When Country Walking magazine set a challenge of walking 1,000 miles in a year it seemed like a good idea. The benefits included getting more exercise, losing some weight, seeing more of our beautiful countryside, a bit of birding and lots of exercise for Midge (the dog).

Then, one day, as I was walking and putting the world to rights in my mind, it struck me that this mad venture could also benefit others, such as Bardsey Observatory. Those who know me are aware of my love of birds, the island of Bardsey and in particular the Bardsey Lodge and Bird Observatory.

The Observatory is a small charity whose main objective is to monitor the breeding and migratory birds which use the island. It is one of only two accredited bird observatories in Wales and is one of a network of 20 around the coast of the UK and Ireland. As with many small charities the Observatory runs on a shoe string and is always grateful for contributions towards its funding.

Part of the Observatory's work is to trap and ring birds for scientific study. Ringing is licenced by the British Trust for Ornithology and undertaken by trained, highly skilled professionals. One of the areas where the ringers operate on Bardsey is in several wet marshy willow copses called 'The Withies'. On Bardsey the Withies are very important for migrating birds as the island offers little shelter and protection from the weather. These Withies are often quite muddy and wet and to access them safely the ringers walk along wooden boardwalks. However, these walkways are now rotting and dangerous and need to be replaced with recycled plastic ones.  By installing plastic boardwalks the area is made accessible and safer to work in. In 2012 The Lush Charity Pot donated £5000 towards replacing the walkways, but this only did 3/4 of the job, and we now need a further£1000 to complete the task. Please consider donating to help get our boardwalks complete... each mile I walk I want to rais £1 for the project Thanks