HOW CAN WE IMPROVE ACCESS TO NATURE?

Add benches

I will stick my neck out: the single most effective way to enable the ‘silent majority’ to access reserves and country parks is to provide lots of simple benches. Many people can go further and see more if there are places to sit, or even just perch to recover energy or let stiff joints settle. Someone who can’t walk 200m at a stretch may be able to manage a 1km circuit if there are benches every 100m.

Build boardwalks

Gravel, shingle and sand are very real physical barriers to lots of people, yet are the surface of choice for paths on many reserves. Steep slopes also stop many of us in our tracks. Boardwalks are one easy solution – they lessen inclines, eliminate difficult surfaces and are environmentally low-impact.

Remove barriers

Our nature reserves are stuffed full of gates, stiles and fences. Most able-bodied people don’t even notice them; they’re part of the landscape. But are they all necessary? Good design can solve many problems. Sometimes livestock does not actually need to be corralled. Often a gate can be replaced with a cattle-grid, and a stile with a wheelchairfriendly kissing gate. Where inappropriate use is the issue – such as keeping motorbikes out – then other solutions are needed that can stop a motorbike but allow access to wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Design hides for better viewing

Why should youngsters, shorter people and the elderly have to put up with viewing slots too uncomfortable to reach because it’s ‘easier’ to make them all one size or height? And it’s even harder trying to do it from a wheelchair or mobility scooter. Unless we keep asking for variety, we won’t get it.

Provide mobility scooters

All-terrain mobility scooters don’t come cheap and it’s an unfortunate fact that many mobility-restricted people are pensioners and benefit claimants. Even those with deeper pockets find transporting these large scooters very difficult. However, there are growing numbers of pre-bookable scooters at nature reserves. Wouldn’t it be great if there was an organisation dedicated to funding more?

Change attitudes

One of the biggest barriers is the ‘holier-thanthou’ attitude of some people. If you don’t think this counts as a barrier, try driving along a naturereserve track where Blue Badge holders are permitted. The dirty looks and stares one gets are as intimidating as stiles or stairs. Some excellent reserves have thought really hard about access – the problem is that help often has to be requested. If a wheelchair user has to ask for help, many will just not bother to go there again. Having to ask is an unnecessary barrier and can be off-putting.

Do something!

If you want to help get the ball rolling, nothing could help more than an assessment of your local nature reserve. It’s not hard and you can do it over a number of visits when you would be out enjoying the wildlife anyway. All you need is a form for guidance, a notebook and pen, your camera phone and a tape measure. For more details and to download a form, go to www.birdingforall.com/reserve-assessment.