A multi-sensory Forest
For people who are blind or visually impaired, the beauty of nature is experienced and accessed through all the senses. This could include feeling the sun on the skin, exploring textures with the hands, enjoying the smell of damp leaves or listening to the relaxing sound of a full river.
Zoe Hanscombe, who is visually impaired, loves being out in the New Forest. ‘I always visited as a child,’ she said, ‘and now to be able to get away from the hustle and bustle of life with my guide dog Revel is something that I really enjoy.
The New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) is promoting inclusive opportunities for more people to experience nature, particularly for health and wellbeing.
Zoe works for the sight loss charity Open Sight Hampshire and has worked with the NPA to help make the Forest accessible for all.
As part of the New Forest Walking and Cycling Festival, Zoe and other visually impaired people were invited on a guided walk at Bolderwood and the Knightwood Oak.
Along the routes, participants said they could identify different tree types by the sound they were making in the wind – deciduous trees sound different to densely-packed conifers. They listened out for bird song and were played different sounds of native deer.
They also enjoyed feeling different textures such as exploring the bark of large trees, lichens on fences, carved waymarkers and smooth acorns.
‘It was so lovely to stop and just listen to the trees and the nature around you rather than being able to see anything,’ said Zoe.
‘Being able to listen to it was just magical.’
Walk leaders Adam and Jim from the NPA provided lots of opportunities to experience nature in different ways. ‘Its that suggestion, the thing that actually makes you think, oh my gosh, I have just walked past this massive tree and it’s got a texture to it, it’s got a smell to it, rather than just carry on walking,’ said Zoe.
‘You don’t think of these things when you’re walking through something. You don’t think of touching, smelling, listening as much, but to have that opportunity was amazing.’
Open Sight Hampshire has also ridden out with the New Forest inclusive cycling charity PEDALL. www.pedall.org.uk
‘We had so much fun,’ said Zoe. ‘It was unbelievable. There were a lot of people who came along who had never ridden a bike because of their sight loss and to be able to get on these adaptable, accessible bikes was just unbelievably amazing.
‘We’re very much looking forward to more activities and finding out more of what the New Forest has to offer.’
About Open Sight Hampshire
There are an estimated 10,000 – 15,000 people in Hampshire with sight loss.
Open Sight Hampshire is a registered sight loss charity covering the whole of Hampshire, offering lots of free services to people of all ages who are experiencing different degrees of sight loss. This includes information, support and guidance on equipment, technology, claiming benefits, social activities and keeping independent.
Zoe’s role is to help visually impaired people with technology such as Ipads, smart phones and social media. She also runs activities for people of working age.
Find out more at www.opensight.org.uk or go to their facebook page www.facebook.com/Open.Sight.Org
