‘I’m 90 for goodness sake’: rainforest activist to pedal 104 miles down Thames

Robin Hanbury-Tenison, a 90-year-old rainforest campaigner, is undertaking a 104-mile journey down the River Thames from Oxford to Richmond on a water-bike. The expedition, which began this week, aims to raise funds for a research station near his home in Cornwall. This station is being established to study Britain's temperate rainforests. Hanbury-Tenison faces significant physical challenges, including a bad knee, failing balance, and shoulder and arm issues, compounded by the demands of navigating 31 locks and potential headwinds during the journey. The 104-mile route is expected to take several days to complete. He has previously undertaken numerous expeditions, including a 1977 journey across the Amazon rainforest and a 2019 trek across the Arctic. His advocacy for rainforest preservation spans decades, highlighting his long-standing commitment to environmental causes.