Sign up to a 200 mile cycle challenge and raise funds for West Berkshire’s wildlife

Love your two wheels? Love your local wildlife!  Sign up to the 200-mile challenge Wild Ride for Wildlife from Greenham Common to Paris, and help to protect the amazing animals, flowers, reptiles and insects of West Berkshire.

The Wild Ride for Wildlife will take place in September 2016, but cyclists are encouraged to sign up now to start fund-raising and training for the three-day cycle ride through southern England and northern France.

The Wildlife Trust is hosting a Wild Ride Information Evening on Wednesday 27 January at 7pm in the Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham for seasoned long-distance cyclists and keen enthusiasts to find out more about the route, equipment and training, how to fund-raise, and about the wildlife and special wild places of West Berkshire that will benefit from the Wild Ride. www.bbowt.org.uk/wildride

Dr Kate Dent, the head of conservation and education for Berkshire, explains why the Wildlife Trust is raising funds in the sponsored challenge.

“West Berkshire’s nature reserves such as Snelsmore Common, Paices Wood Country Park and the Nature Discovery Centre are very popular with people who want to get away from their hectic lives, to enjoy time in the fresh air and being closer to nature. The Wildlife Trust looks after these nature reserves to help people enjoy their visits and discover fascinating wildlife there.

“We’re very lucky to have the majority of the county’s heathland across sites such as Greenham and Crookham Commons, where the Wildlife Trust is protecting habitats for ground-nesting birds, reptiles and orchids, and they’re great places for people to go for walking and cycling too. Local people can directly support the sites they love even if they aren’t cyclists themselves and up for the challenge, by sponsoring those brave souls that are!”

“Helping people to have more access to wild places close to where they live and enjoy being there is one of the main objectives for the Wildlife Trust, and the Wild Ride for Wildlife will enable us to look after the very special heathland.”

The Wild Ride for Wildlife is being organised by experienced event managers, Global Adventure Challenges who help charities to raise essential funds for their work.