On 13th June, I’m getting back in the saddle for my fifth Bike for Butterflies; and this year, the ride is about far more than miles. I’m cycling in support of Butterfly Conservation’s Borderlands Project, an ambitious six‑year pilot working to protect the threatened Northern Brown Argus butterfly and the species‑rich grasslands that make the Scottish Borders such a special place for nature.

This isn’t just a challenge; it’s a commitment to the future of a landscape we all care deeply about.

Butterfly Conservation is a charity very close to my heart. I've been involved for many years, and last year became the Chair of Trustees. In that time, I’ve seen just how vital our work is, not only for butterflies and moths, but for the health of our environment and the future of the places we call home.

This summer, I’ll be riding across a landscape that means a great deal to me, for a butterfly that urgently needs our help. Over eight days, I’ll cycle 220 miles through the wild beauty of the Scottish Borderlands, starting at Balmangan Farm near Kirkcudbright and following the Kirkpatrick Way all the way to the dramatic cliffs of St Abb’s Head on the east coast.

Along the way, I hope to catch a glimpse of the species at the heart of every mile I ride: the Northern Brown Argus. This beautiful orange and brown butterfly relies on the species rich grasslands of the Scottish Borders—a landscape that surprisingly holds around 80% of the UK population. It’s part of our natural heritage, woven into the fabric of this region. But with changing agricultural practices and the spread of non‑native commercial forestry, these butterflies are losing the very places they needs to survive.

Butterfly Conservation is the only UK charity working directly to secure a future for the Northern Brown Argus. Through the Borderlands Project, they're working with farmers and communities to support more sustainable hill farming, restore biodiversity, and protect this butterfly’s stronghold here in the Borders. Without action, the biodiversity of this landscape will continue to shrink until it’s too late, not just for the Northern Brown Argus, but for the many other species that depend on these precious grasslands.

This ride is the latest chapter in my journey to support the work Butterfly Conservation does. Last year, I cycled 500 miles of the Welsh coastline from Cardiff to Holyhead. This year, every mile I ride is for the Borderlands - for the communities who live here, for the farms and hills that define this region, and for the Northern Brown Argus butterfly, whose future rests in our hands.

If you know how special this landscape is, and the wildlife that brings it to life, please consider making a donation to help protect the Northern Brown Argus and the remarkable places it calls home by supporting the Borderlands Project today.

Thank you!

You can follow along with my journey and explore the full route on my webpage below: https://sites.google.com/view/bikeforbutterflies/home/2026-borderlands