During the week of 14 September, I shall be mountain biking 240 km across the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania (Romania) to raise money for the European Nature Trust. Please see: www.theeuropeannaturetrust.com/  

The European Wilderness has been damaged beyond recognition by millennia of human habitation and specific activities such as deforestation, non0-sustainable farming practices, illegal logging, draining of wetlands and urbanization. However, there are still one or two regions where natural forests and habitats still exist! One of the most magnificent of these places is the Carpathian Mountains in Romania.

The Carpathians are Europe’s second largest mountain range - covering an area of 209,256 square kilometres (equivalent to the size of Britain) and extending over seven European countries. They support a wealth of natural diversity, including the largest area of virgin forest left in Europe, as well as semi-natural habitats such as montane pastures and hay meadows - due to centuries of traditional management of the land. They are exceptionally rich in species diversity and are Europe's stronghold for large carnivores such as the brown bear, wolf and lynx (outside Russia).

Alarmingly, the area is becoming increasingly threatened due to illegal logging, intensive farming practices and urbanization. The European Nature Trust safeguards this magnificent area in perpetuity.

Please dig deep and as you do so, reflect on the reality that only an estimated 3% of all charitable donations globally are directed towards preserving the environment!