RSPB Arne is a fantastic nature reserve to visit all year - there's always something new to see, whether you're a keen birder or just enjoy immersing yourself in nature. Arne includes a variety of habitats from all important lowland heath, to woodland and saltmarsh and has expansive views over Poole Harbour. It's a peaceful haven and great place to boost wellbeing and recharge - which is important for everyone.
To ensure the reserve is as accessible as possible for people with mobility issues, we've teamed up with the Countryside Mobility Scheme, run by charity Living Options Devon. The scheme provides Trampers - off road mobility scooters - that easily cope with the paths and tracks of a nature reserve. You can book them online, for an hour, or even most of the day and they really are an excellent way to experience the reserve. With easy to master controls, space for bags/coats and sticks, visitors who otherwise might not be able to manage the paths or slopes are able to visit with their friends and families.
We see so many visitors on their return who are so pleased to have been able to spend quality time with their loved ones that we wanted to share this email from Jo, who recently hired a Tramper for her Mum:
"I just wanted to say thank you so much for this fabulous facility. I can't put into words how much joy it has injected into our lives and how far reaching its effects have been.
I booked the tramper for the first time in the spring, I was very unsure how it would work for my 84 year old mum. Like many, mum had been shut down and was very frightened by the pandemic. She then went on to get cancer and have major surgery followed radiotherapy and then sadly sepsis. We thought we were going to lose her and to a degree we did. Mum just sat in her chair mostly and had given up on life it seemed. On reading about the trampers at Arne, I decided to give it a whirl, what had we to lose in trying? It was like a switch being thrown, she came alive, just incredible. The staff were amazing and so kind to us, what a wonderful couple of hours. In the last 6 months mum has found a way back to enjoy life again because of that afternoon and we have shared many happy moments. Today we have hired the tramper again for the second time and again the whole experience has been incredible.
I just wanted to try and share a photo of the joy facilitated by the tramper and say thank you very much for your forward thinking in making it possible for the less able to enjoy such a beautiful place with friends and family, for giving life back."
Photos by Jo
If you would like to hire a tramper at RSPB Arne, follow this link to our events page: for any queries, please email TramperHireArne@rspb.org.uk
We'd love to hear your stories about visiting Arne especially if you hired a tramper.
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