Biking birder heading to Llanelli
A teacher who is cycling thousands of miles on a charity bike ride around UK bird reserves is set to reach the National Wetland Centre Wales this week.
Gary Prescott, who is known as the biking birder, is undertaking the ambitious task of a 5,000 mile trip visiting all the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust’s nine sites and 190 RSPB reserves on a year long trip around the UK.
His time won’t just be taken up by dodging potholes on the roads though as he is making sure he has plenty of time to indulge his hobby of birdwatching.
He started his bike ride on January 1 and has already cycled the whole of the south of England and visited WWT’s Arundel and Slimbridge sites.
He should arrive at the National Wetland Centre Wales in Llanelli on Wednesday 7 April.
Gary is collecting money on his trip and through sponsorship.
He is wearing bright cycling gear but you are likely to hear him before you see him.
For the asthma sufferer has found that singing while cycling has improved his condition, so he belts out rock classics from bands such as Led Zeppelin and Frank Zappa as he peddles along.
Gary, said: “The reason I am supporting the WWT is because of my childhood hero, Sir Peter Scott. I wrote to him when I was 10 years old, asking for his job!
“He sent back a charming letter on pages of blue vellum; indeed a very special and much loved treasure to a small, Brummie boy.
“Unfortunately the letter was destroyed when our house was flooded some years ago but the contents of the letter stay with me and the fact that Sir Peter cared so much that he would write to me.
Gary is raising money for WWT, RSPB and Asthma UK. He set off on 1 January and has cycled the south of England and after Wales will be going to Northern Ireland, Scotland and then back down the East coast of England.
To donate to Gary visit http://www.justgiving.com/bikingbirderwwt.
People can read Gary’s blog at http://bikingbirder2010.blogspot.com/
