PRESS RELEASE (06/12/02)

Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Tel: 01725 516925  Mob: 07887 531205

‘GORILLAS AMIDST’ THE CHASE!

Dated: Friday 6 December 2002

This Saturday (7 December) Linda Nunn will be leading a troop of 4 Mountain Gorillas on a sponsored 50km ‘Gorilla Ramble’ in Moors Valley & Avon Heath Country Parks. The ramble starts at 10am from the Moors Valley Visitor Centre and will finish when 50k is on the clock!

Come rain or shine Linda Nunn and friends (Rangers from Hampshire, including Nick Heaseman from the South Hampshire Coast AONB) will be donning gorilla suits to highlight the plight of Congolese Mountain Gorillas. The 50km ramble is being attempted by Linda and her Team to raise money for 50 uniforms, desperately needed by National Park rangers in the Congo.

Linda Nunn, who during the week heads up the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Team, said: “The Mountain Gorilla is a highly endangered species. Only 650 survive in one vast World Heritage Site which spans parts of the Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. The Rangers who are charged with protecting these ‘gentle giants’ are woefully equipped and this ramble is just one of the ways in which the ‘Gearing up for Gorillas’ project is seeking to help them in their vital task”.

Anyone wanting to contribute to the fund raising effort should contact Linda Nunn at 87 Chapel Farm Cottage, Gussage St Andrew, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 8DL or send an email to

“Any money raised through the ramble will go towards buying desperately needed equipment for rangers working in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Protected Areas the world over, including the Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs, are part of a big family looking after tomorrow’s heritage today. Anything we can do to give our African friends a hand is a worthwhile and valuable thing to do,” added Linda.

This event is part of the ‘Gearing up for Gorillas’ project, run by Linda Nunn in her spare time. The focus is taking much needed equipment out to rangers who look after the Mountain Gorillas in the Virunga National Park (Congo). The dedicated ranger team require uniforms, computers, cameras, camcorders and camping gear to help them carry out their important work more effectively.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

1. For more information contact Linda Nunn on 07801 531205 (mobile), 01725 553149 (home).

2. PHOTO/INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY – Linda and her troop will be setting off from the Visitor Centre at the Moors Valley Country Park at 10am on Saturday (7 December). You are invited to come along for photographs and interviews. Phone Linda on the numbers in note 1 for more details.

3. The troop will start at 10am on the 10-12km circuit linking Moors Valley Country Park (Tel: 01425 470721) and Avon Heath County Park (Tel: 01425 478470). Throughout the rest of the day they will walk the route until 50km has been achieved.