Ben's been training for the journey on Bardsey mountain.

Biosciences student’s 850km cycle to save the Curlew

A student will cycle 850km from North Wales to Cornwall to raise funds for conservation of the Curlew.

Final year Conservation and Biology student on the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus, Ben Porter, plans to cycle the distance from near his home in North Wales back to Cornwall in time for the start of term in September.

He’s undertaking the challenge in order to raise money for conservation of the Curlew, a large European wading bird that’s been an iconic sight on British coastlines but whose population is in steep decline.

Over a 10-day cycle, Ben will take in former strongholds for the Curlew and call in at various wildlife reserves, as well as keeping a species list of every bug and bird he encounters.

Ben said: “Curlews are in big trouble: they’re fast disappearing from our countryside, with the UK’s population declining by 46% between 1996 and 2010 alone. Since Britain reputedly holds some 30% of the European population, there is real cause for concern. To drive the point home, in 2008 the Curlew was added to the IUCN’s Redlist of threatened species.”

Beginning at the tip of Wale’s Llyn Peninsula, I’ll be hopping on my bike and undertaking a 10-day cycle ride to Land’s End at the tip of Cornwall to highlight the plight of this bird.”

Ben’s aim is to raise £1000 of which every penny will be invested into Curlew conservation through the British Trust for Ornithology. He currently stands at 60% of his goal – you can support his expedition through his JustGiving page Ben’s big Curlew cycle

Date: 9 August 2017