Gini's Accessible Guided Walks
Bio about who you are and what you do for work
I’m Gini, a disabled Electric Wheelchair User and I founded Wild with Wheels CIC for people with disabilities and impairments to access Nature through our guided wellbeing walks but also through advocacy and access assessments to improve Kent’s Green and Blue wild spaces. I am a Forest School Leader, Mental Health in the Outdoors practitioner, North Downs Way and Cross channel Geopark Ambassador. I have also recently been appointed as Disability And Access Ambassador for the Countryside by the Cabinet office, so will be working towards improving disabled access to nature nationwide, which is so important for mental health and physical wellbeing.
What inspired you to become a walk leader?
I was inspired through the pandemic to help to encourage disadvantaged folk to benefit from getting out into nature, for health, wellbeing and social interaction. So as a wheeled user, I trained as a Forest School Leader and then North Downs Way ambassador and discovered that I could combine the two aspects whilst finding adventurous wheel-friendly routes.
What types of clientele do you see joining your walks?
Wild with Wheels CIC walks are designed with wheels in mind, so that everyone can join us. We reach out to an inclusive audience. So integrates ages, abilities, cultures, genders and backgrounds.
How do you think walking groups positively impact people’s lives?
Primarily, there are so many physical and mental health benefits of getting out into nature. Appreciating the landscape, climate challenges as well as making new acquaintances.
What is the most rewarding aspect of leading guided walks?
Making the routes more accessible means that more people with disabilities can get out independently with their friends and family. We have watched our community grow whilst connecting to nature, heritage and the landscape.
What is your favourite walking route?
We have many but our favourite route currently is from Battle of Britain Memorial down to Samphire Hoe along the King Charles III Coastal path.
For more information on the guided walks, please visit the Wild with Wheels website.