On 15th June 2018, I will be cycling 105 miles from West Park, Wolverhampton to Aberdyfi, on the Welsh Coast. I love cycling but I have never achieved anything like this distance, so this is going to be something of a challenge for me!
As part of a group of 700 cyclists raising money for various charities, as part of www.aberdoveybikeride.co.uk , with a small group of my female cycling buddies I will set off at around 6.30am and begin the long journey west to the welsh coast.
I have chosen to support The Dyfi Osprey Project as my nominated charity. Being an Environmental girl at heart (bit of a tree hugger), I feel very passionately about supporting such a worthy project and I am a frequent visitor to their incredible facilities located in Cors Dyfi, where it is possible to closely observe these magnificent fish eating birds of prey in the wild.
How human persecution and human intervention have affected this most beautiful bird over the years, is an incredible tale......
In 1916, the last Osprey Nest in Scotland was raided by an egg collector and this event signified the end of the last nest. During the 1950's a few Osprey's attempted to breed but again, suffered at the hands of egg collectors. Eventually several successful nests established in Scotland. During the 1990's a handful of chicks were relocated to Rutland water in England, in an attempt to help recolonize these birds further afield. This proved to be a success with many of the birds returning to England from their African wintering grounds. The success at Rutland led to Ospreys spreading out further and into Wales, where there are several sites that are suitable to sustain their required nest sites, habitat and fishing areas.
Please have a look at this link for details of how the Dyfi nest was established
http://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/who-we-are/dyfi-osprey-project

The threat of egg collectors is still a real threat today and the nest at Dyfi Osprey Project is protected 24/7 by volunteers. It costs £150,000/year to run the project and this is entirely funded by donations.
These birds are truly beautiful to observe and I find it compelling and inspiring that as a species, we as humans, are now playing a vital role in their recovery from our previous persecutions.
The Ospreys of Dyfi migrate 3000miles from West Africa to get to Aberdyfi to breed. I just have to pedal 105 miles!!!!
Thanks for reading and any donations would be very gratefully received

Claire