Open Country

Seeking asylum in nature


Listen Later

Helen Mark joins a group of asylum seekers as they help with a tree-planting project in Denbighshire. She hears how - without a car, and with rural buses both scarce and expensive - refugees rarely get access to the countryside. The group of people she meets have travelled to Wales from Liverpool for the day, but come originally from all over the world. She hears about the experiences of four of them - from Iraq, Iran, Namibia and Togo. They spend the day working alongside local conservation volunteers from the nearby village of Tremeirchion, sharing food, stories and songs.

The project is organised by the charity Action Asylum, which has joined forces with the North Wales Wildlife Trust to get more than two thousand trees planted on former farmland near Offa's Dyke path. For the asylum seekers, who are not allowed to work while their cases are being assessed, it's a chance to contribute and do something constructive. With incredible views of the mountains in the distance and the Welsh coast spread out beneath them, Helen hears how working in the countryside is beneficial for both the environment and the refugees' mental health.

Produced by Emma Campbell

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Open CountryBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

83 ratings


More shows like Open Country

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,724 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,055 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,527 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,793 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,824 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,083 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,961 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,052 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

500 Listeners

Saturday Live by BBC Radio 4

Saturday Live

37 Listeners

Farming Today by BBC Radio 4

Farming Today

65 Listeners

Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

282 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

268 Listeners

Scotland Outdoors by BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland Outdoors

256 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

162 Listeners

The Plodcast by Our Media

The Plodcast

107 Listeners

Gardening with the RHS by Royal Horticultural Society

Gardening with the RHS

272 Listeners

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast by National Trust

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast

102 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II

4,168 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,218 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

763 Listeners

As the Season Turns by Ffern

As the Season Turns

243 Listeners

Life Changing by BBC Radio 4

Life Changing

66 Listeners

A Life More Wild by Canopy & Stars

A Life More Wild

24 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

532 Listeners