Launch of new gardens website for people with disabilities

Accessible Gardens (www.accessiblegardens.org.uk) will be launched on 12th April 2011, just in time for Easter, with an introduction by its champion Christine Walkden.

The website will have a Directory of gardens with accessibility reviews written by people with disabilities to help others. The Directory already has reports from gardens in 12 counties, and it is hoped that it will build up to cover the whole of the UK as people submit reports.

www.accessiblegardens.org.uk will also have information on accessibility and articles about people, organisations and groups involved with gardens. The first articles will include one on the accessibility forum at Kew, a piece by Bettina Harden on visiting gardens, an article on Lottery Funding for accessibility projects and an article on the Therapeutic Landscapes Network in the USA. More information and articles will be added throughout the year.

Belly D'Arcy, Accessible Gardens Consultant, invites people with disabilities and/or carers to share their experiences when visiting gardens - good, bad or indifferent. The information will be placed on the website and sent to the garden concerned so it can be used to either trumpet their good accessibility or perhaps change things.

If you would like to send in a report, please contact Bella D'Arcy for details on what information to include.

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