THE future of Dartmoor's ponies will be a little brighter thanks to a charity cycle challenge taking place this summer.

Curly Wright from Cheriton Bishop is undertaking a 400-mile cycle challenge along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, accompanied by his grandchildren.

The ride will raise funds for the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust. On the final day of the challenge, Saturday, August 10, Curly will cycle from Crediton to Parke via Chagford.

Curly aims to raise £10,000 to fund the creation of a sensory garden at the DPHT Centre in Bovey Tracey. The garden will bring together Dartmoor's textures and smells, flora and fauna, water and granite, and encourage birds, insects and other wildlife.

Curly said: 'I have set my heart on raising this money, with the help of my friends, family and supporters, by cycling the coastal route of the south west from Lyme Regis in the east to Minehead in north Devon, taking in the entire coastal route of Cornwall.

'By sponsoring or donating, you will potentially make a difference to the lives of hundreds of children who are not usually able to access such a special environment and work with ponies as part of their road to progress.'

As well as working to preserve the moorland-bred Dartmoor ponies, the DPHT provides 'Ponies Inspiring People' programmes for young people with physical, emotional, behaviour and learning disabilities, which cause them to struggle within day to day society and life, and with school or work.

This work uses Dartmoor ponies as the platform for learning and being outdoors in 'the real world' of nature and the environment.

To sponsor Curly or donate to the fundraiser, call the DPHT Centre on 01626 833234 or visit http://www.dpht.co.uk">www.dpht.co.uk

To find out more or to join the ride for a day e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]