The Forest of Bowland National Landscape and Access the Dales are delighted to be hosting a two-day celebration of inclusivity in the countryside. Access for All: A Celebration of What's Possible, will be held on the 25th and 26th of June at Gisburn Forest – a Forestry England site in the Forest of Bowland.
This exciting free event is aimed at organisations, businesses and individuals delivering Access for All opportunities, who would like to share best practice and engage in inclusive activities in an outdoor setting.
The first day will include a series of workshop sessions led by subject specialists, delivered in the beautiful woodland setting at Gisburn Forest.
Topics and discussion will focus on - autism, dementia, mental health and inclusivity in the outdoors as well as tourism and accessibility and an introductory session to British Sign Language.
Evening festivities will include casual conversations, music and a campfire and a guided evening bat walk will be available for those interested in exploring the forest after dark.
On the second day, we will be extending opportunities for the public (via invitation), and experiencing a range of inclusive, outdoor activities. These will include: forest bathing, bushcraft, story time movement, a navigation workshop, nature connection with sound, an alpaca experience and a foraging & wellbeing wander.
A variety of all-terrain wheelchair providers will be attending and will be bringing a wide range of vehicles for delegates to try. These include: TGA, TerrainHopper, Tramper, Mountain Trike and Paratreker.
We are thrilled to provide a platform for meaningful connections and shared experiences in a welcoming and inclusive environment and we invite any relevant organisations to find out more and secure a free place at: www.forestofbowland.com/access-all-event
Sarah Dornan, Countyside Access Officer for the Forest of Bowland National Landscape said:
“It’s about providing opportunities for as many people as possible in the outdoors, and events like this provide a wonderful opportunity for organisations and businesses to come together and share experiences and best practice. We are delighted to showcase what is on offer in Bowland and that we can offer this event to people for free, which is being made possible via DEFRA Accessibility Funding'.
In the last 6 months, the Forest of Bowland National Landscape has partnered with Access the Dales to explore making the inaccessible accessible and to break down the barriers that prevent people living with disabilities enjoying the great outdoors, either independently or with their friends and family. There are several hub locations in the National Landscape where all-terrain wheelchairs are free to hire and can be used along designated trails – including Dunsop Bridge, Whitewell, Gisburn Forest Hub and Sabden. For further information visit: www.forestofbowland.com/access-bowland