Access for everyone! RSPB staff campaign for better wheelchair access to British countryside
With some of the most beautiful landscapes, stunning natural spectacles and diverse habitats, it seems a shame that some parts of the British countryside are still unreachable to those that aren’t free to travel by foot. Thankfully, RSPB staff member, Roy Taylor, plans to change all that.
On a quest that will cover 68 miles in just 4 days, between the 15 - 18 May, Roy plans to travel across the north – south link of the Trans-Pennine Trail, raising awareness and funds to provide better access to nature for those with physical disabilities. And what’s more, he’ll be completing this feat in his wheelchair.
Roy said: “I have first-hand knowledge of what it’s like for those that have difficulty accessing certain areas of the outdoors as I was diagnosed with the terminal and debilitating illness, Motor Neurone Disease, in 2013. This had the potential to affect my ability to do my job, as I’m an Area Reserve Manager with the RSPB and therefore have to spend a lot of time in the countryside, sometimes in hard to reach areas.”
Not one to let that get in his way though, he now plans to raise a jaw-dropping £50,000 to improve RSPB reserves so they can be enjoyed by all.
The money raised will go towards a new and fully accessible wildlife hide and associated wildlife viewing experience at the RSPB Old Moor nature reserve in Barnsley. The hide will be state of the art and works will also include the creation of new natural habitats in front of it, to ensure unrivalled wildlife viewing opportunities for all visitors.
Roy added: “A new addition to the Taylor family means this year will be a little different to the last. A buggy has been specially designed and attached to my wheelchair so that my 8-month old son, Roy Junior, can join us for the whole ride.”
His wife Anna and friend Chis Christou, who is a gardener and runs Mybility All Terrain Wheelchairs, will also be taking part.
In 2014 Roy took his wheelchair coast to coast, covering a whopping 215 miles and raising £25,000 for other RSPB reserves in Northern England, with over 100 friends, colleagues and new aquaintances walking alongside him. Donations went towards new disabled seabird viewing platforms at RSPB Bempton Cliffs and opened up miles of new accessible trails at RSPB Fairburn Ings.
On Sunday the BBC Countryfile featured a piece about Roy improving the disabled access to RSPB reserves to make them examplars of accessibility. It was an excellent guest appearance! John Craven called Roy a remarkable and inspirational man. The words will keep us going when the challenge gets tough.
Having seen Roy on TV (again!) I think he is a natural, my vote (Chris) is that the BBC should have him on a regular basis, what do you think?
Donate to Roy’s Wheelchair Challenge and help make the outdoors accessible to all, by visiting virginmoneygiving.com/wheelchairchallenge2.
You can also follow Roy’s journey on Twitter: @wheelchairchallenge.
