Blog Posts

Magic Rides – 3: King Alfred’s Way Part 2

Magic Rides – 3: King Alfred’s Way Part 2

Day 3: Through the Surrey Hills Lucky me, waking to another gloriously sunny dawn on the King Alfred's Way! The first priority was to make the most of the generous pub breakfast that was on offer, enjoyed in the company of my guidebook as I browsed what lay in store for the day ahead.   Outside and ready to start, I decided first to ride the short distance over the common to the edge of the Devil’s Punchbowl, and make the most of the view in daylight. A relief model, located conveniently...

Magic Rides – 3: King Alfred’s Way Part 1

Magic Rides – 3: King Alfred’s Way Part 1

A biking trail to honour a wise king King Alfred is perhaps best known in popular mythology for burning cakes while sheltering in a peasant woman’s home, having fled Viking encroachments, and pre-occupied by weighty matters of the defence of his realm and people. Living from 848 (or it may have been 849) to 899 AD, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 871 until his death, he should perhaps be better remembered as a wise, kind, and diligent monarch. During his reign, he successfully pushed back...

Magic Rides: 2 – Exploring the Great War at Cannock Chase

Magic Rides: 2 – Exploring the Great War at Cannock Chase

Great MTB trails and a whole lot more Mention Staffordshire's Cannock Chase to mountain bikers, and most likely the conversation will quickly turn to the best features of the two linked red-graded trails, Follow the Dog and the Monkey. And with good reason, as they are real classics in a great Forestry England location with a bike shop and rental, cafés, and much else. But there is so much more here at Cannock Chase, and not just in terms of trails. Catch a day with beautiful light, and the...

Sustainable recovery and clean energy in low-income countries

Sustainable recovery and clean energy in low-income countries

I am planning a short commentary on the recent IEA Report 'Sustainable Recovery', published in June 2020. This will highlight the main findings on the impact of Covid-19 and the proposals for investment in the energy sector in low-income countries over the next three years. This report has already been explored in my article on community health worker training in Kenya. I will then outline plans for tracking the progress on policy and investment around clean and sustainable energy in Kenya and...