My best mate and wife, Sylvia and I bought a small farm of 8.5 acres back in 1990.  At that time, it had 3 acres of ancient woodland which was also a County Wildlife Site.  The rest of the land was grass but seemingly nothing special.

We have worked hard for wildlife on our farm,  It is fantastic news for us that our Grassland has just been designated a County Wildlife Site.  This is a site of County importance for a particular wildlife habitat or for special wild plants or animals.

A total of £750 was raised  for Devon Wildlife Trust during the week of the Adventure Talk.  The students at UCP Marjon donated £130, a total of £120 was donated by others and Helpful Holidays donated a gigantic £500.  Huge thank you to everyone.

The Press continue to follow the story of Cycle 7/70 and Plymouth Evening Herald printed an article about the Adventure Talk.  Devon Life Magazine have asked for photographs.  The picture shows Graham Wilson receiving a cheque from Helen Hayes of Helpful Holidays

Helpful Holidays are pleased to support Cycle 7/70, and will be making a donation of £500 to the Devon Wildlife Trust at the Adventure Talk on the 2nd February 2010.

Holiday cottages from Helpful Holidays

I will be giving an illustrated talk about my cycle ride in the Khangai Mountains of Mongolia in 2006.   This is one of the remotest and romantic parts of the planet, inhabited by nomads and their animals. 

Come to hear the story and know more about my impending cycle ride to Norway and back starting on 24 April 2010.

Only at               UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MARJON,   DERRIFORD,  PLYMOUTH       (NEXT TO AIRPORT)

On                       TUESDAY,  2  FEBRUARY 2010     at    7pm

Cost                    £4.00         (All proceeds to Devon Wildlife Trust)

Booking              outdooradventure@marjon.ac.uk

I am a Chartered Surveyor.  I receive lots of  business magazines and here are few received in the last month where it does really seem that business is taking notice to go green:

Chartered Surveyor Magazine titled "Construction Journal"  Nov/Dec 2009.  The vital link between construction and sustainability is featured, explained and promoted to Surveyors.

CLA Magazine "Land and Business" Dec 2009 reports that DEFRA'sCampagn for the Farmed Environment is "a real opportunity for farmers to prove productive farming can go hand in hand with a good quality environment".

The British Standards  Institute is proposing to introduce a Standard for businesses to demonstrate carbon neutrality (PAS 2060)

Are these all a step in the right direction?  Needless to say, how does wildlife benefit from all of this?  At the time of writing, this website has had 1648 hits.  If you read this and feel strongly, I am committed to the importance of wildlife within the environment.  Would you be willing to provide extra money to Devon Wildlife Trust via Cycle 7/70 as The Wildlife Trust (the parent Trust) is an important organisation that Government listens to?  Remember, all money that I collect goes to the Trust and there are no hidden costs.

Have just had 6 weeks off from cycling, some of which was on holiday.  I started training for the challenge earlier today.  Here is a brief resume of my aims.

My first training ride is just 11 miles but there was plenty of rain, wind and Devon hills to make it feel longer.  My muscles are ok despite the layoff.  I plan to ride on 2 to 3 days a week through the winter to build up fitness and stamina.

My bike is a Trek Cyclocross X1 modified for long distance touring.  I visited Big Peaks at Ashburton this afternoon and ordered new front forks and front panniers.  The bike has done 5,500 miles up to now.  It needs occasional tlc and I am very happy with it.

Devon is one of the best parts of the country to train for long distance cycling as everywhere you go there are hills.  It is just a matter whether they are more steep or less steep.

I have now done much of my route planning.  My new start point is Harwich and I will leave there on 24 April 2010.

Several of my friends and both my daughters will be joining me on parts of the route.  This is great news for me.

I can do better on my fund raising for Devon Wildlife Trust.  In addition to money already received,  I have pledges of £610.  Many people have also said that they will support me.  I will be out and about doing more fund raising.

Thanks to everyone who has taken an interest so far.

Earlier this month, my friend Bill and I found the delights of cycling in Provence.

Based in Avignon, we could if we wanted pretend to be a Tour de France cyclist and climb Mont Ventoux.  However, we wanted to explore hidden Provence and this is easy to do on a bike.  Life seemed timeless as we checked out cafes, watched men playing boules and saw grape harvest.

Eurostar took us direct to Avignon in 5.5 hours with their new summer service.

Now, talking of summer services, does anyone know how to get from Shetland to Norway in May 2010?

It amazes me what must be done to plan for this challenge.  There are now just 7 months before I set off.  These are just a few things that go through my mind.

Am I fit enough?  Do I have the stamina?  How is fund raising going?  Is my bike ok?   What do I need to take with me?

I have a Trek X1 cyclocross bike that has been adapted for long distance touring.  It has done one 1,100 mile ride without fault and 5,000 miles altogether.  It is a great bike but will need a big overhaul.

I have done lots of cycling this year.  In the last 12 months, I have been in snow in Scotland and + 35C in Provence.  My longest day ride was through Snowdonia to Criccieth from Stafford at 120 miles.  My hardest was 102 miles from Weymouth to Ivybridge with hills all the way.

Fund raising?  Hmmm.  Could do better, I think.  Including pledges, it stands at £1,800ish + lots of promises.