Day 5 – From Park to Park: The Cairngorms to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily and Natasha, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
Natasha Randall-Nesbit (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 5 – FROM PARK TO PARK: THE CAIRNGORMS TO LOCH LOMOND AND THE TROSSACHS
Boosted by a great night’s sleep the team set off from the Loch Tay Highland Lodges and Glamping Park ready for a morning gravel cycle and an afternoon of city riding. Moving out of the Cairngorms, today’s route took us through beautiful mountains and waterfalls. Cycling west meant as we left the Cairngorms we would enter our next national park, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Just about covering two national parks in 24 hours!
View of Loch Earn at Loch Lomond. Photo taken by Amber.
World adventurer and friend of Pedal 4 Parks, Tim Milikin, joined the team for the first part of the day. Luckily for him he is a well-seasoned cyclist having cycled around the world from Reading to Reading! To hear more from Tim check out his book Reading to Reading and also listen to our Mind the Green Space Podcast with him!
Team members posing with Adventurer friend Tim Milikin, sporting their kit from Endura! Photo taken by support crew.
As mentioned before, today was jam packed with beautiful sights to stop and take in, but we couldn’t stop for long as we had two exciting interviews to get to! The first interview stop was at the Glen FInglas Visitor Centre, where we met with Hamish Thomson from Woodland Trust Scotland. Kindly supplying our team with tea and coffee, the location was in the heart of the woodland, right next to Little Druim Woods in the Great Trossachs Forest. The Trossachs is filled with stunning scenery, wildlife, towns and villages, and hiking routes you could never possibly get bored of! If you are a fan of waterfalls, the Trossachs is definitely worth a visit – with beautiful waterfalls such as Inversnaid, the Falls of Falloch, Puck’s Glen, and the Falls of Edinample, you are never short of something spectacular around every corner! If the Trossachs seems a little overwhelming, a more isolated visit to the Inchcailloch island by Loch Lomond may be more suited to your needs – known for its tranquility and peace, the island brings something new with each season, and is also filled with history that holds great cultural significance and dates back to the early 8th century. Or, if you are anything like our eco-warriors after a long day of cycling, you can sit back and enjoy the Trossachs’ dark skies, with such little light pollution, it is possible to see thousands of stars, and even our own galaxy!
We spoke to Hamish about agroforestry in the local woodland area and how to find balance between farming and conserving local green spaces.
Interview with Hamish from Woodland Trust. Photo taken by Amber.
The second interview of the day was with Endura, an international cycling clothing brand based in Scotland. Endura have kindly sponsored the colourful kit you may have seen our eco-warriors wearing along the journey! As a clothing company, Jim McFarlane and Pamela Barclay are concerned about their impact on the environment. In our conversation they stressed the work they are doing to prolong the shelf-life of their products and understand how we can recycle clothes to prevent them going straight to landfill. Conscious of their impact, Endura have committed to planting 1.3 million trees internationally. Even more, Jim and Pamela have planted acres of trees on their own land, adding to their projection of being a carbon negative company by 2024. Businesses who are built with values of sustainability and who are conscious of their negative impacts are the ones who are more likely to find the solutions. Endura is one company who are invested in solving environmental exploitation in the fashion industry.
Interview with Pamela from Endura. Photo taken by Amber.
Aside from the interviews, the journey, as with most days, took us through numerous green spaces. Some of our favourite locations included, the Falls of Dochart, Loch Earn and the Endura mountain bike track! The latter may not have been an entirely natural green space, but Jim and Pamela offer the space to city kids who are in need of a day away from stress and the city. Our lucky support crew got to test out the track with Pamela and I think we could give the cycle team a run for their money!
Support crew with their mountain bikes! Photo taken by support crew.
As the day drew to an end, the cylists made their way into Glasgow. The city was the first urban city landscape the team had come across in a long time, and as you can imagine was a stark difference to the infinitely green highlands. Glasgow is working on becoming a National Park City, meaning there is an active desire and effort to increase the urban green spaces in the city. Such increases benefit the environment but will also be an essential area for locals who are severely limited in their access to green spaces. Also, Glasgow is the host city for the COP26 conference this year where our film will be making its premiere!
After another long day, the team settled down at the Strathclyde Country Park Caravan Site, ready to cycle back over the border into England!
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 2 – From Orkney to Dornoch: Water-biking Across the Pentland Firth in a World’s First Attempt
Day 3 – Camping in the Cairngorms: Cycling from the Ocean to Loch Morlick
Day 4: Mountains and Gravel Path Madness: Lock Morlich to Lock Tay
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily and Natasha, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
Natasha Randall-Nesbit (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 4: MOUNTAINS AND GRAVEL PATH MADNESS: LOCK MORLICH TO LOCK TAY
A night spent on uneven ground and surrounded by midges might not sound the most appealing to most of us, but these things become minute when you are fully immersed in the nature around you. Other than our tent and each other we were near enough alone on the edge of the loch, an experience that the whole crew will cherish for a long time. As usual it was an early start, but Alex, Sal and Isaac all spared the time to have a dip in the freezing lake! It was a once in a lifetime location, so why not get a bit chilly to have the experience!
Sal and Alex Egan enjoying a swim in the lake. Photo taken by support crew.
Before leaving, the cyclists made sure their bikes and wheels were prepared for the off-road and gravel tracks that the cross country route would take them on. Our cross country route was planned with the help of Marcus Stitz, adventurer and cyclist extraordinaire, so the team were in for a challenge. Look out for the upcoming Mind the Green Space podcast ft. Marcus Stitz to find out more about his adventures.
In the meantime, Alicia, support crew member and host of our podcast, stepped in to interview Ben Thorburn of Wilderness Scotland. Wilderness Scotland is a guided and self-guided tourism company that gets people out into nature and offers trips for adventure travel. Ben had a lot to say about ecotourism and how adventure tourism can be handled, especially when in a national park! The Cairngorms host around 1.92 million visitors each year. Given the abundance of mountains and lochs the national park is a hub for sporting adventurers, also meaning conservation is a primary concern for tourist businesses like Wilderness Scotland.
Ben Thorburn of Wilderness Scotland being interviewed by Support crew member Alicia. Photo taken by Amber.
Support crew member and host of our podcast ‘Mind the Green Spaces’, Alicia, interviewing Ben Thorburn. Photo taken by Amber.
With a lot of upcoming off-road cycling, the team recruited Luke from Badger Productions to take some additional drone footage as they cycled through the mountains. His FPV drone allows for much better control allowing him to get some awesome shots of our team! Luke’s work is truly awesome so give his website and socials a view! The few times we did bump into the team on the road we were met by big grins and some minor wounds. Isaac described the fear of racing down the gravel paths but said it with a big smile, so it couldn’t have been that bad!
Alex Pierrot having his knee taped for extra muscle support. Photo taken by support crew
Where there is an abundance of green space, there is also an abundance of wildlife. On our travels through the Moorlands we saw signs for red squirrels, rare birds and wild reindeer (the only herd of wild, free-range reindeer in the UK!). Sadly we didn’t come across any on our travels but send us your pics so we can get jealous! The Moorlands is home to more than just these rare reindeer though, as wildlife such as Red and Black Grouse, Curlew, Lapwing, Golden Plovers, Snipes, Hen Harriers, Merlin or Golden Eagles (and of course red squirrels and deer) have all made the Moorlands their place of stay, no thanks to the vast landscape filled with heather, long-grass and berries! Highly valuable for the wildlife living here, the Moorlands are also highly valuable to us humans too – three quarters of the world’s resources are found in the UK, most of which comes from Scotland! It is such an important task therefore to look after, protect and preserve these moorland areas.Afterall, the moorlands cover over 38% of Scotland as a whole, which amounts to over 3 million hectares!!
Our eco-warriors posing by the Moor sign on a pit stop. Photo taken by support crew.
After a morning of cycling across gravel paths… and some rivers, the team emerged from the mountains onto the banks of Loch Rannoch. They were now about halfway to our next campsite so it was time to sit down for lunch and enjoy the views. With only two days left in Scotland we want to make the most out of the fabulous green spaces it has to offer! The rest of the cycle would take the team though Ben Lawers, the highest mountain in the southern part of the Scottish highlands, covering some serious elevation in their final kilometres. Ben Lawers is so high in fact, that it is the 10th highest Munro (or easier to understand – mountain over 3,000ft/914m), standing at exactly 3,984ft tall! Most famous for its height, Ben Lawers is also celebrated for its collections of rare arctic-alpine and over 600 different types of lichen! With so many exciting things to see, and the surrounding wildlife including red deer, ptarmigans, ravens, ring ouzels, skylarks and black grouse, Ben Lawers is certainly one of the best cycling routes on this journey!
The team cycling through Ben Lawers. Photo taken by Amber
Tonight we camped on Loch Tay at the Loch Tay Highland Lodges and Glamping Park. The park kindly let us stay in some of their glamping pods, giving us the chance to fully recharge after our wild camp the night before. Our pods were just a few minutes walk away from the Loch and we could look over the water from where we were staying. Loch Tay is the largest loch in Perthshire and one the deepest in Scotland – stretching over 15 miles long and over 508ft deep, it is by far one of the most magnificent views around Scotland. Camping just moments away from Loch Tay also gave the team an insight into the loch’s vast history. There are eighteen crannogs across the loch, that were home to settlers who once inhabited the loch over 2,500 years ago – one crannog that you can still see (that hasn’t been submerged under water!) is near the northern shore at Kenmore and is the ancient burial place of Queen Sybilla, wife of Alexander King of Scots. WHat an incredible place to go camping, somewhere you can quite literally retrace the steps of Scottish royalty!
As a team we feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to experience these affluent green spaces and we owe a debt of gratitude to all of those who are supporting us on this journey! Tomorrow we will be leaving the highlands and entering the city, so it’s time to wave goodbye to the countryside for a day and dive deeper into how city spaces are tackling the introduction of urban green spaces.
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Day 2 – From Orkney to Dornoch: Water-biking Across the Pentland Firth in a World’s First Attempt
Day 3 – Camping in the Cairngorms: Cycling from the Ocean to Loch Morlick
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily and Natasha, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
Natasha Randall-Nesbit (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 3: CAMPING IN THE CAIRNGORMS: CYCLING FROM THE OCEAN TO LOCH MORLICH
Up at the crack of dawn, the cyclist set off early to make a start on their 150km trip through the Cairngorms! The Cairngorms is the largest national park in the UK, stretching across 4,500 square kilometres of mountain ranges and lochs. As you can imagine, the mountain route was full of natural beauty… but it also meant the elevation was about to get a lot harder.
Before reaching the national park, the team headed south along the NC500 and into Inverness. Along the way we cut through various woodland and wildlife trust sites, including the Talich Wildlife Reserve, highlighted online for its bird and orchid populations. Although we were close to Loch Ness, the impending interviews and planned route took us away from the legendary spot. Whether you believe in Nessy or not, maybe it’s a good thing our cyclists didn’t steer too close to her home!
The team enjoying a break at the Talich Wildlife Reserve. Photo taken by support crew.
Arriving in Inverness, the team decided to stop off at Velocity Bike Cafe and Workshop. The small cafe in the heart of Inverness works as a stop off site for cyclists to fix any problems while chomping down on a hearty meal to fuel their journeys. Our cyclists did exactly this, loading up on coffee and food to keep their legs pedalling. The early morning starts really got the better of the cyclists at this stop, but there was no slacking as they moved onto Glenmore Nature Reserve in the Cairngorms.
