Video of my speech to Shropshire Wildlife Trust
(Featured image- shows someone holding a plant in some soil)
Nature doesn’t discriminate, neither should we. Sir David Attenborough’s documentaries show us that we can go to the depth of the oceans, the plains of the Savannah, to the isolation and cold of the Antarctica. However, for two- thirds of disabled people the armchair is as close to the natural world as they will get. Many disabled people are deciding against visiting tourist attractions due to a general lack of information on accessibility, as stated in, The British Tourism Survey 2013, The Great British Day Visits Survey and The Disability Holiday Directory.
As someone who really passionate about the natural world and who happens to have a mild physical disability called cerebral palsy. I could empathise with other disabled people who are experiencing barriers at their local nature reserves, which has meant they could not fully enjoy the natural surrounding around them. I was shocked about how little this issue of nature reserves accessibility was being discussed about on a national level and in 2016, I decided that I had to do something about this. So my idea was to develop a campaign called, ‘All for Nature & Nature for All’, which aim is to make nature accessible for all disabled people. By conducting access audits on nature reserves and consulting with local disability groups about possible improvements. As well as educating and informing those working within the wildlife conservation sector about the ways in which they can make their nature reserves more accessible. And eventually to go and speak to local disability groups, schools, colleges and residential homes, spreading awareness about how nature can be accessible for all and by doing mini workshops/talks and informing people about the local accessible nature reserves and volunteering conservation project they can get involved with.
Once I’d established my campaign I was really keen to put it into action and last summer I conducted by my first initial access audit for the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. This presentation will look at the overall current picture of these six nature reserves which I reviewing, Granville, Earl’s Hill, The Ercall, Whitcliffe Common, Woodlane and Lightmoor.
The results of the access audit addressed many key concerns I had with regards to enabling allowing disabled people to be able access nature. Main big six issues which came up out of the audit were; interpretation, barriers, paths, the sensory experience, facilities, access statements, seating. I hope to explain clearly the issues which were found in these six areas and to offer some potential solutions.
The first key piece of information I wanted to establish from my audit was which nature reserves had an access statement within their management plans. WhittCliff Common was the only nature reserve to have an access statement, with regards to accessibility for people wanting to explore the site. It is deeply concerning and worrying that out of all six nature reserves that only one had an access statement as part of its management plan. Understanding the importance of the environment is a key priority at sites such as at Granville. However, people are just much a part of nature reserves as the wildlife in which they are trying to conserve. I feel that it is important that all nature reserves have an access statement on their management plans as this way both wildlife and people can be taken into consideration.
During visits to the various nature reserves it became apparent that some sites were more accessible than others. Lightmoor was very overgrown and this made it difficult to access the site and resulting in me having to climb over the gate and many of the way makers were covered. Though I do understand that the Trust is currently manage this element of the nature reserve. However, Granville, nature reserve has a lot of potential with its wide gates which makes easy for wheelchairs and buggies and mobility. Though its biggest barrier is the stairs and there is a hand rail that which is good for people who may have mild physical disabilities. It prevents wheelchair users from seeing the view from the top. A solution to this could be to put mounted photographs of the views at the bottom of the stairs and the best nature reserve in term of this area was Whittcliff Common. Because of its open plan design and being easily accessible from via Ludlow town centre. Out of all them Woodlane was considered by far the best because it had large enough gates for wheelchairs and buggies go through and ramps into the bird hides.
Interpretation and signage were a universal issue across all the nature reserves, the text was in all the same format. However, there was no braille or audio options and none of them are tactile for people who have a visually impairment or simpler signage for those with learning disabilities or multiple and profound disabilities. Because the signage has on it reflective glass this could mean that some people with visually impairment could struggle with wording.
Once again Woodlane came out again on top because of the way in which it provides its interpretation in the form of the talking rocks. I feel this is down to the fact that this site is used primarily for education purposes.
At this moment in time none of the signage is suitable for people who have a learning disability or people who have visual impairments. There are many ways in which this could be improved such as adding braille or audio options to signs to current signs. By creating second signs with the emphasis on simpler bigger and bolder text and pictures and signs that are tactile that would allow those with PMLD and visual impairment to get a sense of the environment around them.
One area I feel that the Shropshire Wildlife Trust is not making enough of is the sensory experience and on none of the sites their no sensory trail. Not only would this benefit those with disabilities but also non-disabled people as well. The charity the Sensory Trust offers way maker symbol kits that can be easily placed in a nature reserve.
A major issue that came the access audit was the lack of accessible toilets on both the Woodlane and Granville as they are advertise as being accessible sites. I feel this is something that needs to be looked into more and addreseds, especially at this time when Changing Places, campaign states that over a 1/4 million people need Changing Places toilets to enable them to get out and about and enjoy the day-to-day activities many of us take for granted.
At Granville and Whittcliff Common and in the bird hides at Woodlane – all accessible sites, as listed in the Shropshire Wildlife Trust leaflet, the seating was of a basic nature. People with extra physical needs often require seating with more back support and arm rests. Basic seating may not offer enough support. Granville provided one bench with additional support. This is something that I feel the Trust needs to look at in more detail.
Gates, styles, pathways and trails should be kept clear of excessive undergrowth as this too can present a barrier to those with physical limitations. Nature reserves should be, of course, as natural as possible, so this too is an area for compromise, where a balance must be struck between the environment and accessibility. A good example of this was Whitt Cliff Common as it offered a range of pathways for all abilities.
I feel at this time when nature and health are so integrally interlinking it great to see the Shropshire Wildlife Trust working with medical professional to get who may have limited mobility or mental health people engaged with nature in their garden through the bird feeder project. However, as organisation I feel we could do even more to understand the needs of disabled people by making our nature reserves, as accessible as possible without compromising the needs of wildlife and their conservation.
As someone with a disability and I believe that we should always ask and never assume and that the Trust should further consult with both disability groups and parents before taking further action on these issues as my initial access audit only touches the surface of accessibility on nature reserves. It is important that the voices of all disabled people and parents are heard as my voice alone is not enough to speak for everyone in the county. By taking in the views of other disabled people and parents the Trust will have even more evidence to go on and will be able to build up greater a picture of needs before any changes are made.
I see this accessible nature reserves project taking several years to complete and being done in consultation with a variety of representative groups, with the overall aim of improving nature reserve access for all. The environment should always be preserved, and when discussing modification for access an intelligent compromise should be the aim.
As reported in 2015 in, ‘The Great Britain Tourism Survey 2013’, ‘The Great Britain Day Visits Survey,’ ‘The Disability Holiday Directory’,
- 20% of the UK’s domestic tourism comprises of visits by those with some form of impairment.
- 6% of impairments of those visiting attractions are typically a mobility impairment necessitating wheelchair use.
- 47% of impairments are classified as ‘long term sick’
- 25% of day trip groups aged 0-35 have some form of impairment
- Two thirds of disabled people decide against visiting attractions due to a lack of clear information about how accessible they are.
I feel in order to improve access to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust nature reserves we need to invest our time into access and have a real look at this in depth. By not providing facilities and access we are limiting a significant proportion of the population and also limiting the reach and potential of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. I would like continue working alongside the Trust to make this a reality as it area of which am very passionate about, for nature doesn’t discriminate and neither should we.
The Unconventional Naturalist 