TrailWatch organised the third fall foliage tour in the first autumn after the pandemic eased. This year, we were fortunate to receive sponsorship from Lee Kum Kee so that we were able to scale up the event. In the past, many participants were unable to join the tour due to limited resources, and this time we were able to double the number of participants, attracting more wheelchair users, their caregivers, and families to visit Tai Tong together, allowing them to revisit the countryside after a long absence and enjoy the beauty of nature.
In the three years since the first tour, there has been no improvement in public transportation to Tai Tong Sweet Gum Woods, making it very inconvenient for wheelchair users to visit. However, with our experience from past tours in Tai Tong Sweet Gum Woods, we were able to overcome the challenges despite the increase in the number of participants.
Some of the participants visited Tai Tong to appreciate the fall foliage for the first time, while others returned after participating in the first year but were unable to join again due to insufficient resources in the following year. Whether they were first-time visitors or returning after two years, they were all very excited. Moreover, there were fewer visitors to Tai Tong Sweet Gum Woods this year compared to the previous years, allowing for a more leisurely stroll to appreciate the magnificent fall scenery.
We specially invited wheelchair users from the team of the YouTube channel "Eyes Wheel Wheel (大瞳小椅)" to participate. They recorded their immediate feelings, the overall journey and their reviews of the event during the visit, so as to share this unforgettable journey with more people. Through their lens, everyone can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by wheelchair users in visiting the countryside.
In addition to the fall foliage tour, this year, with sponsorship of Lee Kum Kee, the TrailWatch team explored two new accessible trails together with our partnered organisations and wheelchair users. The routes are more focused on ecological and natural encounters, providing wheelchair users with more opportunities to experience different aspects of nature and the countryside.