Bethany's Defiant Climb: Overcoming Barriers to Nature

Bethany Handley's childhood was defined by outdoor adventures in rural Monmouthshire, filled with mud, woods, hiking, and watersports. However, years of declining health led to a complete loss of mobility three years prior to 2026, resulting in her becoming a full-time wheelchair user. This loss of physical ability, coupled with a lack of accessible outdoor spaces, profoundly impacted her, feeling more disabling than her medical conditions.

Initially struggling with mobility, Bethany eventually embraced her wheelchair as a tool for freedom, enabling her to participate in activities like clubbing and exploring parks. Despite ongoing health challenges, including a serious infection requiring tube feeding, she has dedicated herself to making natural environments more inclusive. Her work centers on the social model of disability, emphasizing societal barriers over individual conditions.

Bethany has successfully crowdfunded for a lightweight wheelchair, allowing her to revisit cherished landscapes. She is now helping to rewild a meadow near her accessible home. Her experiences and advocacy are shared in her book, 'My Body is a Meadow,' which encourages others to find joy and reclaim nature, asserting everyone's right to access it.