Cycling team having a much needed nap at Velocity Bike Cafe and Workshop. Photo taken by support crew.
Every corner was met by new beautiful scenery at the Glenmore Nature Reserve. One particularly eye-catching landmark was the Old Pack Horse Bridge in Carrbridge. The bridge dates back to 1717! (how on earth is it still standing?) and was originally commissioned by Brigadier-General Alexander Grant of Grant, who paid just £100 to mason John Niccelsone to build it. Also known as ‘the coffin bridge’ down to its uses by Duthil Church to enable funeral processions to cross the river Dulnain, it is one of the most spectacular and most recognisable landmarks in the whole of Cairngorms National Park – to miss incredible photo opportunity would have been idiotic, and so of course, the team took a brief second to enjoy the characteristic view along their journey (the bridge looked just as tired but still full of life – much like the team!). By this point the team were about 20 miles out of the wild camping spot, so after a few unmissable bridge pics they set off on the final stretch.
The view of the Old Pack Horse Bridge. Photo taken by support crew.
Given the freedom to wild camp in Scotland, it would have been rude not to use this opportunity during the expedition. Our wild camp in Orkney had been blessed by good weather and sea views, so the Cairngorms had a lot to live up to! Safe to say our camp on the edge of Loch Morlich blew the whole crew away, revealing an untouched landscape at the foot of Ben Macdui. Ben Macdui (also named Mac Duff’s Hill) is the second highest mountain in Scotland, with its parenting peak being Ben Nevis, but is also the highest mountain in the wider Cairngorms National Park. with an elevation of 1,309 metres, it sits comfortably between the borders of the historic counties of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire. Ben Macdui is so sublime, that even Queen Victoria herself took a hike to the summit in 1859!! It definitely offers one of the best views in the Cairngorms National Park, and the team were extremely impressed and excited to have the opportunity to camp so close to such a stunning location.
Here we met with Alan Smith, the Cairngorms National Park ranger. He spoke to our team about the handling of tourism within the national park and the fine balance between attracting visitors and conserving the landscape. He spoke about the community around the Cairngorms and their investment in its protection, even putting up cameras on the beaches to spot misbehaving tourists. Luckily for us, Alan showed us the best location to set up camp on the Loch which minimised our interference.
View from the team’s camp set up at Cairngorms Loch Morlich. Photo taken by support crew.
As you can see from the photograph the location was breathtaking. The spot made a tricky day of cycling seem worth it and even the swamps of midges weren’t enough to put us off! Now, it’s time for a decent night’s sleep ready to triumph the day ahead.
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Mental Health Awareness Week: Pedal 4 Parks goes Personal
A Very Wet Weekend in Wales: Pedal 4 Parks Training Update
Pedaling North to South: The Route of our Environmental Pursuit
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily and Natasha, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
Natasha Randall-Nesbit (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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DAY 2: FROM ORKNEY TO DORNOCH: WATER-BIKING ACROSS THE PENTLAND FIRTH IN A WORLD’S FIRST ATTEMPT
Isaac and Sal on their waterbikes. Photo taken by Gavin.
What makes the Pedal 4 Parks expedition so unique is the 70km our team will be covering over water. Today the team completed their first water section between Berwick harbour and John O’Groats, crossing 17km over the Pentland Firth in just 1 hour and 40 minutes! The stars all seemed to align as the team woke up to a calm sea and clear sky, the best conditions we could have hoped for given the dangerous tidal streams the water is known for. To the surprise of the shocked locals who had reminded us of the dangers in the water, including the Orca family we had encountered on shore the day before, the team, nonetheless, were keen and ready for the challenge ahead!
The delay of the night before meant that the team would not only be completing their sea crossing, but also cycling 150km on the other side to reach Dornoch on the North East Scottish coast. WIth a long day ahead the team were awake and preparing the water bikes at 4AM with the help of the support crew. In light of the potential risks, the team planned to cycle two at a time, rotating on and off to allow time for breaks. This was also great when setting up as we only had to blow up two bikes, leaving more time for breakfast! As we were setting up, Hamish rowed over to his boat to ready the support boat that would follow the team and ferry the film crew across the water. By 5.30AM the team were ready to set off into the unknown but as usual they had big smiles on their faces for the adventure ahead.
The team ready to smash their world’s first water bike cycle! (Ft. Hamish and his brother ) Photo taken by Support Crew
Much of the teams’ water bike training was done in lakes or ports, so when we were planning the timing of the crossing we had no idea how long it would take. Guessing around 3 hours, the team absolutely smashed this goal reaching the Scottish shore at around 7.30AM, cheered on by the support boat and treating themselves to a square sausage roll upon arrival. The team completed the journey so quickly that most of the support crew were still on the ferry when they reached John O’Groats!
As our photographers were on the boat with the cyclists we called in the wonderful Poul Brix to catch our team as they arrived. We LOVE his shot so check them out below.
The team and Poul enjoying a celebratory hug. Photo taken by Poul Brix
While waiting for the rest of the support crew to arrive, the team took a moment to say thank you to all of their sponsors on this trip by holding up a banner with each sponsors logo!
The team holding up a banner promoting their sponsors. Photo taken by Poul Brix
Still high on the thrill of their once in a lifetime achievement the team cycled off from John O’Groats travelling West along the coast. Along the coast the roads were flat, giving the cyclists time to look out at the coastal landscape that they had been crossing just hours before. Partnered with Komoot, we have been able to plan the route of our trip, including the fantastic landmarks we are passing along the way. Today our first stop was at Dunnet’s Head, the most northerly point of mainland Scotland. Dunnet’s Head is rich in World War II history, and is surrounded by fortifications that were used to protect the naval base at Scapa Flow. The attraction is on the edge of the cliff face looking out over the Orkneys, so we were extra careful not to take the bikes too close to the edge! If the views weren’t enough, we were also lucky enough to see a group of puffins collected on the cliff! Being a prime location for bird-watching, our film crew managed to get some incredible shots as you can see below!
A resident Puffin. Photo taken by Gavin.
As the cyclists continued along the coast we couldn’t resist a quick stop at Dunnet Beach. Despite being on the sea all morning, we had to make the most of it while we were there! The cold sea made for a refreshing break and we found lots of signs that aligned with the Pedal 4 Parks mission, including the “Leave nothing but your footprints on the beach” as seen below!
Dunnet Beach. Photo taken by support crew.
To all of our disappointment, it was time to leave the northern coast to make way on our journey down the country. Although we lost the sea views, the team were now travelling through the highlands, being flooded with green spaces all around. A large portion of their journey travelled through a huge wind farm, a poignant setting for the first mainland leg of our journey. The route also followed much of the infamous NC500 road route (also known as the Scottish Route 66), showing off the best of the Scottish coast. Filled with sea, sand, caves and massive waves, the history and scenery of the NC500 is something not to be missed! (though sadly the team only had time to pass through). The couple of tire punctures and chain mishaps certainly seem less annoying when you’re looking across the highlands!
As wild camping is legal across most of Scotland our plan had been to travel to Embo beach and camp out on the sand like the night before. The changing weather made it quickly apparent that this spot wouldn’t be great for wild camping, and thanks to our fantastic support crew we managed to bag a last minute spot at the Durnoch Caravan and Camp Park. Although the wild camp would have been amazing, the park saved the day for our tired cyclists and we cannot deny that we were all secretly happy to have a shower on site to wash up after a long day of sweaty cycling!
The team settled in at Dornoch campsite. Photo taken by support crew.
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Mental Health Awareness Week: Pedal 4 Parks goes Personal
A Very Wet Weekend in Wales: Pedal 4 Parks Training Update
Pedaling North to South: The Route of our Environmental Pursuit
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily and Natasha, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
Natasha Randall-Nesbit (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
ECO FRIENDLY, GREENSPACES, MENTAL HEALTH
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DAY 1: ORCAS ON THE ORKNEYS
AND THEY’RE OFF! After years of planning, the Pedal 4 Parks team have finally set off on their 14 day cycling challenge across the UK. Before we begin this journey the team would like to thank all of our sponsors, endorsers and followers for the consistent support over the past few months. Without their help we wouldn’t be able to make this life changing educational journey, so head over to our sponsors web page to find out more.
Lukas, Sal, Alex Egan, Isaac, and Alex Pierrot at the start line of the expedition. Photo taken by support crew.
As much as you can plan for an expedition, there must be space for change. This is particularly important when relying on particular weather conditions… like the treacherous Pentland Firth waters! Known for being one of the most dangerous stretches of water, it has one of the most powerful tidal currents in the world. But that’s not enough to stop the eco-warriors from crossing the treacherous waters to fulfill their expedition! Once we arrived in mainland Orkney, it was our first mission to talk to Hamish, the lovely island local who would be supporting the team on their water bikes as we crossed back over to Scotland. Having supported various swimmers and adventurers across the water, Hamish had the crucial knowledge we needed to keep the team safe. Our plan was to cycle over the water on Friday the 18th, but we decided to wait until the next morning on Hamish’s recommendation to allow the wind speeds to drop. Luckily we had prepared for this very situation and decided to just complete our Orkney leg of the trip on the Friday, taking in more of the beautiful surroundings while avoiding any possible risk of danger from potential tidal currents.
Once it was decided that our Friday schedule would be shortened, the team took the noble decision to catch up on their sleep before a long two-weeks of early morning starts. The Orkney Caravan Park at Pickaquoy saw that we were well rested and very kindly allowed us to keep our kit at their site for the day while we kickstarted the expedition. The time delay came as a blessing in disguise for our film team who now had the time to sit and interview each of our cyclists on their thoughts before hitting the road. Chatting to the team they were all excited to be out on their bikes for the first time in 4 days! The expedition has been building for so long it was all now falling into place, so smiles all round as they looked back at the journey so far.
After lunch it was time for the team to head up to Birsay, the most northwesterly point of the Orkney Islands, where they would be setting off on their world first JOGLE adventure. At the starting line we were met by Dan Beaumont, a fellow cycling adventurer, who joined the team on the first half of the Orkney cycle. Enjoying walking, running, and cycling, Dan has been an adventurer ever since he finished his University degree in 2012, having spent several years travelling Asia, North America and Europe. Keen to learn new life lessons from everyone he meets on his journey, Dan founded Podstel, with his childhood friend, a hostel for travellers and a cafe for locals – a place where everyone can meet, learn about each other, and make new friends. If you are also interested in cycling with our team during the journey get in touch as we love meeting new adventurous people!
Cycling team members with Dan Beaumont. Photo taken by support crew.
Along the way the cycling team got to take in all the beauty the Orkney Islands had to offer, including the more historical attractions like Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar. Although it may sound like we are quoting Lord of the Rings, these Neolithic sites make up half of the UNESCO World Heritage Site titled “The Heart of Neolithic Orkney” having been given the title in 1999. Skara Brae is an old Neolithic settlement made up of ten houses and a primitive sewage system, it seems that 2500BC settlers had a better system than we had when wild camping! The Ring of Brodgar is the northernmost example of a circle henge in Britain and is held with similar historical importance to the more popular Stonehenge. These locations are managed by Historic Environment Scotland who are proud to represent the ‘achievements of early peoples away from the traditional centres of civilisation’.
Alex Egan taking a selfie with Sal, Lukas, Alex Pierrot and Isaac at Skara Brae.
