Explore published and upcoming books, personal, political and rooted in nature
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Today, nearly one in four people are Disabled in the UK. Public rights of way are blocked in 32,000 places across England and Wales. My Body is a Meadow writes into this landscape. Passionate and political, it delivers a galvanising call for us to rethink how we live among nature and each other. Lyrical and personal, Bethany Handley invites readers to wheel alongside her as she explores ableism, climate justice and what nature means to her.
Out 7th May 2026
Upcoming release
A perspective shifting journey across Britain exploring our right to access nature.
My Body is a Meadow:
Finding Freedom in the Outdoors
"Handley is a natural storyteller whose writing bursts with vitality and beauty"
- Jack Cornish, author of The Lost Paths and director of England at the Ramblers
"This book shows how our treatment of disability mirrors our treatment of nature"
- Katherine May, author of Wintering, Enchantment and The Electricity of Every Living Thing
"An important, perspective shifting book"
- James Macdonald Lockhart, author of Raptor and Wild Air
"A stunning exploration of longing for freedom, finding a home in your body and walking your own path in life"
- Pippa Stacey, content creator and author of How To Do Life With A Chronic Illness
"A painfully honest assessment of how the damage done to Disabled people mirrors that being done to the environment"
- Maria Kett, associate professor in Humanitarianism and Disability at University College London
"Moves through laughter, grief and joy and makes it resoundingly clear that access to the outdoors must mean access for all"
- Sally Huband, author of Sea Bean: A Beachcomber’s Search for a Magical Charm
Reviews
“Cling Film is a collection that lifts many veils and lets in much-needed light and air…”
- Carol Rumens, The Guardian
“…deliciously rendered with vulnerability and rage, yanking us straight to the facts so that we cannot fail ‘to take [her] seriously’”
- Poetry Wales magazine
“With these crafted, unflinching poems, deftly calibrated between rage, humour, pain and joy, Bethany Handley opens our eyes and minds to new ways of seeing and being. A bold, urgent and gifted new voice in Welsh poetry.”
- Owen Sheers, author of Skirrid Hill
Reviews
The collection lays bare the barriers that disable people, from physical inaccessibility to the discrimination of others (such as incompetent doctors, ignorant passers-by or in dehumanising interviews for Universal Credit). Set in familiar Welsh places, from the Heath Hospital in Cardiff to Mynydd Mawr, Handley asks the reader to travel in her skin in these witty and profound poems.
Poems that unseal the everyday realities of being Disabled in a world not built to hold you.
Unwrapping Ableism
Poems that unseal the everyday realities of being Disabled in a world not built to hold you.
Cling Film
A collaborative poetry collection that explores the visible and invisible boundaries that shape our sense of identity, place and belonging. Written in English and Welsh, the collection weaves together themes of disability, migration, memory and landscape, inviting readers to consider what lies beyond language, beyond borders and beyond the limits imposed by society. Rich with imagery and emotional depth, it offers a powerful meditation on how we move through the world in bodies shaped by history, culture and resistance.
Anthology of Welsh Deaf and Disabled Writers
Poetry collection
Beyond / Tu Hwnt
Shortlisted for the British Book Awards 2026 'Book of the Year: Discover'
"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
where to find Bethany
Upcoming Events
Blake Theatre, Monmouth
4 June 2026 | 19:00
Rossiter Books: Author Talk
Exchange Marquee, Hay-On-Wye
27 May 2026 | 11:30
hay Festival
Castle Hotel, Llandovery
10 May 2026 | 15:30
Reading the Wild Festival
The Old Market, Llandeilo
27 March 2026 | 17:30
Chronic Women book launch
Crowne Plaza, Stratford-upon-Avon
7 May 2026 | 14:00
Stratford Literary Festival
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.
