Walking for doves

Published on the25April 

2014 

11:00

A WILDLIFE reserve welcomed two intrepid heroes when they crossed the finishing line of a gruelling 300-mile walk.

Jonny Rankin and Robert Yaxley spent 13 exhausting days walking from Suffolk to RSPB Saltholme near Billingham.

They, along with their friend Andrew Goodrick, who joined them for the first 100 miles of the journey, raised more than £2,000 towards efforts to save the European turtle dove from extinction.

They magnificent sum of money will go to Operation Turtle Dove, a project launched by conservation charities including Saltholme managers the RSPB.

Jonny said: “We’ve been involved in Operation Turtle Dove since its inception in 2012 and each year we look for bigger and better ways of raising the profile and raising funds for this iconic species.

“This walk has given us a chance to start planning next year’s expedition.

“However, right now I’m terrified of taking my boots off because I feel like they’re holding my feet together.”

Jonny, Robert and Andrew began their walk from Lakenheath Fen, on the boarder of Norfolk and Suffolk.

Continued