1 | Looking Over Your Shoulder

How do you feel when - and if - you walk alone through a woodland? Entirely at ease, your senses alive to the smells and textures around you? Or do you feel nervous - are you looking over your shoulder? Or perhaps, like Talia, you feel a combination of these things.

As much as Talia loves being in nature, she doesn't always feel comfortable. It's an unfortunate reality that although nature should be for everyone, many people feel excluded for lots of different reasons. In this episode, Talia learns what can be done to challenge those obstacles.

She gets muddy at a conservation day for women and non-binary folk set up by Epping Forest Heritage Trust. Then, Talia chats with Amira Patel, founder of Wanderlust Women, an adventure group for Muslim women. Finally, Talia joins a guided walk for LGBTQ+ folk with Epping Forest Pride. She learns how many ancient trees are in Epping Forest (spoiler - it's a lot) and hears why people were drawn to this pride event. As fellow walker Abi puts it, “Nature belongs to everyone”.

Producer/Presenter: Talia Randall

Mixing and Mastering: Jamie Payne

Artwork: Ione Maria Rojas

Publishing Partner: Aunt Nell

Voices of Epping Forest was made possible through a commission from Essex Cultural Diversity Project supported by Arts Council England, in partnership with Epping Forest Heritage Trust, and supported by the City of London Corporation, Epping Forest and Essex County Council. Epping Forest is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation.

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