A CUMBRIAN wildlife enthusiast has completed her 3,500-kilometre '50 Shades of Green' cycling challenge in aid of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

Rhiannon Ridgewell is a volunteer for the Cumbria Wildlife Trust at the wildflower nursery at Gosling Sike, Houghton, and has been involved with nature conservation and protection since 1974, when she joined the British Trust of Conversation Volunteers aged 16.

2024 marks five decades of conservation for Rhiannon and her charity challenge has seen her cycle 3,500 kilometres - one kilometre for every plant species in the UK.

Rhiannon had anticipated the challenge taking her 12 months, however, has completed her 3,500km target with six months to spare. 

(Image: Supplied) During this time she has raised £2.726 and has now committed to cycling 3,500 miles, a near 1,400-mile addition to her original challenge. 

After finishing her 3,500th kilometre, Rhiannon expressed her delight and pledged to continue her challenge.

She said: "The good news is that I have completed my 3,500 kilometers, meeting my target yesterday. This is in less than six months, less than half the time, so it is an achievement.

"I will now push to achieve 3,500 miles. 

"What makes this challenge different, and a concept many people struggle with, is that it is for 366 days, not a week or a month, but this is a good time to celebrate, and see if we can not only exceed the distance target but the fundraising one as well."

Speaking in the new year about her '50 Shades of Green' charity cycling challenge, Rhiannon explained more about her motivations and why she was committed to smashing her targets.

She said: "I have been moping about an awful lot recently and I am still moping about and filled with despair and hopelessness and total frustration with how nothing is being done about the state of the world and the planet.

"I thought I needed something positive to focus on."

After meeting her 3,500km target and beginning her quest to hit 3,500 miles by the end of 2024, Rhiannon was keen to highlight that people can still support her efforts in aid of Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

If you would like to donate, you can HERE