Sacha Dench: 'The Human Swan' who flew 7000km from the Russian Arctic to the UK visits Edinburgh

Conservationist Sacha Dench, famous for flying 4300 miles by paramotor from the Russian Arctic to the UK, has visited the Capital ahead of this year’s Edinburgh Science Festival.

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Her 7000km flight, which saw her braving thunderstorms and polar bears, was attempted in order to understand why the Bewick’s swans, the continent’s smallest and most threatened swan species, were declining.

The 2016 adventure won Ms Dench and her team ENDS Environmental Campaign of the Year and helped end the 20 year species decline.

The inspiring adventurer visited Edinburgh today to film her talk for the upcoming Edinburgh Science Festival. In Conversation with Sacha Dench will take place digitally at 7.30pm on 3 July and is the first event to be announced as part of this year’s Edinburgh Science Festival. The event signals the Festival’s strong focus on climate crisis and other challenges our Planet is facing as we near COP26 in Glasgow later in the year.

Ms Dench said: “It’s great to be back in Edinburgh and taking part in the Science Festival. By the time this interview broadcasts I will be in the middle of my attempt to circumnavigate Britain in a newly-developed electric paramotor, in the run up to COP26.

“Scotland is going to be the dramatic grand finale, with Scotland seemingly leading the way on climate solutions there will be some of the most incredible people to speak to, and the most dramatic landscapes to fly over.”

The 2021 Edinburgh Science Festival takes place between 26 June and 11 July 2021 and is themed around One World: Science Connects Us, exploring how we are all connected – to each other, to Planet Earth and to the wider Universe.

Sacha Dench with her Paramotor, Sacha is giving a talk at this years Edinburgh Science Festival

Creative Director of Edinburgh Science Festival Amanda Tyndall said: “With COP26 on the horizon and a pressing need to draw attention to the plight of the planet we are delighted to welcome Sacha back to the Edinburgh Science Festival. Her feats of adventure and exploration are an amazing way of capturing the public’s attention on crucial issues for climate and conservation and Sacha is nothing less than inspirational.’’

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