Voices of Epping Forest

Most children and young people in the UK spend very little time outside. And if you’re a child from a low-income, black, brown or minority household, your nature access is likely to be even more diminished. This can have a considerable impact on health and well-being. These are some of the reasons why Gearies Primary School on the East London/Essex border has decided that nature play should be a key part of the curriculum. So, on a brilliantly fun day at Connaught Water, Epping Forest, Talia tries to keep up with a bunch of lively kids. She catches up with their teacher, Dan Lee, who talks about the impact this nature play can have for young people.  This is the last episode of Voices of Epping Forest, and we end by looking to the future. As Play Therapist Tim explains, connecting children with the outdoors is about giving them a tool they can rely on for life. Producer/Presenter: Talia RandallMixing and Mastering: Jamie PayneArtwork: 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. 

As Talia walks in Epping Forest with her dog Stevie, she notices the branches casting eerie shadows. It's easy to see why many people associate woodlands with spooky happenings. But, as a sceptic, Talia leaves the ghost stories aside to explore a deeper history connected to the Epping Forest District – some of the areas surrounding the woods: That’s the history of the people persecuted as Witches.  She chats with Amy Stock, an Epping Forest District Museum historian who shows Talia a mummified cat found in the walls of Waltham Abbey. It's thought this old cat could have been placed there to ward off witches.  Talia also discovers a little of what it's like to be a practising Witch today. Nature is a big part of modern-day magic; to many people, the forest - and nature itself - is a spiritual place. She meets High Priestess Debbie, who has faced serious challenges as she’s practised her craft.Then, Talia meets self-described “baby witch” Keely Mills. They wander off into the woods and participate in a ceremony that gives thanks to this special - some might say magical - place.  Producer/Presenter: Talia RandallMixing and Mastering: Jamie PayneArtwork: 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. 

Talia and her guests explore what the word access can mean because, when you stop to think about it, there are so many layers to this term.  Research tells us that disabled people are often excluded from nature, so Talia sees what can be done about this by spending a morning with The Epping Forest Sunflower Group along an easy-access trail at High Beach. Talia is then joined by podcaster and outdoors legend Francesca Turauskis to talk about adventuring with epilepsy, stigma and how so many different access issues are interconnected. Finally, Talia reflects on neurodivergent experiences in nature, including her own. With fellow neurodivergent nature lover Emma, Talia discovers how important it is to make her own adaptations when hiking.  Producer/Presenter: Talia RandallMixing and Mastering: Jamie PayneArtwork: 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.

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 RandallMixing and Mastering: Jamie PayneArtwork: 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.