Sense the Dales at Bolton Abbey Estate
August 26, 2010
Sense the Dales
Free event in the National Park to stimulate the senses for people
with disabilities of all ages and their families.
Bolton Abbey Estate
Cavendish Pavilion
4 September 2010
10.30am to 3.30pm
A unique event for people with sensory impairment is being staged in the Yorkshire Dales National Park later this year.
Visually or hearing impaired visitors to the Bolton Abbey Estate on 4 September will be able to take part in guided walks, practical conservation tasks and family nature activities – all designed and interpreted with them and their enablers in mind.
The free event, called Sense the Dales, is being organised by Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) Outreach Officer Catherine Kemp and Access Development Officer Rachel Briggs, and Natural England.
The pilot is aimed at encouraging more people with disabilities to visit to the National Park.
Catherine said: “The aim is two-fold – to enable people with a form of sensory disability to experience a range of activities that are suitable for all and to give us and Natural England an opportunity to learn from the day.
“We’ll be asking how well participants think ideas worked and were delivered, and then we will use the results to shape our work. Those who take part in the activities and evaluation will pay a reduced car park charge to the estate.
“We want to see a countryside that is accessible to everyone and we are aware that, at present, there are limited opportunities for people with disabilities to fully access the National Park. “
Rachel said: “There has been a great deal of work on increasing the length of rights of way suitable for people with limited mobility, and we have complimented this with a suite of leaflets describing points of interest and trails.
“Now we are looking to find new ways of signing and interpreting this special place and holding more events that are accessible for people with a sensory impairment.”
A Natural England spokesman said: “This ‘taster’ day will promote disabled access provision using examples of good practise. An understanding of how to improve provision in the National Park for disabled visitors in the longer term is the aim of the day for the National Park Authority and Natural England.’
Just turn up on the day – or pre-book before 27 August and receive 50% car-parking fee back!
For more information, or to book, please contact: John Griffin by email
John.Griffin@naturalengland.org.uk or phone 03000 604209
Sign Language Interpreters have been booked for this event
This page was created on: and last modified on September 2nd, 2010 at 15:42.