The rest of the route consisted of hopping from island to island until they reached Berwick harbour, where Hamish would meet them on his boat at 4.30 AM the next morning (what a trooper!). With such an early start, the whole team decided to ditch the comfort of the camping parks and wild camp, the first of many on this trip. Pitching up right next to the harbour, we were blessed by beautiful sea views and were even joined by the Orkney’s resident Orca family. Lukas, one of our cyclists, was so excited he ran down to the beach and jumped in! But, don’t worry, the ice cold water soon forced him back out and away from any danger…
Local Orca family. Photo taken by team member Sal.
After a tasty and nutritious dinner from our sponsor Firepot, it was an early night for the team. As the sun set, there was a shared happiness between the team as they looked over the water that they would soon become the world’s first people to cycle across.
Isaac enjoying some delicious food provided by our sponsor Firepot,
The teams’ nerves seemed to vanish beneath the excitement of the adventure ahead and as the sun set there was an air of happiness amongst the team. The next leg of their trip would be crossing over 15km of the Pentland Firth on their water bikes, a world’s first achievement!
Photo taken by support crew.
As the team have now set off on their journey, remember to follow their location on our socials and if you’re feeling extra active maybe you can join us for the ride!
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us at partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Renewable Energy Initiative in the UK: Why Should You Go Green?
Mental Health Awareness Week: Pedal 4 Parks goes Personal
A Very Wet Weekend in Wales: Pedal 4 Parks Training Update
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily and Natasha, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
Natasha Randall-Nesbit (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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MOVING UP: OUR JOURNEY TO THE STARTING LINE
The time has finally come for the Pedal 4 Parks expedition to begin, but before our eco-cyclists take to the road we first need to make our way up to the starting line in the Orkney Islands. We are keen not to waste any time on our journey up the country and starting June 14th we will be interviewing numerous environmental advocates to get their take on what can be done to curb the UK’s environmental crisis. These crucial interviews are what will give substance to our documentary and allow us to share what we learn with you! We will be blogging along the way to give you some behind the scenes information and photos as we complete our adventure and create our documentary.
Photo taken by Support Crew.
Given the urgency of our cause, we have a jammed packed interview schedule starting our 4 day journey up to the Orkney Islands with five exciting interviews. Our team was up and out early to join together in London and meet the first few interviewees of the day. The day didn’t start small as we were met by two influential spokesmen for COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference. David Saddington is head of the International Nature Campaign for COP26 and as nature is this year’s central theme he is playing a big part in the conference. It is on his agenda to reconnect the public with nature and try to increase business focus on environmental issues and their impact on nature.
COP26 looks to bring groups together promoting environmental awareness, a theme that also came through in our interview with Liam Upson, the head of the International Adaptation and Resilience at COP26 and member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). His primary aim is to work alongside local communities to help build the foundations to start positive climate adaptation. We can’t reverse the environmental climate we are in, but we can use the tools we already have to educate, support and involve the communities that cannot adapt to new initiatives given the financial privileges often attached to them.
Later that morning we also spoke to Sinead Conneely, structural engineer and co-founder of Simple Works. Her work and company searches for and uses low-carbon materials in their engineering, aiming to move attention away from the steel market. Sinead wants to change how engineering students are taught and has set up outreach programs in an effort to change the default.
Wrapped up by ten o’clock, the team’s next interview found them at the Mind In Mid Herts foundation building in St. Albans. Our cause already has a connection with the mental health charity with Isaac having been a trustee for several years. Much of our conversation with Callum focused on the impact of the pandemic and how green spaces prescribed health care for many of us. We cannot stress enough that just a ten minute break in the outdoors can increase your serotonin and endorphins to directly improve your mental health. Getting out allows us to connect with nature and with people, getting us back to communicating face-to-face after a year of isolation.
Now it was time to make our way into the first national park of the trip, the Peak District! Although this isn’t counted in the six we will be visiting during the expedition, our team was still thrilled to be in the wonderful green space… we just can’t get enough of it! Here we met up with the owner of PeakUK, Pete Astles, who runs the kayaking equipment business under his values for conservation and protection of our natural environments. Out on the canal, in one of our more dynamic film locations of the day, Pete spoke about his recent efforts to encourage young people to get involved in outdoor sport, enhancing their relationship with nature and hopefully their appreciation for it. He is also an active spokesperson against littering, putting his focus on the companies that make the products that are most often found trashed in our green spaces. To end the day we joined Pete on a litter pick along the canal, filling a bag of unnecessary and environmentally damaging waste, just check out the photo below!
PeakUK: Alex Pierrot, Sal, Pete, Isaac.
Photo taken by Amber
After a restful night at the Upperhurst Farm Campsite, the team set off for Greater Manchester, where they visited the Saddleworth Community Hydro Project. The project, kickstarted by local community member Dr Andrew Taylor, is a local initiative that uses the previously built paper mill dam infrastructure to generate enough electricity to power around 70 homes. This project is the first high head system in England to use an existing dam, meaning that the damage caused by the initial implementing of the structure isn’t going to be wasted.
Saddleworth Community Hydro Interview. Photo taken by Amber
Our gold sponsor, GEUK, was chosen by the Saddleworth Community Hydro Project to be the distributor of their electricity, as they are connected to them by their environmental values and it’s great to know that this small project has a national impact through GEUK!
GEUK. Photo taken by Amber
Sticking within the Oldham area, the team then visited the Northern Roots project, soon to be the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park. Kimo Morrison is the Communications and Engagement Lead at the project and spoke to us about their central three pillars: Environment, Economy and People. The site offers over 40 species of biodiversity and 5 different environmental ecosystems. In supplying these environments, the project looks to connect communities in deprived areas to improve wellbeing and the environments around them. They are doing this through outreach programs and by working with local small businesses who set up small stalls promoting their business and the site’s tourism.
Isaac talking to Kimo Morrison, Northern Roots. Photo taken by Amber
Wednesday saw the team take their longest journey yet, travelling up into the Scottish highlands. It is safe to say the journey was immensely beautiful passing various Lochs, Valleys and the occasional Highland Cow! We were lucky enough to be hosted by the wonderful Glenisla Hotel, a beautiful and welcoming hotel positioned in the stunning Scottish countryside. From here we were able to visit two amazing projects in the local area, both set on giving back to the environments and species within them.
Crew outside Glenisla Hotel. Photo taken by Amber
The first stop was the Bamff Beaver retreat, a family owned rewilding project and stay location. The three beavers were brought to Bamff in 2002 and there are now three different families of the dam building animal in the area. What is great about this is that the beaver dams act as a natural flood defence and have transformed the landscape to increase biodiversity. Although a small action, this project showcases that when we put something back to the environment it has powerful positive repercussions.
Bamff Beaver Retreat. Photo taken by Amber
Directly after we made our way to the Cateran Eco-museum in Alyth, a new style of museum for the UK but one that has already swept across Europe. The museum is a SSSI location covering approximately 1000 sq km. The concept brings together natural and cultural heritage, offering a rich and free educational experience for visitors. By immersing ourselves within this geographical and historical landscape, we were able to physically engage with the stories and pasts. The museum is developing a series of walking and cycling roots to bring local engagement and encourage the use of the landscape alongside its beauty.
Cateran Eco-Museum. Photo taken by Amber
Thursday was our final day before the expedition, and was jam packed with travel, interviews and more stunning views. Setting off from Glenisla the team visited the Findhorn Eco-Village where they met with Tom Raymont from Arboreal Architecture, an ecological architectural practice. Their aim is to enhance sustainability in the materials they use and lessen the encroachment of buildings on nature. This means that beyond locating low-carbon materials, the architects work with the natural landscape to integrate with nature and build around the beauty already there. Designing with the natural landscapes in mind offers an enhanced interaction between the environment and the eco-village, so the natural benefits of the surrounding biodiversity can be used by those who live there.
Interview with Tom Raymont from Arboreal Architecture at the Findhorn Eco-Village. Photo taken by support crew.
The next step was to jump aboard the ferry and make our way to the Orkney Islands. Finally we were approaching the starting line and after a few days of travelling our eco-warriors were thrilled at the thought of jumping back on their bikes! At St Margaret’s Hope Harbour we were met by Catherine who represented Pentland Ferries and the awesome renewable work the transport company is doing in Orkney. The catamaran boats have been designed using hybrid technology that allows them to be charged and powered by wind energy. Both the boats and the company buildings are powered by a local wind farm and the Pentland Ferries are keen to show that it is possible to work successfully with renewable energy in major transport industries across the island and the UK.
View from Pentland Ferries. Photo taken by support crew.
As the support crew set up camp in Kirkwall in the Orkney Caravan Park at Pickaquoy, the cycling team travelled to the coast to speak to some more of Orkney’s environmental advocates. The first of these was Andrew Scott, CEO of Orbital Marine Power, who are focused on the development of a low-cost, predictable, scalable floating tidal technology. Andrew stressed that his company wants to be a part of the solution, but is realistic in the knowledge that their work will not be the sole solution to the environmental crisis. The placement of these tidal projects in the harsh Orkney tides is set to power the local island communities, providing a huge leap forward in tidal technology for the UK. In our renewable blog we spoke about the usefulness of locally designed solutions and this Orkney project is a great example of how local environments can help renewable innovation.
Orkney Caravan Park. Photo taken by support crew.
Isaac Interviews Andrew Scott, CEO of Orbital Marine Power. Photo taken by support crew
On the same evening, the team was also joined by James Furgeson from European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). The EMEC is best known for their progress in ocean energy development, but our interview focused on their more recent work in setting up a hydrogen production plant in Orkney. This futuristic initiative uses tidal and wind energy to generate green hydrogen. The process works through electrolysis separating the hydrogen into its gas form to be then used in a variety of fuel, power and heat applications. Their mission started with ocean energy, but as the company has grown they are keen to use their infrastructure to help the world “decarbonise” in other areas and promote the scaling up of renewable energy technologies.
Once back at the campsite it was time to prepare for the next day. The team needed to check their bikes, pack their essentials and collect their thoughts ready to set off from Birsay, the northernmost point on the main island, the next day. Close to Kirkwall, our camping location allowed us to drop into the town to explore some of the island before getting in the expedition mindset. And, of course, enjoy a stunning view of the sunset over the countryside before getting the much needed rest ready for their big day ahead.
Photo taken by: Amber
As the team prepares to set off, remember to follow their location on our socials and if you’re feeling extra active maybe you can join us for the ride!
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us at partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Renewable Energy Initiative in the UK: Why Should You Go Green?
Mental Health Awareness Week: Pedal 4 Parks goes Personal
A Very Wet Weekend in Wales: Pedal 4 Parks Training Update
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily and Natasha, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
Natasha Randall-Nesbit (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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RENEWABLE ENERGY INITIATIVES IN THE UK: WHY SHOULD YOU GO GREEN?
One of the central motivations of the Pedal 4 Parks expedition is to search for and share scalable solutions to the environmental crisis in the UK. It is part of our mission to uncover the extent of human interference in our green spaces and talk to the people already advocating for change. When thinking about these interferences, one particularly hot topic is the growth of renewable energy resources to compete against the global overuse of fossil fuels. Issues of energy production and consumption are ever-present in political discussion and school curriculums, but little effort has been made to promote a consciously greener network. We are lucky to be working with and sponsored by Green Energy UK (GEUK) who is the only supplier to offer 100% green electricity AND gas in the UK. Companies like GEUK are making it easy for us to be green, but what does “green” really mean? We want to investigate this question and understand what renewable energy solutions are out there, what impact they are having and what society can do to limit our burden.
