Stewart McPherson founded the Darwin200 Global Voyage to mark the bicentenary by retracing Darwin’s historic journey aboard HMS Beagle. Arriving back in London on 25^th July 2025, the Dutch three-masted schooner Oosterschelde concluded a two-year, 43,000-mile voyage during which it has stopped at 31 ports and trained over 100 young ‘Darwin Leaders’ from 45 countries.

With support from expert local partners, these Darwin Leaders contributed to the safeguarding of over 105 species of plants and animals – from flagship species like Australia’s Koalas to lesser-known wildlife such as the endangered Huemul deer in Chile – combining science, storytelling, and action to address threats to biodiversity.

Welcomed back to London by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, Stewart McPherson, who was just 24 when he received his own Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award from Prince Edward in 2007, reflected on the achievements of the journey,

‘Bringing the DARWIN200 voyage into the heart of London – a global capital of science, discovery and exploration – feels like the perfect finale to this extraordinary journey. This was about more than retracing Darwin’s steps; it was about harnessing the same spirit of adventure to inspire real conservation action. Darwin was only 22 when he set sail on the life-changing voyage he later called the most important event of his life – the experience that shaped his entire career. That sense of transformation is exactly what we’ve worked to recreate for the Darwin Leaders on this journey, showing what’s possible when young people are given the chance to learn, lead and make a difference.’

Stewart came to Bridport to give an HOP talk about the expedition last year. In this Part II he will focus on what insights they have learned about Darwin and his discoveries from the voyage and how best to carry forward the message of conservation and the importance of diversity in nature.