Ok, so first a big thanks for getting here and reading about my challenge. I'm Zach, I'm a fourteen year old nature addict from North Yorkshire.

This year is mine, the BTO's and The Wild Watch's year of the Owl. The Wild Watch is a project in Nidderdale so it made sense to do my challenge there, especially as I am youth patron of this great project.

The BTO wants to be able to gather more information about Owls. They're planning new research and a community engagement project focused on getting more evidence about Tawny Owls. They want to know more about them and do things like set up more nest boxes and encourage people to help protect them.

See the BTO website for more information on this important project - www.bto.org./volunteer-surveys/project-owl 

Basically I love Owls and I want to help protect them as they, like a lot of wildlife, are struggling. So I want to help the BTO to get more information so that we know how to best help them to help the owls.

I plan to walk the Nidderdale Way, a 52 mile walk, in four stages between now and the end of the summer holidays. I'm doing this to explore Nidderdale more and also as it's close enough to home so that I can walk it on days that aren't wet or too hot (and when I can get lifts there!).

I'd appreciate any support you can give to help me to raise funds for this amazing and important project.

Thanks,

Zach