When my Grandfather was a child, his senses acted as his mental paintbrush. Like all children, he absorbed and perceived the outside world as a blank canvas. His outlook on the world shaped and defined by his experiences. When I was a child, my senses also acted as my mental paintbrush. I also absorbed and perceived the outside world. We both still do. Yet what I saw, and still see, is a very, very different picture to my Grandfather’s. What is normal right now is a far cry from the norm then. The baseline has shifted.

The concept of a shifting baseline is deeply routed in conservation biology theory. Millions have become billions. Grass has turned to concrete. And, in many unfortunate cases, death has replaced life. Take Britain as an example. The baseline here has shifted so much over the last few thousand years that the idea of a British countryside without sheep-filled fields seems almost alien. We accept the picture our experiences have painted for us.

Yet not far from here, is a place where the baseline is not so different to days of my Grandfather. And, maybe even his Grandfather before him. And his before him. Eastern Europe. Not a name that triggers much of a blip on our conservation radars. But, deforestation and illegal logging threaten some of the most pristine forest habitat in the world - an essential and irreplaceable natural resource.

The Carpathian Mountains are Europe’s second largest mountain range, spanning seven countries. Known as ‘The Lungs of Europe', a vast array of endemic species exist there, and they are critical to ecosystems across Europe and beyond. They are home to the largest concentration of top predators in Europe, and boast prosperous local communities. But now, trees that have stood sentinel for generations continue life coffee-stained and pencil-marked. If nothing is done, we stand to lose one of the earth’s greatest wildernesses.

This coming September, I will be taking part in a cycle ride in Romania, from the central city of Targu Mures, to the capital, Bucharest. This event is to raise money for the European Nature Trust (TENT) - a charity focussed on, amongst other projects, preventing the destruction of these wild places.

The money raised from this campaign will be invested into the second of TENT’s mobile education projects, ‘Regatul Salbatic’ or ‘Wild Kingdom’, that strive to give children an essential environmental education; critical in a world where education and communication lie at the heart of global conservation practices. Furthermore, the power of local people driving their own country’s conservation agenda cannot be underestimated. To date, the Wild Kingdom team have visited over 50 schools and engaged over 15,000 children. Backed by HRH, The Prince of Wales, the project is generating genuine interest and passion for conservation issues, from the bottom up. It is now time for more.

A google search will tell you that physically this is no Atlantic row or London Marathon, and I would never wish to imply it was. Please do not sponsor me based on the mileage or blister counter. Please sponsor me if this has caused even the tiniest of blips on your own radar.

What the trip will do is grant me unprecedented access to a beautiful, and relatively unknown country. As a further contribution to the cause, I will attempt to document the journey through film and photo, carrying all my kit with me. On my return, these will be available to view and share, and sweat and saddle-sores aside, act as my own personal donation to the cause.

Currently, only 3% of global philanthropy is targeted at the environment. Without belittling all worthwhile humanitarian causes, if we have no planet to live on, disputes over belief, borders and budgets will prove somewhat inconsequential.

So please, donate anything you can, and share this with anyone you think may be interested.

Many thanks!