WHEN Ed Beverley-Jones set off on an epic 4,000 mile cycle ride to Africa and back, he hoped to show how it is possible to live off very little.

Setting off on a donated bike from Sugar Loaf mountain near Abergavenny, the environmentalist departed Wales from Chepstow on October 1 on the ride in aid of St David’s Hospice.

Since then he has been sleeping under the stars in a tent, often surviving with little food and relying on the kindness of those he encounters.

The 43-year-old, who makes a living looking after owners’ private garden ponds based in Monmouthshire, decided to take on the ride to follow the swallows on their migration to Africa

So far he has cycled from Wales, through England to Poole across to Jersey to St Malo in France, across France to Spain, and is heading for his ultimate destination of Morocco.

“The idea of sleeping rough is to demonstrate how little people need to live on,” said Mr Beverley-Jones, who lives in Usk.

“I have been adopted by a French family, slept under the stars and even slept in a pipe which has now been identified as some type of swallow nest.

“I don’t think many people could do this. It is pretty rough-going.”

The intrepid cyclist said he has encountered two “survival situations” in his self-funded and solo journey.

One time in northern France, Mr Beverley-Jones was forced to take a detour into woodlands and went 24 hours without any food.

Another detour in Spain near Sigüenza saw him cycling until 2am in the morning.

He has also crossed a small north of Consuegra, Spain, with only a small bottle of water and says he is nervous at night from the threat of wild boar, poisonous millipedes and snakes in the area.

Mr Beverley-Jones departed a week after watching the swallows leave from his stable near Chepstow, where he keeps his pond equipment tools.

After seeing the swallows gather each autumn, he decided to follow them on their journey, and plans to return when they do in March or April.

He has already raised more than double his £1,000 target, with the total currently standing at £2,300.

He decided to raise money for St David’s Hospice after the death of one of his clients, Mike Maine, who was cared for by nurses at the hospice in his final days.

The wife of Mr Maine gave Mr Beverley-Jones a pair of trainers that he had not had the chance to wear before he died. He is now wearing the shoes in memory of his client on the cycle ride.

Gemma Sandhu, of St David’s Hospice Care, said Mr Beverley-Jones’ journey is an ‘inspiration.’

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ed-jones4.