First things first, what is “renewable” energy and why is it better for the environment? As the name suggests, renewable energy is energy collected from sources that will replenish naturally on a human timescale and can be used in replacement of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels, which include the likes of coal, oil, and natural gas, are a quickly depleting source of energy, but more significantly produce a damaging list of secondary effects that are detrimental to our global environment. The gases, also known as greenhouse gases, produced when these fuels are burned is the leading cause of global warming and have serious impacts on the natural systems of living organisms, including humans. Other than providing the means to sustain human energy consumption, many renewable energy methods come from carbon-neutral sources, like wind, solar, rain, tides, and geothermal heat. We won’t go into detail about the specific mechanisms of these technologies, but we will consider the impact they have and what strategies may be most effective. The issue we are tackling is both environmental and economic as, without a renewable solution to fossil fuels, we will continue to drain our resources to an irreversible point.
GEUK is the ONLY energy supplier in the UK that provides its customers with 100% green gas. This “green” gas is more formally known as biomethane and is created through Anaerobic Digestion, which naturally occurs as organic matter is broken down. This includes utilising pre-existing and natural circumstances like landfill, animal waste and decaying plant matter to heat your home. As humans, we produce an excessive amount of waste. In 2016, the UK alone produced a total of 221 million tonnes of total waste… given a small car weighs around a tonne, that is the same as piling up 221 million Fiat 500’s! Waste is a completely different problem, but this biomass process looks to harness the natural gases produced and put it straight back into our homes. We often see a lot of focus on renewable energy methods that generate electricity, so GEUK is pioneering a change to all aspects of energy consumption.
You may be thinking, but my supplier says they are carbon neutral? This is where the understanding of definitions like “carbon neutral” become essential to know what a company is really doing. Other suppliers that claim this title may still source their gas from brown sources but can offset this supply by buying into other green projects across the globe. Although a start, this means your gas is still being supplied from environmentally damaging sources and won’t be offsetting YOUR carbon footprint.
Switching to GEUK and using green gas actively lowers the impact you are having, and it’s super easy to make this change. Follow this link to their website to get a personalised quote! Once you have decided to change, GEUK will contact your current provider on your behalf to inform them of your switch. Once this has been confirmed and you are released from your old contact you are ready to start consuming your energy with a good conscience! GEUK’s portfolio of renewable generators make great use of natural waste materials produced in industry and agriculture (biomass and biogas), as well as the sun (solar), wind and water (hydro). This directly translates to the wider UK renewable energy mix, and I am sure we have all come across dams and wind turbines on our travels!
The search for “renewable” and “sustainable” energy solutions has been both rewarding and damaging to our environments. As much as these initiatives offer an alternative to the fossil fuel industry, they also introduce new environmental issues and make us question whether we can find a solution to fill the energy demand. The first, and the most obvious issue comes with the space needed to house these renewable structures and whether it is worth the risk.. Deforestation and habitat destruction put irreversible pressure on local habitats, and this can be the case for solar, wind, hydro and biomass as they all require an obstruction to the landscapes they are placed in. Solar farms are a particular strain on land as numerous solar panels are needed across huge areas to generate a useful amount of energy. Despite the unpredictable British weather, Kent is soon to be home to the UK’s biggest solar farm, spanning over 900-acres. There has been much disappointment after this announcement as the site will cover important areas of coastal wetland. This area acts as a key flood defence for the surrounding towns and is acknowledged as an important natural world sight for migrating birds, disrupting the habitat for these animals. This is just one example of how these “solutions” can be damaging. Hydroelectric dams can disrupt fish migration, which in turn damages the local wildlife food chain and wind turbines can disturb in-flight birds among other destructive issues.
GEUK’s EKO Energy Tariff looks to address this challenge. EKO Energy is the only tariff in Britain that has been certified as not only 100% green but has also met strict sustainability criteria. This means that all energy farms have to ensure they work to minimise their impact on the surrounding environment and it is generated in locations that ensure marine and bird habitats are safeguarded.
Another drawback of renewable energy comes with the material they are built from and the lifespan they hold. For example, the average land wind turbine has a lifespan of 20-25 years. This means that huge amounts of money and energy are needed for the upkeep of these turbines. Worse still, the material used to build the turbines is then discarded creating the “wind turbine graveyards” pictured below. Given the short lifespan and relatively low energy production per turbine it bears the question, is this the sensible and scalable solution we should be aiming for?
In recent years global governments have given greater attention to the climate and energy crisis, laying out roadmaps for changing the way we produce and consume energy. The UK government’s most recent climate change commitments have set us on the course to reduce our carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, reaching net-zero by 2050. To achieve this ambitious goal, the government has set out a series of milestones. These include banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars in 2030 to encourage the production of electric vehicles. Also, the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is to be extended again in October 2021 to make better use of the public transport initiatives already in place (including over 150,000 street cycle parking locations across London). Lastly, the government looks to produce enough electricity from offshore wind to power every home in the country by 2030, implying a strict focus on the develop of renewable strategies. Business and Energy Secretary Alok Sharma is quoted as saying…
“Powering every home in the country through offshore wind is hugely ambitious, but it’s exactly this kind of ambition which will mean we can build back greener and reach net zero emissions by 2050.”
Maybe these targets are overly optimistic, but the attention to green energy initiatives brings hope that other businesses and communities will buy into the UK’s goals, also becoming increasingly aware of the environmental issues we are experiencing.
Alongside the government, many businesses and environmentalists have been developing ways for us to reduce the energy we use and lessen the pressures on the production of energy. Efforts to reduce transport emissions can be seen on smaller levels by companies encouraging shared modes of travel. This also extends to personal efforts to travel more consciously through public transport or even cycling… we are definitely advocates for the latter!
What other small changes can we make to reduce our consumption?
As we have already highlighted, it is simple to switch to a green energy provider and power your own home with renewable electricity (and gas with GEUK!).
You can also look to buy from businesses that use green energy in their production and distribution processes.
Rather than using Google as your primary search engine, you can switch to using sites like Ecosia. They donate 80% of their profits to non-profit organisations that focus on reforestation, so you are quite literally planting trees with every search.
Reducing single-use plastic and recycling waste will reduce the amount of energy used within the industries that produce large amounts of plastic and maybe even prompt companies to look for alternative packaging for their products!
Using locally sourced materials and products will cut out a huge portion of energy use in the supply chain, benefiting your carbon footprint and supporting business within the UK.
Finally, and most importantly, you can become aware of how much energy goes into production and supply across the world. A conscious mind will push you to make these small changes, even if it’s ditching a plastic coffee cup or water bottle for a reusable one. These changes are small but when made together on a mass scale they WILL make a difference.
GEUK asked our very own Isaac to give some of his tips on helping preserve our local green spaces and what you can look out for on your daily walk!
One of the most promising methods in renewable research is using underground geothermal heat to generate our energy. Like wind or solar, geothermal heat is an inexhaustible natural occurrence, but it is split apart from the crowd for the minimal space it requires and its environmental positives. As we know wind turbines and solar farms require a huge amount of construction and environmental destruction, and often all for a lifespan much shorter than ours! The size and design of geothermal power plants allow them to fit into diverse urban landscapes that hold higher levels of geothermal activity. There will inevitably be some loss of natural habitats but to an extent far less than the 900-acre solar farm built in Kent. Iceland is one of the world’s leading countries in geothermal energy production, with almost 100% of its electricity being generated from its geothermal plants. This is mainly due to the rich sources of geothermal heat the country has as it is positioned right on top of a tectonic plate boundary, which has its burdens when volcanoes keep erupting around you! Excitingly, we here in the UK are also starting to develop our own geothermal networks to add to our energy mix. Already being put in place in Cornwall, the initiative headed by Geothermal Engineering Ltd is based on other successful projects in Germany. If successful, this will show the potential for geothermal initiatives across the UK and could have the potential to deliver up to 20% of the UK’s electricity and heat energy by this sustainable and eco-conscious process.
Geothermal Engineering Ltd project site in Redruth, Cornwall. Now compare this to the size of wind and solar farms!
Photo: Credits Think Geoenegry
There is always new ground-breaking technology coming from renewable energy researchers and professionals. One recent study has found potential in harnessing the energy from photosynthesis, collecting sunlight without the need for huge solar farms and expensive materials. Keep watching this space for new and exciting future developments… and who knows, we might be lighting our homes with plants within the next decade!
So, is there one miracle solution? If only it were that simple! Maybe our best hope is not in one solution but utilising a diverse mix of all the research we have developed to date. The diversity of our natural environment means that we can apply a variety of energy technologies that all complement one another. Focusing on what natural resources are abundant within an area or country will allow us to optimise energy production without wasting time or money on infrastructure. In the UK we have focused a lot of our attention on wind and tidal due to our often-windy climate and high tide streams. Furthermore, the UK has started thinking about what resources can be used in what locations, like the developments of geothermal energy in Cornwall.
We must remember renewable energy strategies are still in their infancy, and there is a long way to go before reaching the perfect scalable and balanced solution. With this, the debate is only heating up. Do we even have enough renewable resources available to sustain human consumption at the same level as fossil fuels? With short shelf lives on renewable machinery are we entering another consumable nightmare? Have we managed to bring new energy technologies like Hydrogen under control and are these options safe? In searching for new energy sources, we must ask these questions and challenge the problems before they come into being. We invite you to become a part of the discussion. Think about where do you get your energy from? How much energy do you use? and What changes could you make right now to make a difference?
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us at partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our most recent blogs…
Mental Health Awareness Week: Pedal 4 Parks goes Personal
A Very Wet Weekend in Wales: Pedal 4 Parks Training Update
Pedaling North to South: The Route of our Environmental Pursuit
This post was brought to you by media team member Emily (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK: PEDAL 4 PARKS GOES PERSONAL
“We are not all in the same boat. We are all in the same storm. Some are on super-yachts. Some have just the one oar” – Damian Barr.
Photo taken by Daniel Williams
The NHS have calculated that by the end of December 2020 alone, there had been 1,392,002 people in contact with services, 966,998 of whom were in contact with adult mental health services. On top of this, 309,961 people were in contact with children and young people’s mental health services and 158,104 in contact with learning disabilities and autism services. Let’s take a moment for this to sink in. It is now nearly midway through 2021, and these figures are constantly growing due to isolation and social restrictions regarding the pandemic, making gathering data on mental health a very difficult task.
As quoted by Damian Barr, we may all be in the same storm, but we are never in the same boat. These statistics are only from those who have sought help, and also excludes some data from the impact of Covid-19 on the mental health and well-being of the public which is continuously changing with new restrictions. Within this last year and a half, reports of mental health struggles have been linked to all kinds of reasons, including people’s experiences depending on their social and/or economic context in society, and experiences with prejudice, isolation and discrimination due to other identities based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, residency status, disability and gender. All of these are accompanied by a working world, where the majority of our time is spent online and inside, making exposure to these prejudices and social inequalities even greater and more frequent. To face all of this, and more, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic where staying indoors has been mandatory, this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is of extra importance.
Nature and Mental Health
The Mental Health Foundation has stated that ‘nature is central to our psychological and emotional health’, and that ‘it is almost impossible to realise good mental health for all without a greater connection to the natural world’. Having only been the last few generations to have lived and worked in a context that has largely been separated from nature, and with 13% of UK households having no access to a garden – protecting and regenerating our earth’s green spaces has never been more vital. In light of this year’s Mental Health Awareness theme on nature, we talked to Pedal 4 Parks team member, Isaac Kenyon, and asked him to take a moment to reflect on his own mental health struggles and how spending time in green spaces has been helping him to recover and prosper.
