Today I find myself writing the column in a hotel room in Nice, the south of France. I’m excited to get out and about and explore the city. And exploration is the subject today.

After all, what is better for the soul than discovering new places, new geographies, new people and new restaurants?

I swear that if I won the Lottery, the single biggest investment I’d make would be in round-the-world tickets.

Now some of you may have seen my TV debut on BBC’s Springwatch Unsprung. It’s on iPlayer – episode 5 and about 16 minutes in (just in case you feel the need to add that extra sheen of glamour to your life...).

I was asked onto the the show to talk about the accessibility of nature. Which even took me by surprise. After all, when people think about accessibility, it’s often about buildings – lifts, ramps, accessible toilets etc.

Nature on the other hand is infinitely more complicated. Getting close to a tree when in a wheelchair or just suffering mobility problems can be a nightmare, with all its roots raised above ground just waiting to trip you. Yet nature to me, despite my disability, remains a major part of both my professional and personal life.

You see, for those that don’t know, once I worked (and continue to) as a conservation biologist, and ‘conservation biologist’ in its most simple terms means getting about and experiencing the great – or small outdoors.

You may think that the countryside is a no go for wheelchair users or indeed others with an impairment such as a visual or hearing impairment but it’s simply not true. True, the experience is somewhat more limited for us but is still hugely and utterly enjoyable. For instance, the glory and power of an electrical storm is no less so, even if your disabilities are within the visual and hearing range.

There is a distinctive smell, almost a ‘sense’ that you can feel in your blood before a big storm breaks, and when it does, there are the sounds, the images, the very tactile punch of hard raindrops exploding on your skin.

This year’s BBC Springwatch is coming from RSPB Minsmere which is a coastal reserve with a pebble beach, reed beds and a mudflat.

Doesn’t sound accessible right? Wrong. With pathways to all habitats I managed to easily get into a hide where there was a lowered section specifically for children and wheelchair users. I whipped out the binoculars and enjoyed ticking off the birds from my must see list.

This particular episode of Springwatch Unsprung was focused on sound and accessing nature in different ways. Just think about those that can’t see. Next time you are out and about close your eyes. Nature is just as beautiful to hear as to see.

We disabled don’t want tarmac and concrete marring the countryside but we don’t want to be excluded either.

A big thank you to the BBC and the the RSPB for getting the conversation started on accessible nature. Only 1.2 million viewers. Eek!





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