Butterfly Conservation Trustee Simon Saville is a quarter of his way through a gruelling 1,200 mile cycle to help raise awareness of the threat butterflies and moths are facing. Below he talks about how tough it's been so far, but why he must continue to cycle.
It's day 8 of my Bike For Butterflies and I'm reflecting on an amazing week. I've cycled exactly a quarter of the 1,200 miles and there have been some tough hills in the three-and-a-half miles of ascent.
Day by day, I feel progressively more tired, as if the power is being sapped out of my legs.
But I'm not giving up now!
There have been beautiful landscapes, fantastic wildlife reserves and lots of butterflies - at least until the rain came. I was gutted to miss the Large Blues near Glastonbury. And sad that I couldn't see Westbury Beacon in glorious sunshine.
I've met some wonderful people and seen their commitment to wildlife. They have been generous with their time and help. It's reminded me why I'm taking on this 30-day challenge.
My generation has selfishly messed up the planet, and we are in a biodiversity and climate crisis as a result. The declines in our butterflies and moths are just one indicator of the plight that wildlife is in.
We can't afford to mess up the opportunity to do something about it. I hear lots of fine words, but what we need is action - and action now, not sometime in the future.
It will take a huge effort from everyone - governments, companies, and us as individuals - but it can be done. We just need to care enough to make changes.
If we don't, then the future is bleak, not just for "wildlife" but for us as well.
So join me in calling for action, holding our leaders to account, and in doing something yourself.
Simon Saville
Tues 29th June
Notes
The route and other details are on the website www.bikeforbutterflies.org
You can follow Simon’s progress on Twitter @sbsaville (also on the website)
The link for donation is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bikeforbutterflies
About Simon
Simon Saville is a trustee of Butterfly Conservation and is Chair of the Surrey & SW London Branch. He lives in London, is a proud promoter of the Big City Butterflies project, and is a London National Park City Ranger.