Isaac Kenyon
Photo of Isaac Kenyon taken by Daniel Williams
Q: With this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme on nature, could you tell us a little bit about your mental health before you began to explore the outdoors?
‘I am sure this answer may relate to a lot of people. From a young age I had always been very shy, highly anxious, and afraid of what others may think, and I used to cry when stood up on stage in school plays because it felt very overwhelming. I also had a lot of social isolation and never truly spoke up about how I was really feeling. For instance, I had never really fit in with a group of friends in my hometown Luton, there was a lot of judgment for being different or suggesting out of the ordinary ideas so I never really had the confidence to be myself whilst living there. I felt down quite a lot and have come to terms with the fact that I was also dealing with issues of seasonal affective disorder.
However, it was not always doom and gloom I was very privileged with my upbringing (thanks mum and dad) to have the opportunity from an early age to discover outdoor experiences from the occasional fishing and camping trips with my father which I always enjoyed, but never truly appreciated the magic that was happening each time I went. Those trips always gave me a place to disconnect and free my mind from my thoughts that would build up.
When I went to university, I went outdoors less and spent more time studying with screens. People would communicate more on social media than in real life so I had to learn social media to stay connected with others (societal/cultural pressure). Over time I was spending hours and hours on screens, depleting all my critical happy brain chemicals (serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins), absorbing a bombardment of notifications and information which made me start to feel overwhelmed to point of my first panic attack – a very scary moment in my life, which happened daily for months. I was told by a doctor I had panic disorder, a type of anxiety where you have regular sudden attacks of panic. To this day I still get them, however through the facilitation of nature and the outdoors I have learnt to manage this anxiety’.
Q: How did immersing yourself in nature impact your mental health and when did you realise this? Would you say there is a particularly special moment for you with the outdoors?
‘At university I developed this concept I call “Outdoor Time” which I balance with “Screen Time”, I realised a lot of benefits of the great outdoors through experimentation. Whilst going through many panic attacks at university, I was desperately searching for an answer that was not taking pills. I remember my mother saying to me go for a walk in the woods to give your mind a rest. At first, I thought this would have no chance in helping me. Well, that walk is the single most important moment I have ever had in my entire life! In 10 minutes, my mood and energy levels boosted, my stress disappeared, I also learnt to think for myself which helped my creativity came back. It felt like a break of sunlight in a very cloudy day and that was all I needed to know I was able to get through this. After that moment I went on more and more walks and started to do more exercise outdoors and slowly my panic disorders disappeared, and I felt like “me” again. Since then, I have revolved my entire life around the outdoors as I never want to go back to that dark place again and this works for me’.
Photo of Isaac Kenyon taken by Daniel Williams
Q: What kind of activities did you do outside to help relax/ease your mind?
‘I can kind of sense the need to get outdoors now, like a sixth sense, as soon as my mood begins to drop, or I get frustrated/stressed or even at times I get early heart palpitations with the onset of a panic attack coming, I will drop most things that I am doing and get outside. This could be for 10minutes to an entire weekend – it all depends on time and how much I need it. The rule for me is to get outside everyday whatever the weather. Examples:
During the working days (Monday-Friday) I aim for either a run/cycle/swim or stretching out in the garden or a walk in the woods listening to birdsong and try to identify them (I enjoy birdwatching). Usually, this ranges from 10minutes to an hour.
During the weekends or days off I am outdoors all day exploring the world around me through various sports: hiking, open water swimming, cycling, running and kayaking (just to name a few!)’.
Q: Is there any advice you would give to anyone who may be experiencing similar challenges that you have faced before?
‘Sometimes trying something that may not seem like the obvious solution, can sometimes be the right answer. Back at university I thought I needed to start taking pills but very quickly found that actually, they were not needed – what I did need instead was to start a life balance with nature. The simple act of a walk in the woods was all I needed to start the recovery journey.
I would always start small and then build momentum in manageable chunks in the right direction. For instance, it worked well to do a 10-minute walk outdoors every other day to get myself going before regularly spending more and more of my time outdoors until I eventually would spend whole weekends out exploring, which fuelled my passion for adventure, leading to me rowing the Atlantic Ocean in 40 days. In a fragile state of mind, the secret for me was to not overwhelm myself early on, so starting small made a big difference.
If you live far from a local green space near you, travelling to it may be a little overwhelming on your own so asking a friend or family member close to you to join you on your trip will help you get there until you eventually feel confident to make your own journey. Alternatively, spending that time outdoors with a friend or family member may be equally as beneficial to your mental health as it would if you adventured by yourself’.
10 Top Tips: How you can utilise green spaces to benefit your mental health!
Photo taken by Daniel Williams. Left to right: Lukas, Isaac, Alex Egan, Sal..
Nature is a very unique and wonderful thing that we have had the privilege to be surrounded by on our planet. But, it adds many more benefits to our lives than people often realise (aside from its outstanding beauty). Nature has an ability to not only increase our creativity and empathy, but often brings consolation in stressful times, and encourages feelings of wonder. To truly embrace the benefits of nature, especially when boosting our mental health, the important thing is not just putting yourself in nature, but to learn to fully open yourself up to it and interact with it in new and meditative ways.
The first thing we need to do to successfully engage with nature, is to remember that it isn’t just about the green space, which most people associate with grass and trees. Nature comes in all colours. For example, nature is blue like rivers, lakes, oceans and the rain (also known as ‘Urban Blue’); nature is brown, like soil, beaches and deserts. It’s every colour imaginable in fields of flowers and sidewalks of daisies and spring daffodils. Nature is the jungle, the sky, and the dark of the night. Nature is the home to every creature big and small, and most of all, is our home – a home we often take for granted.
With this now in mind, here are some examples of how to connect with nature on a daily basis to help boost your mental health:
Buy some houseplants and remember to water them every day, or if you have access to a backyard, plant some flowers and bushes or do small bits of gardening – these will give you the opportunity to schedule regular time slots in the week to tend to these plants.
Take 10 minutes out of your day to sit in your garden, local green space, or somewhere quiet outside and either close your eyes and listen to your surroundings – see if you can identify any birds from their birdsong – or lay down and watch the sky as it changes over time, and see if you can find any patterns, shapes or images in the clouds.
Take a nap in the grass and fall asleep in the breeze to your surrounding sounds.
Try out some yoga or Pilates in the fresh air to help unwind your mind and stretch out all of your important muscles for relaxation.
Go for a short walk every day and slowly build up your route and time to suit your outdoor needs – while on your walk, don’t be afraid to explore new areas, or go animal spotting, or even take a friend or family member for a nice chat.
Reserve a few weekends every-so-often to go swimming or hiking, climbing or camping, or even take a trip to the seaside and enjoy the feeling of sand in your toes.
Hop on a bike and cycle through the woods or nearby park with some friends.
Have a nice picnic on a park bench or even a BBQ in your garden.
Reserve some time in the evening to sit outside with a good cup of tea, and watch the sun go down.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to get muddy or rained on, whatever you decide to do! Because even cleaning yourself up or drying off from the outside weather is an exhilarating feeling that cleanses your mind, and once your comfy slippers and dressing gown is on, or even just some clean clothes – it always feels like a fresh, stress-free start to your day again.
As one of Pedal 4 Parks’ biggest missions – regenerating and protecting green spaces, mental health awareness week has been one of great importance. Pedal 4 Parks not only strives to raise awareness about our disappearing green spaces, but aims to teach people how being in nature is necessary for strengthening our physical and mental well-being.
Finding Support for your mental health:
For more support, here are some websites with more information about how you can get involved raising awareness for mental health, and where you can access a number of companies where you can reach out for help and support through email, call/video call, therapy or even text message.
Mental Health UK have four main lines, all designed to be there to support you – click on the links below for more information:
Rethink Mental Illness (England)
Hafal (Wales)
Support in Mind Scotland (Scotland)
Mind Wise (Northern Ireland)
Calm: Calm is a leading movement against male suicide and works to change the stigma around male mental health.
The Mix: The Mix is a free and confidential service offering a variety of support with mental health, drugs, and homelessness to under 25’s.
Mind: Mind aims to teach the public about understanding mental health in all ages and offers support and advice to anyone who is struggling with their mental health.
Samaritans: Samaritans is an action against crisis company that offer around the clock online support for anyone who is in need of help, or for those who need advice on caring for someone who struggles with mental health.
Papyrus: Papyrus is for the national prevention of young suicide and offers help, advice and support and campaigns across the UK in schools to raise awareness about mental health.
Remember – you never have to face anything alone.
What you can do to help Pedal 4 Parks…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via www.uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our previous blogs:
Keen to Keep Green: Pedal 4 Parks goes 14 Days South
Meet the Team: The Five Eco-Warrior’s Cycling for Change
Pedaling North to South: The Route of our Environmental Pursuit
A Very Wet Weekend in Wales: Pedal 4 Parks Training Update
This post was brought to you by media team member Natasha, follow the links to her socials for more! (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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A VERY WET WEEKEND IN WALES: PEDAL 4 PARKS TRAINING UPDATE
This weekend the Pedal 4 Parks team have been battling with the elements to train for the 1,200 mile expedition that they will be completing this June. Cycling 90 miles a day for a fortnight will be no easy feat, so these training weekends are crucial. The team must be prepared for all conditions and come rain or shine the show must go on! Although our cyclists have been training hard individually, it is also essential that they get used to cycling together. The Welsh outdoors also has a wealth of green spaces and tricky terrains that give the team the challenge they need before setting off from the starting line.
This picture pretty much sums up the lovely weekend weather… Photo taken by: Daniel Williams
Day One
After a night camping at Alex Egan’s South Wales home, the team were welcomed by a rainy 6.30am start. Once fuelled with a good breakfast it was time to stretch it out with Liz, the team’s personal trainer, working to minimise the risk of injury and keep the team safe! Once the team and their bikes were prepped, it was time to head off to Cardiff Bay on their first cycling stint of the weekend.
During their 50km morning trip the team cycled alongside the River Taff, spending some time cycling through the urban green spaces and nature reserves that Cardiff has to offer. One of these was the Forest Farm Country Park and Glamorganshire Canal Nature Reserve. This conservation centre has a focus to preserve the woodland and promote the reintroduction of flora and fauna into the natural environment. Over the past 20 years the Forest Farm group have expanded this area to over 150 acres and have created various ponds, scrapes and wetlands to accommodate these species. The Long Wood Nature Reserve and canal are also a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), highlighting its importance within the local environment. The Forest Farm “Friends” also run a volunteering session once a month to help with the upkeep of the park and host a monthly guided walk around the park to introduce interested visitors to the wildlife. Be sure to check their website here or if you are in the Cardiff area you can take your own ride along some of their nature trails.
The team came across a number of urban green spaces in the city, cycling along Bute Park to get down to the bay. Cardiff has recently teamed up with the National Parks City Foundation to encourage the development and use of their urban green spaces. This foundation is working to make cities across the globe into National Park Cities, raising awareness for the rich wildlife these urban landscapes can still offer and benefits they have to us humans. They are aiming to start a movement of enthusiastic people who want to make their cities greener, healthier, wilder, fairer and more beautiful. An organisation definitely in line with the Pedal 4 Parks ambitions and message! Follow Cardiff city on their journey to becoming a National Park City on Twitter and see what you can do to help.
