Nature doesn’t discriminate
How one woman has launched a campaign aimed at helping disabled people enjoy the great outdoors to the fullest
One woman’s campaign to make nature accessible for all
Nature doesn’t discriminate and neither should we. Sir David Attenborough’s documentaries show us we can go to the depth of the oceans, the plains of the savannah or to the isolation and cold of Antarctica. However, for two-thirds of disabled people, the armchair is as close to the natural world as they will get. As a result of the general lack of information on accessibility, many disabled people are deciding against visiting tourist attractions, according to The British Tourism Survey 2013, The British Visits Survey and The Disability Holiday Directory. As someone who is passionate about the natural world and who happens to have a mild physical disability called cerebral palsy, I can empathise with other disabled people who are experiencing barriers at their local nature reserves, which has meant they cannot fully enjoy these natural surroundings. I was shocked about how little this issue was being discussed at a national level and in 2016, I decided that I had to do something about it. So, I set up a campaign called All for Nature & Nature for All. Last summer, I undertook my first initial access audit for the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. Disability covers a vast area and it was important to me that I created an audit that looked at a variety of potential issues that disabled people come up against when visiting nature reserves. I came up with nine key elements which I investigated in detail, including barriers (eg gates and fences), interpretation, the sensory experience, facilities, and public transport. The audit check list was adapted from one which had been sent to me from the RSPB. I was asked to review six of the most visited nature reserves in the county. My goal of doing this access audit was never to rip the countryside apart, so that it would fit the needs of disabled people, but to work alongside nature and the infrastructure that is already in place. On the other hand, if a nature reserve is open to the public it should therefore be accessible to all, which is largely not the case. As an advocate and campaigner, I have learnt through the access audit process that there are a number of key factors
that have to be taken into consideration. It’s like walking on a tight rope with one hand holding a copy of UK Disability Rights legalisation and the management plan of nature reserves in the other. This makes it extremely difficult to strike a perfect balance between the needs of people and wildlife. As my results revealed in the audit I undertook, there were common trends throughout all the sites reviewed. The biggest issues to come out of this access audit were interpretation (signage), not enough being made of the sensory experience, and the lack of accessible toilet facilities at three nature reserves, which are advertised as accessible sites to visit. Out of the three major issues that were established, the one of most concern was the lack of accessible toilets. For many disabled people, facilities such as accessible bathrooms, can be the difference between visiting a place or not. Recent statistics prove this, according to Visit Britain, good accessibility benefits all visitors. Disabled people have the greatest need for accessible facilities and services, but only about 8% use a wheelchair, with many more having other mobility, hearing or visual impairments.
No access
However, despite this fact and both the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and Equality Act of 2010 being in place, it is shocking that, in 2018, we have nature reserves advertised to the public, that are not truly accessible to all. Bird Watching columnist Bo Beolens, the founder and chairman of Birding for All, is not surprised by this, at all. He said: “I don’t believe we have come very far when young, fit wheelchair users presenting nature programmes insist that no special provision needs to be made.” In terms of going forward from my first initial access audit, I presented these results to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust in January this year, along with a report that offered recommendations on how they could make the six nature reserves more accessible to all. With regards to the accessible bathrooms, it was decided that one of the nature reserves should team up with a local supermarket that offers these facilities. This is a start. However, I feel it does not go far enough, and I am intending, with a local disability network forum, to put more arguments going forward for accessible bathrooms on all these sites. Shrewsbury-based amateur wildlife photographer Jason Neal said: “I have two disabilities: epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Due to the fact I need exercise, going out can help my health. A trip to the quarry or nature reserves gives me more confidence that I am able to get out and about.” There are many health benefits of visiting nature reserves and other green places, especially for those with disabilities. In this time when many services for disabled people are being cut, it is vital that we keep our nature reserves and parks open for the health and well-being of all people. As recent studies have shown, there is a connection between nature and being happier and healthy. According to a recent study that took place at the University of
IT IS SHOCKING THAT, IN 2018, WE HAVE NATURE RESERVES ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC, THAT ARE NOT TRULY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
Michigan on mental fatigue and stress, it was found that being in nature improved attention span and can improve cognitive development. Despite there being some movement forward in wildlife organisations’ understanding of mental illness and disability – access still seems to be area shrouded in darkness. I fear there are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, there is a lack of understanding when it comes to disability. This is largely owing to the fact that disability covers a wide range of both physical and mental conditions and it often depends on people’s life experience on how much they understand about the subject.
Better information
I have found that, among wildlife organisation staff, those who best understand the subject work within the community and education sectors. Therefore, the answer could be in education and by better informing those at all levels within the conservation and ecology sector about disability, we can ensure that there is a more inclusive approach when developing management plans for nature reserves. Secondly, in order for this to work, the law must be taken into consideration. The Equality Act of 2010, stated under Countryside Services: “4.1 Under the Act the provision of services includes the provision of goods or facilities. It does not matter whether services are provided free or in return for payment. It is the provision of the service which is important not the nature of that service or the type of situation in which it is provided. All countryside services are therefore covered by the act: walks programmes, events, information, interpretation, paths and trails, visitor centres, etc.” If a nature reserve is open to the public and is advertised as being accessible and inclusive it must demonstrate that it is. Failure to do this means a wildlife organisation is contradicting the Equality Act. According to Brian C. George, author of A Journal of a Year in the Life of a Blue Badge Birder, the RSPB boasts that it has more than one million members and the Wildlife Trust claims 800,000 members; (combined almost two million people). He believes that half of these will be retired and a percentage of these will have a disability. Surely, there is an opportunity here to talk to people with additional needs. One of the key factors I learnt through undertaking my first audit was how certain things, such as sensory trails, would not only appeal to those with multiple and profound disabilities, but also to families with young children. Therefore, an improvement such as this will benefit more than one group. Birding For All, working with the RSPB, have been able to achieve this. Bo Beolens adds: “Perhaps the key to this has been
enlightening people to the fact that ‘disability access’ is not just about catering for wheelchair users, but the ‘hard of walking’, scooter users, and that better access is needed for ALL. Just improving ‘disabled access’ is missing the point that barrier-free access benefits small children, pregnant mothers, elderly people and a diverse range of needs.” Bo added: “Provision for the mythical ‘average’ person excludes the majority from full access… the key is providing a range of facilities whether it be variable height seating and viewing slots in hides to the generous provision of simple benches and perches along trails. “There is nothing that can be done in this way that makes it worse for anyone and a variety of provision actually means most people have better access.”
Improve accessibility
I asked Jason Neal which service or provision he would like to see a nature reserve put in place so that it could be more accessible to him and also to other disabled people. He replied: “Going to a place where you are shown around to see different animals, it would be useful to have more than one person giving the talk because a group of disabled people wouldn’t be able go at the same speed and may need things repeated a couple of times before they fully understand what they are being told, as well.” In conclusion, things can be done to improve accessibility and I believe this starts with a need for greater dialogue between wildlife organisations and disabled people. Both need to take the initiative and communicate with one another.
IF A NATURE RESERVE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IS ADVERTISED AS BEING ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE IT MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT IT IS