Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd

It's fun to stay at the YHA: who gets to access the outdoors?

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Episode notes

We’re back! Over the summer the Youth Hostel Association announced it was selling off some of its properties in a bid to stay afloat. It seems like a cruel irony at a time when many of us had reconnected with nature over the lockdowns. The charity has long been committed to opening up the outdoors to more people, especially children and young people, says Sally Nutland. But is there a way to save the YHA hostels? We talk about what the loss of these hostels means with Talia Randall and Haroon Mota, and why it's so important that everyone can access nature in rural and urban Britain.

Plus: What made one listener throw up in their cornflakes??

Guests

Sally Nutland, Communications Manager, Youth Hostel Association (@YHAOfficial)

Haroon Mota, Founder Muslim Hikers and the Active Inclusion Network (@Haroon_Mota / @Muslim_Hikers)

Talia Randall, Writer, performer and podcaster (@TaliaRandall)

More information

Read more about the sale of the 20 YHA properties in this John Harris column (Guardian)

Support the YHA's No Child Left Behind Campaign for children who are unable to afford a school residential

Visit YHA Boggle Hole

Learn more about and support Muslim Hikers

Listen to Talia’s podcast 'Blossom Trees and Burnt Out Cars' on BBC Sounds

Learn more about the Right To Roam campaign and listen to our episode on it 

Read more about the benefits of parks and green spaces and research by Natural England on engaging under-represented groups in nature

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