After a quick lunch break it was now time for the team to tackle some elevation! Given that they will be cycling TWICE the height of Everest in elevation on the expedition it is important they spend some time utilising the hilly Welsh terrain. As the day went on the wind and rain only got worse… but rest assured the smiles only continued!
It will take a lot more than some rain to wear down the team morale! Photo taken by: Daniel Williams
Now soaked through and aching, the team finally headed home for a well deserved shower and hot coffee (freshly prepared by the support crew upon their arrival!). Once refreshed it was time to plan the next day’s itinerary and prepare for another challenging day on the bikes!
Day Two
Come Sunday morning there was still no rest for our team. Up at 6am, they were out on their bikes before breakfast to tackle what our very own Alex Egan has dubbed “the worst hill in Wales”, and he is talking from a lot of experience! Although a tough journey there were some stunning views to keep their minds off the pain, as well as the promise of fresh pancakes for when they got back!
Photo taken by: Liz (Team Personal Trainer) as she bumped into the team on her morning run!
The main focus of the day was to get out on the water bikes as most of the team have had very few opportunities to get to grips with them. The team water bike collection has grown since the last training day, bringing the total up to four. This is great for training as it means we can get more people out on the water practicing for the real thing. Once the water bikes had been checked over and packed up it was time to head off to Pontsticill Reservoir to put them to the test.
The rain decided to hold off for most of the day and the biggest problem was the wind out on the water. When cycling across the water at the start and end of the expedition, the team will be fully exposed to the powerful sea winds. The stretch of water between the Orkney Islands and Scotland has been reported as one of the most dangerous sections of water in the UK, so our team will be dealing with considerably windy conditions, among the many other risks. Being able to test the bikes out in the windy conditions was actually a good thing for our team as they could see just how hard they will need to work to make it across the water. Once the support crew had taken the bikes for a quick spin, four of the five expeditionists headed out on the water for a 5km ride around the reservoir, getting used to the different challenges the water will bring. Having spent an extended time using the bikes, the team compared riding on the water to cycling up an endless incline. It might look and sound like fun, but don’t forget that on the final expedition it will take the team approximately 10 hours to reach the Isles of Scilly… and that’s without any rest!
Speedy Sal taking the lead! Photo taken by: Daniel Williams
Other than being the now preferred training spot for our water biking endeavours, the Pontsticill Reservoir more popularly attracts hikers and fishing enthusiasts to its shores. Sitting just inside the Brecon Beacons National Park, the reservoir is a landmark on the popular 55-mile Taff Trail, which was actually a part of the team’s Saturday morning cycle into Cardiff! Although this is a great way to get out into nature, it also has its disadvantages. Just in the small area that hosted our team for the day, we were able to fill THREE bags of rubbish left by previous visitors. Littering is a prominent and dangerous impact of human interference in the environment and this problem has only worsened over the pandemic as more people have been using green spaces. The clean up mission took no longer than five minutes and showed that if we all started to make a conscious effort to clean up after ourselves (or others), we can make a big step in promoting a clean and thriving natural environment.
With all their training complete the team headed back for a quick interview with the Copa Project, and to finally change out of their wet clothes for good! The Copa Project is a charitable start-up business run by a group of enthusiastic and adventurous triathletes also looking to make a difference in a sustainable way. “Copa” translates to “Summit” in Welsh and sums up the ambitions the group have in marketing sustainable products that fund their chosen charities and prove that consumer products can be made sustainably here in the UK. Like our team, the business was started by like-minded and determined individuals will an appreciation for nature. If you’re interested have a look at their website here and keep an eye out for their blog on Pedal 4 Parks coming soon.
This weekend has proven that the team can power on no matter what conditions nature deals on the day. Finally being able to cycle as a team has given them a huge boost of motivation and as the expedition draws closer the excitement only continues to grow! With less than two months until the team set off from the Orkney Islands we have lots of exciting training weekends lined up, so keep an eye out for more updates soon!
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via www.uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Also be sure to check out our photographer Daniel Williams who captures most of our awesome shots! (Website – Instagram)
Check out our previous blogs:
Keen to Keep Green: Pedal 4 Parks goes 14 Days South
Meet the Team: The Five Eco-Warrior’s Cycling for Change
Pedaling North to South: The Route of our Environmental Pursuit
This post was brought to you by media team member Emily, follow the links to her socials for more! (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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PEDALING NORTH TO SOUTH: THE ROUTE OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PURSUIT
In June 2021, Pedal 4 Parks will be setting off on a 1,200 mile journey across the UK. The team of five eco-warriors will be travelling across land and sea from the Orkney Islands to the Isles of Scilly in a world’s first cycling expedition.
Along the way our team will be visiting some of the UK’s National Parks and talking to a variety of environmental and sustainable innovators to find out what we can do to curb environmental decline and preserve green space for the benefit of nature and humanity. The places and people we visit will be crucial in the creation of our documentary, thus our itinerary is formed on our educational journey, not the quickest route available.
Working with Komoot we have mapped out our entire journey! Click on the link here or on the image below to explore the journey in more detail and see the exact locations we will be visiting! You will also be able to follow the team live as they cycle on an interactive map that is currently being built by ZeroSixZero.
Our Komoot Route (Access Via this Link)
National Parks
National Parks UK has teamed up with Pedal 4 Parks on our mission to educate the nation on why we need to preserve these beautiful spaces and the scalable solutions available to do so. Not only are we supporting National Parks through our educational aims, we are also raising money to help fund the upkeep and preservation of these areas of stunning natural beauty.
The UK has a total of 15 national parks. England hosts 10 of the parks that cover 9.3% of the land area, Wales has 3 parks covering 19.9% of the country and Scotland is home to the last two that cover 7.3% of the nation. On this journey, the Pedal 4 Parks team will be cycling through 6 of them. From North to South these will be: the Cairngorms, Loch Lomond and the Trossach, the Lake District, Brecon Beacons, Exmoor and Dartmoor. These spaces will offer our team the opportunity to capture the outstanding beauty of the UK environment and open their eyes even more to the important links between green space and mental health. There is no better way to understand the challenges faced in these spaces than experiencing them first hand, all of which will be integrated into our documentary “14 Days South: Over Land and Sea”.
Take a look below at the National Parks that Pedal 4 Parks shall be visiting during their expedition!
The Cairngorms National Park is one of the largest National Parks within the UK, forming 4,500 km² of land which makes up more than the Lake Districts and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs all put together, and attracts over 1.92 million visitors every year. Not only is it huge, but half of the National Park is also designated as being of European importance for conservation. The Cairngorms is made up of a multitude of beautiful landscapes, from wildest lands to artic-like mountain plateaux, and pine forests, naming it one of the best places in the country for nature (and is even known for being the home to 80% of our capercaillie population!). If you are fond of wildlife, in particular, bird spotting, Cairngorms is one of top places to visit to witness the extensive ground-nesting of birds including Ptarmigan and Dotterel, Red Grouse and Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Redshanks, and Curlew (just to name a few!). Of course, to make sure you are aware of how to avoid these nesting grounds while exploring Cairngorms, visit their website here, for information on what you can do to help! Over a quarter of the UK’s rare and threatened species are found in the Cairngorms National Park, including the Capercaillie, the Mountain Hare, and the Scottish Wildcat (which is now rarer than the Bengal Tiger). Conservation here is therefore a vital part of the Parks’ survival, with funding from the Cairngorms Nature Action Plan supporting woodland expansion, peatland restoration, river re-naturalisation, nature-friendly farming, species conservation, and involving and engaging people in nature. To see how these plans have been implemented, and to follow the National Parks progress in this goal, click here to read all about it!
The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park officially became fully operational in July 2002 when opened by Princess Anne. The Park expands across 1,865 km2 of land and has a population of 15,168 people living in its beautiful landscape. The park also contains 21 mountains, all reaching above 3,000ft tall, with the tallest being Ben More at 1,174m, has 22 larger lochs with numerous smaller lochs and lochans, is home to two forest parks – the Queen Elizabeth in the Trossachs and Argyll in Cowal, and contains one of the UK’s largest National Nature Reserves (The Great Trossachs Forest). Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is home to a variety of wildlife, including some that travel a long distance to use Scotland’s landscapes as it’s home. This variety includes golden eagles and wintering wildfowl such as the whooper swans and goldeneyes, some red deer that can be found in the Breadalbane area of the National Park, red squirrels in Cowal, and black grouse in the Trossachs. As home to many valuable members of the wildlife family, conservation and regeneration is an important part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs long-term plan for the National Park (named the Wild Park 2020 – read more here, about this long-term vision towards the protection of the Park). To find out more about how the National Park is working towards their conservation goals, and how they are taking into consideration environmental threats from both human activity and natural causation, click here, and see what you can do to help the Park reach their goals. While passing through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the expedition team will be working with and chatting to the Woodland Trust to hear more about the National Parks conservation and what we can do to help make a difference. You will be able to hear more about their discussions on the Mind the Green Spaces Podcast later down the line!
The Lake District was founded as a National Park on 13 August 1951 and covers more than 3,100 km of countryside that visitors can walk, cycle, and explore around all year long – also known for being one of the darkest places in the UK, the Lake District is the perfect location for dark skies and stargazing. As one of the UK’s largest National Parks, the Lake District is also now a World Heritage Site, and is home to Scafell Pike – its highest mountain that stands at 3210 feet tall, and other popular visitor destinations including Windermere (with the Windermere Lake expanding 14.8 km2) Ambleside, Coniston (best known for having the third longest lake in the Lake District, but is well loved for its boat tours and hiring of motor-boats, rowing boats, kayaks and paddle board, and other water attractions). Alternatively, enjoy the Park’s 28,500 hectares of woodland or 26 miles of coastline, with a copy of William Wordsworth’s “Guide to the Lakes” in hand. Find out more here about places to visit and things to do on your visit to the Lake District and join with the locals in enjoying the beautiful landscapes and wildlife. With a population of around 40,478 people living within the boundaries of the National Park, and with 19.38 million in tourists during the year, conservation and protection of the Lake District is of high value and importance for those who tend to and look after the giant landscape. With that in mind, click here to see what you can do to help care for and preserve the park and its wildlife.
The Brecon Beacons National Park spans across 42 miles wide, which covers nearly 520 miles2 of South and Mid Wales, and was given its name from the Central Beacons which dominate the south Skyline of Brecon that rises to 886 metres at Pen y Fan (the highest peak in southern Britain!!). Established as the 10th National Park in the UK in 1957, the Brecon Beacons is filled with history, still visible in its landscapes today to anyone eager to explore its story. From prehistoric stone circles and burial chambers to Roman camps, forts and road engineering, to Early Medieval Lake dwellers including King Brychan, who ruled this area of Wales before the Norman Conquest, the Brecon Beacons is never short of myths, legends, and historic landscapes to keep you busy during your visit to the Park. With a variety of activities to take part in including horse-back adventures (there’s over 600 miles of bridle paths and tracks), to fishing, to cycling, to skie activities (including paragliding!), to stargazing, water-based sport, bushcraft and foraging, cave exploring, and rock climbing, the Brecon Beacons is nothing short of an adventure landscape, eager to keep green and protected. All visitors are guided and advised in ways of staying green during their visit by the National Park, keeping keen to continue their credentials with the Green Destination Goldstar Award presented by Green Tourism, the world’s biggest green tourism certification organisation. To find out how you can contribute to the Brecon Beacons aims in conservation, protection, and regeneration of their green spaces, click here and read all about it!
