AN ADVENTURE granny from Haslemere is cycling to Glasgow with her granddaughter for COP26 to highlight the climate crisis.

Author and campaigner Tess Burrows will set off with her 13-year-old granddaughter Elsie today (Friday).

Tess’ friend Rima is also taking on the bike ride, which is raising money for three charities - Protect Our Winters UK, Sustrans and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

The intrepid trio will set off from the yew tree at Runnymede, which is believed to be the site where the Magna Carta was signed.

The ride is expected to last three weeks, with the trio aiming to arrive in Glasgow on October 29.

COP26 is being held in Glasgow and is set to run from Sunday, October 31 to Friday, November 12.

Tess said: "We are riding to raise awareness of climate change, and will stop where we can on the way up to talk at schools.

"It is inspiring that a 13-year-old wants to do this. She is determined to do it. It is her future. We are pedalling for a brighter future.

"I’m 73 now, but I’m an adventure granny and I have done a lot of endurance training before.

"We have to listen to the youth. Our purpose is to uplift the whole process and raise the energy.

"I’ve already talked at some schools, and the children have made climate pledges which we will take to Glasgow with us. The messages are lovely.

"When we get to Glasgow we’re going to go to the Tree of Hope and speak our pledges. We will symbolically put them on the tree and take them off again. The pledges will go to the United Nations Secretary General, to show we’re behind the politicians and support them getting on with the process."

Tess believes now is a key moment in the climate crisis, but she insists any action, however small it may seem, will help.

"We’re all trying to do something," said Tess. "Whether you plant a tree or walk to school, it all makes a difference.

"We have to get the planet right now. COP26 is the most important meeting of our time. We have to fix this by 2030 at the latest.

"I was at the summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, when a lot of promises were made.

"I’ve been to the Arctic and seen the problems with my own eyes. The polar bears will be extinct soon if we don’t take action."

Tess, Elsie and Rima will be updating a blog during their ride to Glasgow. The blog also has links to donate to the three charities. Visit https://pedalfabf.wordpress.com