We visited @shorne_woods_country_park today as a location which provides an Accessible Nature Experience for those with higher needs.

In Kent, there are currently 2 Country Parks with @changingplacesuk toilet facilities, which enables those needing to use a hoist and changing equipment to safely visit the park. The other country park in Kent is at Lullingstone. They also provide all terrain Mobility Scooter hire with #tramper.

Our theme of the day was #dontsteponabeeday and we searched for bee's 🐝. We found a few honey bees in the clover grass area, and also in the Sensory Garden. As they fed on the nectar from various herbs and pollinator friendly flowers. The leaf cutter bee had also been harvesting the rose leaves for building nests.

The park also has an upgraded playground equipped with a wheelchair friendly roundabout and swing. These were much appreciated and enjoyed by one of our participants.

We followed the easy access route and observed and explored tactile trees, grasses and native plants. We sniffed wild honeysuckle and fragrant herbs in the Sensory garden. We spotted tern, moorhen and fish at the lake, whilst listening to the reeds rustling in the wind. Then we saw pied wagtail and blackbirds at the dog pond. We also heard a chif chaf in the trees.

We shared folktales of telling the bee's important stories.

And was lovely to meet for lunch in the cafe afterwards.

Wild with Wheels will be continuing sessions at Shorne Woods for the changes of seasons. So please get in touch if you or the person you care for would like to participate in a sensory based nature experience in the Autumn.

#inclusionmatters #accessibilitymatters #naturehealsthesoul

#natureexplorer

#carerswelcome 

@kent_downs_aonb @defrauk

@need2change_uk