Beaumont takes the lead in pedalling wildlife message

ROUND-the-world cyclist Mark Beaumont has been named as ambassador for the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT).

The cyclist has pledged to promote the work of the trust, which runs 120 reserves across the country.

He said: "I think the best thing I can do is fly the flag for an organisation that has already got incredible networks and is doing a huge amount of work on the ground.

"The thing I like about the SWT is they are fantastically forward thinking. Rather than trying to maintain Scotland like it is a museum, they are keeping up-to-date with developing land use and airspace and trying to find a home for wildlife."

SWT's chief executive, Simon Milne, said: "It is superb to have a person with so much energy, enthusiasm and drive to help us to spread the message about the importance and value of Scotland's wildlife and wild places."