Exmoor was established as a National Park in January 1954 and covers 267 square miles of land, including 71% of Somerset, and 29% of Devon, has a 34-mile-long coastline, and its highest point is Dunkery Beacon, reaching 1,074 ft tall! With history running all the way back to the Mesolithic times, Exmoor is a landscape shaped and formed by the people who previously enjoyed the land. For archaeology lovers and history enthusiasts, exploring Exmoor’s green spaces will always provide an exciting and intriguing discovery of new finds including old settlements, pottery and other small elements of the people who came before us. Not only can you enjoy the historic landscapes of Exmoor, but you can also enjoy potential encounters with some of Exmoor’s wildlife. Home to red deer, Exmoor ponies, otters, and some of the UK’s rarest bats and butterflies, Exmoor is such an important part of the country for wildlife that a third of the National Park is protected under UK and European law. Not only is Exmoor home to some rare creatures, but it is also the home to some plants that grow nowhere else, including the whitebeam trees: sorbus subcuneata and the sorbus ‘TaxonD’. With this in mind, Exmoor National Park is eager to do their best to keep the Park safe, healthy, and happy, and needs your help as a visitor to continue their conservation efforts. To find out more about what you can do to help, visit this link and read about what has been achieved so far, including their aim to go entirely plastic free!
Dartmoor National Park is 954 km2 and is roughly the same size of London! (or, interesting, roughly the size of 20,000 football pitches) and had a population of 34,500 locals in the park. The highest point on Dartmoor is High Willhays Tor, which stands at 2,039 ft tall above sea level, and around 90% of Dartmoor’s landscape is used for farming. With the land coinciding with harsher weather conditions and acidic soil, Dartmoor is home to fewer rare species of animals and plants, but offers the perfect habitat for butterflies, rare lichens, songbirds, and other small insects. Dartmoor is known as having the largest open moor in southern England and deep river valleys, all of which have been the source of inspiration to many famous writers, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who used Dartmoor National Park to shape his landscapes in ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’, and more recently, has been the set location for Steven Spielberg’s film War Horse. Members of the Dartmoor National Park work extremely hard to continue to support and facilitate the conservation and enhancement of the natural environment, wildlife and heritage of Dartmoor by helping people to understand and enjoy the landscape in new, sustainable ways. To find out more about current efforts in the conservation of Dartmoor National Park, and how you can get involved to help, click here and see some ongoing projects set to make Dartmoor a healthier, well-protected place of enjoyment.
The 4 Main Stages
Stage One will make up the first day as the team cycle from Birsay at the northernmost tip of the Orkney Islands to Burwick, the southern port of the main island (South Ronaldsey Island) where the ferry crosses to mainland Scotland. This initial cycle will form the first part of the day before the team take on the next stage… on water.This water crossing is known for having the highest density of shipwrecks in the UK, whirlpools AND killer whales. The team, facing one of the most powerful tidal streams in Europe will have a lot to consider while paddling on their waterbikes.
Stage Two will take up the second part of day 1 and will see our team continue their journey on water for the first time. Despite being metres away from the island ferry, the team will swap out their Bamboo bikes for water bikes. Once comfortable on their new wheels they will pedal for approximately 15 miles across the Pentland Firth. Providing the weather is on their side, this should take the team between 2-4 hours, that is quite a long time to be out in the cold Scottish waters! The team will return to land at John O’Groats where they will dry off and prepare to start the longest leg of the expedition.
The third, and longest, stage will take form as the well-known JOGLE of the cycling world (cycling across the UK from John O’Groats to Lands End). Although a well worn journey, our route will be unique as we travel to meet specific people and to see various green spaces. To access these spaces the team will be cycling on AND off road, making the challenge just that extra bit more tough! Pedal 4 Parks is much more than a sporting challenge so our route will reflect our mission to uncover how we can save UK green spaces and the people who are devoted to making that change. The team will be cycling approximately 1,168 miles in 12 days, that’s an average of 97 miles each day! Which, impressively, is over twice the height of Mount Everest in elevation!
For the fourth and final part of our journey the team will hop off their Bamboo bikes one final time, returning to the water bikes. The team will be on the water for the entire day, and potentially night, as they pedal the final 35 miles of the expedition. This stretch of water between Land’s End and the Isles of Scilly has been described by Paddler Magazine as ‘one of the most treacherous stretches of water anywhere in the world’, where 5 different tidal systems all meet in the same stretch of water! But don’t worry, our team have already started their training on the water in Cornwall and will have lots of support available to make sure they are safe. As the team commits to this final push they will be sung off by the incredible Fisherman’s Friends, a group which we highly recommend you take some time to listen to and that we personally cannot wait to meet!
This 14 day challenge is sure to test the cyclists mental and physical endurance, however it will also be one of great meaning and insight for the team. Through the Pedal 4 Park expedition we will uncover and share some of the issues being faced in UK green spaces, but importantly also highlight the solutions that are already in place to combat them. The further the team cycles the richer this well of information will become and the team are excited, beyond their personal ambitions, to share their journey online and onscreen with the rest of the world.
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via www.uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our previous blogs:
Keen to Keep Green: Pedal 4 Parks goes 14 Days South
Meet the Team: The Five Eco-Warrior’s Cycling for Change
This post was brought to you by media team members Emily and Natasha, follow the links to their socials for more!
Emily Murrell (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
Natasha Randall-Nesbit (Instagram – Twitter – LinkedIn)
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MEET THE TEAM: THE FIVE ECO-WARRIORS CYCLING FOR CHANGE
Photo taken by: Daniel Williams
From left to right: Sal, Isaac, Alex Egan, Alex Pierrot, Lukas.
At Pedal 4 Parks we are aiming to locate and voice the environmental, sustainable and mental health initiatives being put in place across the country by people who, like us, have a deep connection to the benefits of outdoor spaces. In order to connect these eco-projects, educate the public and raise money for National Parks UK, we will be cycling 1,200 miles across land and sea, from the Orkney Islands to the Isle of Scilly. It takes unique determination, courage and creativity (or what we would call insanity) to commit to this expedition; here are the five eco-warriors who have stepped up to the challenge.
Isaac Kenyon
Photo taken by: Daniel Williams
“Say YES to opportunity and learn how to do it later”
Philanthropic British adventurer and professional geoscientist Isaac Kenyon, more commonly known as Mr. Enthusiasm, came up with the idea for Pedal 4 Parks while in open water, with nothing but sun, sea, and fresh air inspiring his decision to set up a new challenge in supporting the protection and regeneration of our beautiful planet. Isaac grew up in Luton, Bedfordshire, a place that has been scorned as one of the worst places to live in the UK. Despite the diversity and culture of Luton, Isaac grew up with very little opportunity, and worry from his parents about his safety outside their home. As a result, he spent the majority of his childhood indoors.
It wasn’t until his time at university that Isaac finally had the chance to explore the significance of spending time outside. Even then, it took a long time for him to open up to the wider world and explore what nature had to offer: being the determined, highly motivated and enthusiastic student that he was, Isaac became a YES man, but for activities and roles that he ultimately deemed pointless. Spending so much of his time looking at screens and carrying out jobs for others on top of his own priorities and student society commitments, he suffered greatly with dread and anxiety, feeling trapped in what felt like a never-ending day of work at a computer. After chatting with his mother, Isaac took her advice and decided to go for a walk to clear his head; he ended up exploring every nook and cranny of the green spaces on his campus, discovering how peaceful it was, and how much clearer his mind had become. With this new insight and the positive impact it had on his mental health, Isaac set out to make green spaces and being outdoors his priority, sparking his passion for setting new physical challenges in aid of charities and in efforts to protect and preserve the world around us. Below are some of his remarkable achievements.
At 20 years old, he had completed the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards alongside his degree after only hearing about it while at university. In 2015, he swam the English Channel (without a wetsuit!!), hailed as one of the most difficult open water swims, whilst raising £3,000 with his team for charity. This came after competing in swimming competitions for his university society no longer challenged him to reach his full potential. In 2016, Isaac summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in just a 4 day ascent and 2 day descent, leading his team with Nyange Adventures, and raising £15,000 in aid of The FutureSense Foundation. In 2018, Isaac broke the British and World record for the lightweight longest solo continual ergometer row (indoor rowing machine) with an end time of 83 hours 1 minute and 3 seconds. More impressively, he also rowed across the Atlantic Ocean with three other team members in just 40 days, completely unsupported, starting their journey at La Gomera in the Canary Islands and ending their journey at the Caribbean Island of Antigua, raising £30,000 for two charities – BMSTC and Multiple Sclerosis Society. In 2019, Isaac gave an inspiring and motivational talk at TEDx Chelmsford about ‘Freedom & Opportunity from Being Outdoors’, and has since been a trustee for the charity Mind In Mid Herts (MiMH), a local, innovative and experienced mental health provider working in prevention, social support and recovery. He is also the NW Europe Energy Analyst for MapStand, a company transitioning into renewable energies.
Continuously striving towards creating a better future, Isaac is always looking for new expeditions, new challenges, and new team members to climb onboard his adventures, ready to share their passion and determination with the world and to have courage to be the first to make a difference.
To find out more about Isaac follow him on Instagram and LinkedIn, and check out his website Isaac Kenyon!. Also look out for Isaac’s episode on the Mind the Green Space Podcast.
Alex Pierrot
Photo taken by: Daniel Williams
“There needs to be a bit more outrage, I’m not the biggest eco-warrior out there but there definitely needs to be a lot more behavioural change, not just individually but on a larger institutional level.”
Alex Pierrot, more commonly known as French Alex, has been on the Pedal 4 Parks mission since its start. Alex works in central London as a professional IT engineer, and has relied on cycling to get him to and from the office, especially since moving out of central London. Despite living in London, Alex was (and still is) an active seeker of outdoor green space. Time outside every day is non-negotiable for him, and, despite London being one of the world’s greenest cities, the grey buildings and limited space were still too restrictive. Alex is also no stranger to a cycling challenge. In 2019 he completed the 100 miles across London and Surrey for RideLondon, cycling for charity and challenging his mental and physical endurance. Alex has spent most of his adventures travelling, either interrailing and couch-surfing across Europe, showing his easy-going attitude and giving him a much-needed faith in people! He is yet to offer himself to the elements of British environments, so the wild camping and cross-country cycling is an aspect of the trip that he is excited to face.
Alex defines adventure as getting out of the old to grow your mind and experience things that you never have before. The desire to challenge himself and go beyond his comfort zone is at the root of why Alex signed up to the cause. When Isaac first introduced the idea to him, Alex had just left the Nightingale Hospital in London after having suffered from depression for over 3 years. Upon leaving the hospital, Alex wanted to throw himself into a challenge that would prove his mental and physical abilities, so Pedal 4 Parks sounded like the exact focus he needed. Since then, the mission has become much more than an endurance challenge and as it has grown, so have Alex’s ambitions. His ambitions are now mostly driven by his desire to understand the individual changes we can make while sharing these discoveries with others. On the RideLondon cycle, Alex experienced first-hand the links between mental health and green spaces, as he challenged his mental illness and proved he could maintain a positive mental attitude throughout the challenge. Alex’s personal journey and open attitude towards mental health are inspiring. His drive to support mental wellbeing and the shared encouragement of the team has created a platform through Pedal 4 Parks to talk openly about mental health and the free therapy offered by green spaces.
