RENOWNED botanist Dr Margaret Bradshaw is taking on an 88km pony trek at the age of 95 to highlight a decline in the upper dale’s rarest plants.
Her journey, which started today, will also raise cash for a professional survey of the plants in the River Tees catchment area and trial methods of protecting the plants’ future.
Among the plants suffering a decline since Dr Bradshaw began researching them in the 1960s are spring gentian, yellow saxifrage and alpine cinquefoil.
She formed the charity Teesdale Special Flora Research Conservation Trust in 2017 which discovered the decline.
She said: “Upper Teesdale is a treasure house of rare plants, many of which have survived since the last ice age.
“These species I have seen decrease in the 50 years I have studied the rare flora.
“We need to keep recording what is happening to our flora and experiment with ways to halt the shocking level of decline.”
She added that a professional survey cost about £10 per 10 square metres and hopes to raise more than £5,000 through her latest fundraising event which launched at Eggleston’s Moorcock Inn at 2pm.
Dr Bradshaw said: “It was John O’Reilly, chairman of the trust, who challenged me to ride 88km, which is the boundary distance of the River Tees Catchment area.”
Dr Bradshaw will complete the trek on Sigma, a 29-year-old Anglo-Arab owned by friend and ecologist Tricia Snaith who will accompany her on the journey.
Ms Snaith said: “We’re aiming to complete an eight kilometre ride each week and I’ll be charting the rides so we can post regular progress updates to supporters.”
The initial ride will cover part of the catchment area from Eggleston across to Romaldkirk and Cotherstone, while the later journeys will take place around Hamsterley, Morley and South Side.
People can support the ride by visiting justgiving.com/campaign/teesdalespecialflora and follow the progress on Facebook by searching for Dr ME Bradshaw’s Teesdale Special Flora Research and Conservation Trust.
