Nature lover to cycle across country to help save bees

12:20pm Wednesday 25th April 2012

By Hermione Wright

A nature lover is gearing up to cycle from London to Edinburgh to raise money for bees.

Quentin Given, 58, who works full time for the environmental charity, Tottenham and Wood Green Friends of the Earth, is determined to fight back against the dramatic decline in bee numbers.

The cyclist, who lives in Tottenham Hale, will set off on his 510 mile journey on May 6 in a bid to raise as much money as possible for the cause.

He hopes to raise at least £2,000 during his trip to help pay for the bee campaign, known as the Bee Cause.

However, the money will also be used to fund other projects run by the Tottenham and Wood Green Friends of the Earth, which include promoting solar energy and finding ways to prevent climate change.

He said: “Cycling is part of the solution to some of the problems for health and environment and people doing things like this is demonstrating alternatives to the current way of doing things.

“It is not like saying to the Government, ‘we must do this’ – there are so many things we need to do to bring the bees back, we need to come up with an action plan.”

The community needs to pull together to help save the bees, according to Mr Given, who believes it is important to plant road verges and gardens with flowers to help bees return to the area.

According to research from the University of Reading, the UK honey bee population has dropped by 54 per cent in the last 20 years.

Although the reason for the cut to bee numbers is not known, an increased use of pesticides in crops could be to blame. An outbreak of diseases and parasitic mites could also be impacting their numbers.

He will spend most nights camping, although plans to treat himself to a night in a hotel one night to give himself a chance to rest properly before he reaches the hilly terrain in Scotland.

He is most worried about developing fatigue during the trip and although he has riding his bike to practise for the trip, he has not trained as much as he intended.

So far, the cyclist has raised more than £1,900 towards his cause, although he is keen to raise as much money as possible to help Friends of the Earth continue their campaign.

He will start his ride from Clissold Park in Stoke Newington before cycling to Cambridge, Grantham, Hull, Darlington, and Alnwick.

To donate, visit Quentin’s Just Giving page: http://www.justgiving.com/Quentin-Given