As a person who feels very close to nature, it broke my heart to read about the recent increase in dead and starving seabirds washing up on the Aberdeenshire coast. While there are likely to be multiple contributing factors to this, the lack of food caused by warmer seas (fish go deeper to reach the cold, deeper than young seabirds can get to) suggests strongly that human actions are responsible. 

I cannot stand by and do nothing.

The New Arc is a wildlife rescue centre that helps rehabilitate birds (and other wildlife) that can be saved, releasing them back into the wild when they are strong enough. I want to raise money for them, as caring for seabirds is expensive: a single guillemot can get through 10 quid's worth of sprat each week, and feeding a puffin with sand eels for a week costs £15. Imagine how much it costs to feed a gannet!!!

Of course the underlying, long-term problem of climate change is not solved by rescuing seabirds. However, each problem usually also needs acute action: that's what I'm doing here.

To raise money I will be swimming in skins (=without a wetsuit) in the North Sea every day for the first week of the Autumn (21-28th September). This is a challenge for me because I was at the back of the queue when body fat was distributed and it will feel really cold to me.

Any donations are welcome, big or small. If you cannot donate any money, you can also help by supporting the longer-term solution of tackling climate change. Caused by nobody in particular but by all of us collectively, it is hard to see how our individual actions can make a difference. But it's got to start with each of us. You can help by cutting carbon emissions directly (replacing car journeys with cycling or walking) or indirectly (buying stuff that's produced locally or at least in this country when it's in season). 

All of that will ultimately help keep the seas and oceans healthy, and all the life that depends on it.

Thank you for any support you can give this.