The crew of ITV’s Lorraine programme recently spent the morning filming at Moors Valley County Park near Ringwood.


The segment features presenter Victoria Milligan, mentor and Patron of the Child Bereavement Trust. Victoria lost her leg in a speedboating accident in Cornwall, which also took the life of her husband and daughter. Three years on, fitness fanatic Victoria is not letting the loss of a limb define her. She takes part in 10k fundraising runs and is helping others with similar experiences to overcome their disabilities and take on new challenges.

Victoria brought fellow amputee Sean O’Connor and his physiotherapist Mary Tebb to Moors Valley to enable Sean to try out the range of accessible cycles available at the Park. A motorcyclist before his amputation, Sean was keen to get back on two wheels. Based at Moors Valley, Wessex Accessible Cycling Club’s main goal is to provide disabled people and those who cannot use a conventional bike with the opportunity to cycle. The club’s fleet of bikes includes a Relaxino, a semi recumbent tricycle, through to hand cycles and trikes, and Sean was able to build up his confidence and balance trialling a variety of cycles before accepting the challenge to ride one of the Park’s two-wheeled electric bikes. Sean’s journey to mobility will air on the Lorraine programme on Monday 7th November from 8.30am.

Moors Valley County Park and Forest recently took the ‘Gold’ award for Access and Inclusivity in the Dorset Tourism Awards. The award recognises a business that can demonstrate exceptional customer service to all, particularly those with impairments and other access needs, including mobility, auditory, sensory or dietary. Since entering the award, the Park has also undertaken an access and inclusivity audit using an independent specialist and will be implementing its recommendations over the coming months
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For more information on accessibility at Moors Valley go to www.moors-valley.co.uk/visitor-information/access-for-all/ or call the Rangers on 01425 470721