David Astins and Amanda Love both live on the Pembrokeshire Coast and have close links to the sea, including Amanda’s husband Dai who is part of the Little Haven RNLI team, and David’s partner Lisa being Head of Islands and Marine here at the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

And on Wednesday 3^rd August Trust David and Amanda will take on the challenge to swim around Skomer Island to raise funds the Trust's vital conservation work on the island.

So, why are they taking on this daunting challenge? 

Dave Astins, says,

"This will not be the first time I will be raising funds for the Trust through a physical challenge.  Back in 1991 I ran the London Marathon, then in 2014 I swam from the Pembrokeshire mainland across to Skokholm Island, and two years later swam around Skokholm and completed Ironman Wales.  In 2019 the opportunity arose to swim around RSPB Ramsey Island with Amanda – the toughest challenge yet – so swimming around Skomer then came to the forefront of our minds!

Amanda is also no stranger to endurance events, having also completed an Ironman and in 2019 solo swimming across the English Channel, which she completed in an incredible 12 hours 53 minutes."

During the challenge, David and Amanda will have the support of the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) team, in the form of their boat Skalmey providing much needed safety cover. The MCZ team have also provided expert advice on the tide and currents around the island, so that the tidal state and plan for the swim (including whether to swim clockwise or anticlockwise) to maximise their chances of success!

David and Amanda are hoping the 9km swim will take around 3 hours.  Through this challenge they are highlighting the importance of the work on Skomer Island and marine conservation generally, so they hope you will support them by sponsoring their challenge.

Donate to David and Amanda's GREAT Skomer swim