Outdoors is for everyone

11/06/2026

Learning about preparation....Pip did a big walk from Lancaster to Glasson in preparation for the weekend's sponsored event.

Pip and her sister are doing the Moonlight Walk in aid of our local hospice St John's Hospice this weekend. What's more, many of their wonderful support team, both direct payment support and Westmorland Homecare Lancaster are joining them as Team Legend (Alix's fave exGladiator). They are also looking forward to having their great friend Sophie along too.

I love how walking can bring people together. If you feel you can sponsor them for this worthy cause, here is the link to Pip's page is here for Facebook or in the bio for insta.

https://stjohnshospicelancaster.enthuse.com/pf/pip-rowlands?fbclid=IwdGRjcASXeexjbGNrBJd5r2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHhf2G3mC38e_osw8AGN53JTwcAKOiOapKOmkgCHXuI-JYST9TeisWfIMi07J_aem_NaHWfo0cL4Z3BEP60HDlKw&utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demonn6pve83

09/06/2026

So happy to share this

05/06/2026

Pointing things out on the horizon is difficult.

How many times do we say something like 'Its to the right of the lowest dip and then go 3 bumps further' . That's a lot to process for anyone, let alone if you have a learning disability.

We used this lovely sculpture of the Lake District seen across the bay to help understand the view. Happy that they found Grange - site of an epic cycle these two did in the past. What great memories.

The mountains were more tricky but the learning adds up, no need to ignore something just because you dont get it first time. It didnt take away from the stunning beauty of the hills seen across Morecambe Bay for anyone!

25/05/2026

We enjoyed the shade of every canal bridge and tree as we did our own Outdoors is for everyone paddle clean up.

This section of the Lancaster canal, from Tewitfield towards Carnforth is a real gem. It doesnt have many boats as it doesnt really go anywhere (it used to go to Kendal before the M6 chopped it off). The water is really clear which gives a great opportunity to view the fish and tadpoles.

Luckily not much litter - single use plastic bottles, cans and plastic bags. Although our litter pick would have seemed pointless, we'd still rather there was none at all!

22/05/2026

16/05/2026

How do you interview someone with few words?

Because without people who are prepared to go the extra mile, the stories of people with learning disability are overlooked and unheard.

It is all too easy to talk mainly to the supporters of learning disabled people and get information second hand but there are plenty of ways to help communication flow to make sure the story is authentic and first hand.

We walked with and yesterday for a magazine article. They soon fell into pace with Pip's ways, admiring the flowers and bird song together, listening and watching her conversation with .jj then gently extending the topic.

We used Pip's outdoor symbols book and photo books to help Pip recall memories, we even introduced MaryAnn to a few signs.

A sit down interview with direct questions would have been very hard - we know from experience. A walk, where everyone was relaxed and chat could flow, an unhurried pace and gentle approach worked wonders for Pip.

What a team!

We look forward to the article in Countryfile magazine.

08/05/2026

Make sure you read beyond the first sentence!

I love this post. When people find it hard to make their preferences clear, it always pays dividends for them if we think about what is being communicated carefully, not leap to conclusions.

This also requires you to give your own preferences a back seat.

“My guys love van rides.” I hear that and I get it.

I remember Michael. Michael loved the van. Any trip would do. To the office. To the day centre. To the bank. To pick someone up. To drop something off. If the van was leaving, Michael wanted in.

Soon, this became how people understood him. “Michael loves van rides.”

It was written into plans. It was treated as preference. As choice. As something important to provide.

And yes, Michael did like the van.

However, after spending time with him, learning about his life, his family, his neighbourhood, and the rhythm of his days, something else became clear.

It wasn’t just the van. It was escape.

The van meant he wasn’t alone in his bedroom staring at the wall (as he was often found doing). It meant he wasn’t trapped in the sameness of the house. The van meant out. And out meant possibility.

Out meant people, conversation, movement. Maybe even something unexpected.

As we worked together to imagine a bigger life for Michael, something changed. The van rides didn’t disappear. Maybe he still loved them. Maybe they had become habit. Maybe both.

But they stopped being everything.

The urgency and the obsession faded. The van moved into the background while Michael’s life and other interests, people and activities moved into the foreground.

I don’t want to vilify van rides. If someone truly enjoys them, cool.

But we have to ask harder questions. What opportunities has this person had? What choices have they been offered?

Is this preference the whole story, or is there more to discover?
..

ID: Image title reads My guys love van rides. Image shows someone sitting in a wheelchair being pushed onto a van.

03/05/2026

We spotted this little plaque on the fence today (enlarge to read) and I certainly identified with it. I know I've upset a few people whilst advocating for my daughters. I sometimes need change to happen.

I can hear providers thoughts ( 🤔) as I come up with some idea I think is entirely reasonable - but they think it isn't.

The power relationships in the 'disability industry' are hard to navigate - often you are trying to reason with someone who has an office, a salary, who is not trying to be a carer at the same time and has little idea about how difficult making good the scant opportunities for getting outside can be.

I try to be polite but sometimes being emotional is necessary to show how strongly you feel about systems that do not work. Its exhausting and not something I do by choice.

maker

30/04/2026

Discuss!

Yesterday I visited an independent special school where the young people spend all their time outside. It is pretty well as different from a mainstream school as it’s possible to get. It’s on a beautiful green piece of land, with cows next door. The buildings are open-sided cabins, and the only ‘uniform’ is the right clothing for the weather. Since this is Devon, that means wellies and waterproofs. All the children there have EHCPs, and most of them have had very difficult experiences in the mainstream system. They come with their histories on their backs.

We were meeting in order to record a podcast about SEND and trauma, but what we really ended up talking about is how the present system isn’t sustainable. We have an increasingly inflexible and rigid school system where exam results are everything – and it’s only when things go horribly and irrevocably wrong that there’s a recognition that something better is required.

That means that some schools end up managing the casualties of the system. Those who have already learnt that they are the ‘failures’, that they don’t measure up. Those who have been alienated by education and who think they aren’t capable of learning. Those who have learnt not to trust adults, and to defend themselves against other children. Those who are on high alert, because the world of education doesn’t feel like a place they belong. They have to spend months and years helping them recover from a system which has hurt them.

Because we pretend our education system is about learning, but really it’s about conformity. It’s about doing what you’re told, and sitting on your bottom. It’s about keeping quiet and letting the teacher talk. It’s about following the leader, and not making a fuss. It’s about raising your hand and waiting to speak, and suppressing your own interests and curiosity. It’s about learning the answers, and reproducing them under exam conditions.

When children don’t conform to this regime, then we say the problem is them. We say they ‘have SEND’ or they show ‘challenging behaviour’. We assess them and write reports, and try to work out exactly what the problem really is – but we miss the most obvious thing our children are telling us. Our education system needs to be changed. It has the wrong priorities at heart.

What needs to be different? Education needs to start with what we know children need to thrive. Autonomy, a sense of being competent and belonging. Our aim should be that they leave education knowing that they are valuable, that we believe in them and that they have choices. There are schools and teachers doing this, but they are swimming against the tide. Government targets push them in the opposite direction.

Focusing on exam results will never improve our education system. It sorts children into the successes and the failures – and that is never going to be a good way for them to start adult life.

We all need something better.

25/04/2026

Loving the sun and shade contrast at the Outdoor Connection with All The Elements