Clipped Wings

After a frightening incident of sexual assault while birding, BBC Springwatch naturalist Lucy Lapwing visits four women to try to rekindle her passion for being alone in nature. Birdwatching has always been joyous for Lucy. Her pockets are always stuffed with nature's treasures, such as acorns, feathers, and owl pellets. However, there’s now one extra item she always keeps reassuringly within reach. While she was birdwatching alone, a man exposed himself to her and videoed her reaction, so now Lucy always carries an anti-assault Defence Spray. The incident has left her wary and anxious. She puts her back to a tree when looking through binoculars. She no longer talks to male fellow birders, actively avoiding them from a distance. She is "so angry" that she feels unsafe in nature - a place she had hitherto regarded as unquestionably "her realm". In Clipped Wings, Lucy ventures outdoors with four women whose hobbies and pursuits regularly take them alone into nature: mountain biking, backpacking, running and birding. Lucy talks to former professional mountain biker and Scotland’s Active Nation Commissioner Lee Craigie, Ali Ogden, who runs backpacking events across the Scottish Highlands, long-distance runner Catriona Bruce, and ecologist and birdwatcher Sorrel Lyall. What abuse or dangers have they encountered in pursuit of their passion? How do they mitigate risks? How would they like men to behave when encountering a lone woman in nature? And what advice, support, or solidarity can these four supportive peers offer, to help Lucy assuage her fears and get her love of birdwatching back on track? Producer: Jac Phillimore Sound Design: Joel Cox A Bespoken Media production for BBC Radio 4