Growing up in South Wales, the outdoors gave Bethany freedom, connection and a sense of belonging. After becoming a wheelchair user, she found herself shut out of mnay green and blue spaces.
Rather than accept exclusion, Bethany turned her experience into action. Bethany is an award-winning author, poet and disability activist from Monmouthshire. Named one of the UK’s 10 most influential disabled people in politics, law, and media by the Shaw Trust 2024, she campaigns for access to nature. An Ambassador for Country Living’s Access for All campaign and Ramblers Cymru, Bethany also sits on the Lived Experience Advisory Board for ParalympicsGB.
My Body is a Meadow: Finding Freedom in the Outdoors (Headline 2026), her debut non-fiction book was named one of the top climate books of 2026 by The Conversation and one of the top 10 non-fiction books of the season by The Bookseller. Bethany co-edited Beyond / Tu Hwnt (Lucent Dreaming, 2025), a bilingual anthology of Welsh Deaf and disabled writers, which was shortlisted in the British Book Awards 2026. Her poetry pamphlet Cling Film (Seren 2025) exploring ableism, nature and place, won an Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors. She also won Creative Future’s Gold Award for Creative Non-fiction 2023. Her work has been featured by BBC One, BBC Radio 4, Country Living, Country Life, The Guardian, the Forward Book of Poetry 2026, and more.
Alongside her writing, Bethany helps organisations and landowners understand what true accessibility in the outdoors looks like. Whether through her writing, her consultancy or her media work, Bethany’s vision is clear: nature should be for everyone - and every body should belong.
Awards + Recognition
- Eric Gregory Award 2026
- Shortlisted | Discover Award in the British Book Awards 2026 for Beyond/ Tu Hwnt
- Highly commended | The Forward Prize
- Shortlisted | Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Poetry Award 2024
- Gold Prize | Creative Non-fiction in the Creative Future Writers’ Award 2023
- Shortlisted | Nine Arches Press Primers 2023
- Nominee | Pushcart Prize (2023)
Bethany featured in:
- 30(ish) Awards 2025 | Cardiff University
- The 10 most influential disabled people working in politics, law and media in the UK | Shaw Trust Disability Power 100
- The 100 most influential disabled individuals in the UK | Shaw Trust Disability Power 100
Bethany'S Story
All about Bethany
"A sharp and witty look at the treatment of people with disabilities [Cling Film] conveys its anger with arresting artistry... Handley has found her weapon."
The guardian
Carol Rumens
"(Handley) has the reader consider what it means to cross out and erase the experiences of those whose bodies are considered to be different."
Poetry News
"Handley’s witty and defiant poetry highlights the systemic discrimination she faces as a Disabled woman."
The Bookseller
Caroline Sanderson
"A potent reminder that poetry can speak of both injustice and joy, even within the same poem/breath."
Buzz Magazine
Mab Jones
If you’re here to spark change through writing, speaking, or reimagining access, Bethany would love to hear from you. She works with individuals and organisations who care deeply about inclusion, nature and wellbeing, especially those that want to move from intention to meaningful action.
Use this form to get in touch with Bethany.