To find out more about Alex follow him on Instagram and LinkedIn, and check out his website https://alexpierrot.com. Also look out for Alex’s episode on the Mind the Green Space Podcast.
Lukas Haitzmann
Photo taken by: Daniel Williams
“I realised the importance of challenging yourself on a regular basis and jumping out of your comfort zone. The opportunities for growth and the exponential learning curve far outweighs any negatives”.
For just a 20-year-old, Lukas has had one heck of an adventure. You must be thinking… but how can someone so young have had such an extraordinary journey already? Well, Lukas is still in education, currently completing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, BUT when you have a passion for something, there is no limit, only determination and organisation (occasionally also a lack of organisation, with spontaneity pushing through). Throughout school, Lukas faced many challenges with dyslexia, causing him to have to stay behind from his favourite classes (including sport), to work on his reading and writing skills, and often felt as though he was never good enough. With the school’s efforts in forcing Lukas to try and ‘catch-up’ on his academic skills, they failed to realise that they took a student away from the activities that made him who he is today. Sport had always, and will always be what built his self-esteem, confidence and trust, and it was during his time in secondary school that Lukas faced a life-changing opportunity.
At just 15, Lukas rowed on an indoor rowing ergo for a distance of 42.2Km, followed by a 2.1Km swim in support of Child Action Nepal following the Nepal earthquake in 2015, sparking his passion for endurance challenge. He then followed this amazing achievement at just 17 years old, when in Austria visiting his father. Lukas decided it was the perfect time to go on a spontaneous trek from Saalfeden, through Italy to Slovenia, ending his journey in Croatia, cycling a distance of over 800Km over a period of 5 days in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. But these are not the only achievements in his name. At just 18, Lukas became the Guinness World Record holder as the youngest person to row across the Atlantic Ocean. Not only that, but also the first Austrian to row the Atlantic Ocean AND he completed this 3,000-mile journey solo. Entirely alone for 2 whole months, both at sea and in sponsorship, as no-one believed a young adult of just 18 years would follow through with such a physically and mentally demanding endurance challenge, Lukas successfully met the finishing line with just the support from his family and his own willpower. Now, at just 20 years old, Lukas, having met Isaac Kenyon at the starting line of the Atlantic Discovery challenge, Lukas has been invited to join the incredible Pedal 4 Parks team on their new adventure and expedition, travelling the length of the UK in support of the regeneration of our beautiful green spaces. As someone who understands the meaning and importance of being outdoors, and how much green spaces impact mental health positively, Lukas strongly believes in the Pedal 4 Parks mission and is excited to be able to spread their message to the public and push for a change, and a chance, to give back to nature.
To find more from Lukas follow him on Instagram, LinkedIn and check out his website Lukas Haitzmann! Also check out Lukas’s episode on the Mind the Green Space Podcast
Sal Montgomery
Photo taken by: Jacob Gibbins, Aspec Media
“Life has been a bit full on in different ways to usual. People have gone through worry, anxiety, fear, restrictions, it’s been a lot going on for everyone and green spaces are what have helped people get through those.”
Sal Montgomery is no newbie to sporting adventures, dedicating much of her life and career to white-water kayaking. Loving sports from a young age, she found a deeper love for kayaking while at Keele University. Her ambitions continued beyond university as she set off for Africa to experience something more than the chilly midland waters. Sal is an example of how enough passion and love for a sport can make it your life. With more experience came more opportunities and today Sal travels the world exploring new environments on water. This includes a breath-taking 2019 expedition where Sal, alongside presenter and naturalist Steve Backshall, took part in visiting the last unexplored river in Bhutan. Click here for a clip from the expedition where you can see Sal in action! Although this sounds fun, Sal does not sugar coat the dangers of what she does. She has spoken openly about the challenges these trips can have on her physical health, but she is evermore grateful for the mental benefits it has brought her.
So back to cycling. Why would a professional kayaker choose to cycle the length of the UK? For Sal, the answer comes from her ambitious personality and appreciation for what outdoor green spaces have given to her. Like many full-time adventurers, Sal sees the outdoors as her home and pre-pandemic she was sleeping outside more often than she was in a building! Sal’s career has meant that she is always training for upcoming expeditions, so COVID has been a huge shock to the system as plans were postponed and travel ground to a halt. Sal has described herself as goal driven, so without a next expedition in sight, she was seeking something to fill that space. Pedal 4 Parks will be a journey unlike anything she has experienced but she is excited for the challenges it will bring and the things she will learn about UK green spaces along the way. Her work has often taken her away from the UK so this is a new opportunity to explore the beautiful locations on her doorstep while stressing the need to protect them. Sal, like many people, has relied on green spaces to support her happiness and wellbeing, but she is also not unconscious of the costs that this human reliance has caused along the way. Sal’s mission is to give back to nature what it has given her. Alongside the Pedal 4 Parks team, she is excited to share her love for the outdoors while finding new ways to protect it.
To find more from Sal follow her on Instagram, LinkedIn and check out her website salmontgomery.com! Also check out Sal’s episode on the Mind the Green Space Podcast.
Alex Egan
Photo taken by: Daniel Williams
“People talk about a work-life balance, what we need to do is invert that, it needs to be life-work balance. Your first priority must be to yourself. It’s the ultimate act of self-love”
Alex Egan’s journey to “life-work balance” was driven by finding importance in the values and purpose of his work. He is the founder of Yellow Sub Geo, Yellow Sub Creative and Nuable which are businesses that all focus on sustainability and applied science, with the aim to make a positive change in the world. Recently, Yellow Sub Geo Ltd received its official B-Corp status meaning Alex’s company is part of the professional mission to change the structure of how business works. Joining the Pedal 4 Parks team on this mission is a no brainer for Alex as the educational vision sings to his own ambitions. Beyond his business initiatives, Alex is also an ardent cyclist, having already conquered an incredible 1,500 km cycle across France to raise money for a children’s charity. He is definitely no stranger to a biking expedition and has also spoken about his use of cycling to consume the beautiful green spaces around him in South Wales.
Alex believes that money should not be a business’ sole purpose and runs his own companies as healthy, well-balanced and engaged workforces to optimise output by putting his employees first. He is an advocate for scrapping the 9-5 office system and promotes remote working, which for him involves operating from his beach campervan where he can enjoy a surf between meetings. Alex’s change in mindset was born from frustration in his earlier corporate work when he realised that the lack of imagination within the machinery of business couldn’t be changed from the position he was in. By being the positive change he wished to see in business, Alex has gained a better perspective on his own mental health and has given his employees the opportunity to do the same. By being a part of Pedal 4 Parks, Alex is showing his competitors, partners and employees that promoting personal and collective sustainability is achievable while still working towards positive values, purpose and profit in business.
Alex is enthusiastic about change and is looking forward to being surrounded by a like-minded team and meeting motivational individuals along the way. He is excited to explore the green spaces the UK has to offer and importantly learn what more he can do to protect them. He has dedicated his life to making a change for a more sustainable and ethically successful planet. His attitude towards life and the environment is one that we should all take on board and with Pedal 4 Parks he hopes to share this outlook on a deeper and wider scale.
To find out more about Alex follow him on Instagram, LinkedIn and check out the Yellow Sub Geo blog https://yellowsubgeo.com/blog/. Also check out Alex’s episode on the Mind the Green Space Podcast.
Behind the scenes we have an enthusiastic eco-conscious support crew who will be coming along the journey to interview the people we meet, record the experience and share live updates as our cyclists adventure across the UK. You may have already come across some of the team over on our podcast Mind the Green Space hosted by Alicia Thomas and Isaac Kenyon. If not then head over there after this to hear from some of our sponsors and advocates who have already shared their stories and support!
Hear what the team had to say about finally meeting each other!
Image courtesy of Sal Montgomery
From left to right: Sal, Lukas, Alex Pierrot, Isaac, Alex Egan (front)
Lukas: “Coming into the team almost a year ago now, i’ve seen how this project has developed, and how motivated and driven the rest of the team is. With the addition of a few new members not too long ago, it’s always a little worrying thinking, will you get along? Are your motivations the same? It can be risky sometimes, especially so close to the start. But, I couldn’t be happier! What an EPIC team!! Not only that, but all of my previous adventures have been solo, so this will be my first time doing a team expedition. I’m nervous, but excited. It definitely adds another dimension to the adventure!”
Isaac: “Meeting the team for the first time was a momentous part of the journey! It felt like we had always known of each other and have been friends for years. The way we all think is very much the same and we are all super driven and motivated to take action and make an impact with our eco-adventure documentary. There is a lot of fun in this team and we are all very optimistic, positive people who are excited to uncover the scalable solutions to our climate issues in the UK for National Parks and green spaces”.
Alex Pierrot: “I was thrilled to meet Alex and Sal in person a few weeks ago, as they are both uber-positive people. We got on effortlessly, and I am very grateful they have joined the adventure, they bring so much knowledge and experience with them”.
Sal: “It was awesome to finally meet the guys! Motivation, dedication and banter – what else do you need in a team?! The boys welcomed me in and instantly made me feel like an integrated part of the team. I’m stoked to be doing this epic journey with such legends!”
Alex Egan: “I’ve spent a lot of time and energy over the years building high-functioning teams of very capable and free-thinking individuals. What i’ve learnt is that ‘attitude’ and ‘culture’ are singularly the most important attributes of great teams. Self-motivated free-thinkers will rarely just ‘do as they’re told’ but if they are aligned with a common purpose, then trust breeds magic. Right from the get-go, and within minutes of meeting this amazing and eclectic mix of individuals it was so obvious to me that this little elusive sparkle of magic was abundant in spades. The adventure began right there and then. Super excited to be leaning in and part of it. Here’s to now! With considerable enthusiasm. #livelifeyellow“.
As the team eventually got to spend time all together during weekends of training, there were, of course, some ‘best bits’ moments captured by the team. For Isaac, one of his most memorable activities with the team so far had been at Torquay Harbour, exploring the Torbay Marine Conservation Zone while testing and learning how to use, for the first time, the Schiller water bike. Similarly for Alex Pierrot, he too enjoyed seeing everyone experience the water bikes for the first time and witnessing the joy and laughter that came with it. For Sal, so far, her favourite moments with the team have included her first weekend of riding with the boys in Brecon Beacons that had been followed by swimming under waterfalls and a sunset BBQ, but most importantly, within 10 seconds of meeting team member Lukas, they were quick to compete with each other in a jumping competition using Alex’s trampoline, after briefly forgetting that Sal had a broken foot. What could possibly go wrong?!?
Some precious and valuable memories and lessons have been made so far with and between the team, but there is still so much more yet to come with the full expedition still on the way. However, we can already see this incredible group of enthusiastic people were fated to join together in an eco mission long before Pedal 4 Parks had been founded. Here’s to some exciting new adventures! (and hopefully one less broken foot).
What you can do to help…
Follow Us! Head over to @pedal4parks on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Sponsor Us! We are always looking for sponsors and support for our journey, if you are interested check out our sponsors page or email us as partnerships@pedal4parks.co.uk
Donate! Via www.uk.gofundme.com/f/cycling-over-sea-and-land-for-national-parks
Can’t Donate? Don’t worry, you can still make a difference by reading and sharing our story. Be concerned and spread the word!
Check out our previous blog Keen to Keep Green: Pedal 4 Parks goes 14 Days South to find out more about the Pedal 4 Parks mission.
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