Making nature inclusive

Laura Ross
, 25 October 2024
Making nature inclusive
A visit from Mencap © Gesine Garz

Laura Ross

Communications Officer, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Growing up, the long summer holidays only really got started when we arrived on the Isle of Man. The island became a wild playground with the chance to go feral with my cousins. The one I looked forward to seeing most was Dominic. He was funny, tenacious, kind and born with autism and learning disabilities. The adventures we shared, and still do, ignited a flame - everyone should have the opportunity to access the natural world.

I now work for Sussex Wildlife Trust at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. It’s a site where we are committed to dismantling the boundaries that get in the way of people connecting with the nature reserve. I’m aware it’s easy for me to say that as an able-bodied person, so I invited a group from Hastings and Bexhill Mencap to give me their verdict.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve © Stuart Conway

Spending time together, visiting different areas of the nature reserve, I had the chance to listen and understand their experience from a new perspective. We’re always looking for ways to improve inclusivity and they gave me a list of things to consider; providing an alternative to the noisy hand dryers for those with sensory issues, adapting the fixed bench seating in our bird hides for people with limited mobility, changing the height of door handles to be wheelchair-friendly and adding more image-based signage.

Martin birdwatching
Martin birdwatching © Neil Pringle

Overall though, we got a big thumbs up from the group who loved the flat open paths, accessible bird hides, ramped entrance into the Discovery Centre and the floor-to-ceiling windows that offer everyone a great view of the nature reserve. Pauline Fletcher, the CEO for Hastings and Bexhill Mencap, was keen to share her views: 'I’m very impressed. I think the reserve have put an awful lot of thought into disabled access here”. Hayley, a client at Mencap, said 'It’s amazing, I love it here! It’s good for everyone regardless of your physical or learning disability'.

I’ve been left feeling that there is always more we can do, but I’m proud to be working for an organisation that’s striving for greater inclusivity and accessibility for all.

This link takes you to more information about the accessibility of the reserve 

___________

Thank you to Hastings and Bexhill Mencap for giving up their time to provide us with such valuable feedback.

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