After nearly a year on the road, around 5,000 miles covered and 250 species in the bag, Gary Prescott, aka the biking birder, has finally become the first person ever to visit every RSPB nature reserve in one year, and on a bike no less!
Gary, a special needs teacher from Warwick, finally finished his epic journey on Saturday 18 December with a trip to the RSPB’s HQ at the Lodge, Bedfordshire. An escort of honour, made up of RSPB staff members, met him in one of the neighbouring villages and cycled the last few miles with him.
Amongst those willing to brave the weather were members of the RSPB’s climate change policy and campaigns team. One of the aims of Gary’s expedition was to raise awareness about the threats posed by climate change so it was the least we could do to come out and support him on the last leg of his journey! Gary’s been visiting schools around the UK, spreading the message about the threat of climate change and encouraging his young audiences to do their bit to halt it.
Before he began his journey on 1 January, Gary said “I would like people to think about what they are going to do to help prevent catastrophic climate change.” As well as flying the flag for climate change awareness, Gary has also been raising money for the RSPB, the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust, and Asthma UK.
Despite the weather’s best efforts, Gary has finally made it home, so all that’s left to say is congratulations and thank you!