Summary
Disability and equality
There are over 8.6 million disabled people in Britain. This group is very varied, and includes people with hearing, sight, speech and learning impairments as well as those with physical impairments. Finding ways to ensure equal access and enjoyment of the outdoors for all groups of people is an important aspect of the diversity and equality agenda which is supported by the Equality Act 2006 and the amended Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
Identifying different recreational needs
The Forestry Commission is working hard to realise its duties under this legislation to actively promote, select, consult, and include disabled people groups of people in the development of policies and services of importance to them. Answering the challenges of the equality and diversity agenda means learning more about the expectations, needs and potential mechanisms for including different users of woods and forests, such as the wide range of disabled groups and the variety of recreational activities they undertake in woodlands.
Research objectives
The aims of this project were to determine the reasons for disabled people’s low participation in woodland leisure activities. Key research objectives were to explore:
- Disabled peoples’ attitudes, perceptions and experiences of woodlands and how these affect use
- Disabled peoples’ physical, information and emotional needs in relation to woodland, and make recommendations on ways to increase access for disabled people
- Processes of communication and engagement with disabled people and make recommendations to improve service provision.
Key findings
Attitudes and experiences in woodland were generally positive. Woodland recreation:
- Stimulated different senses
- Was a way to relieve stress and use places to ‘get away from it all’
- Presented a positive outdoor challenge extending skills and experience.
Barriers to disabled people’s access to woods and forests remain, including:
- Attitudes (many disabled people feel they are not ‘expected’ in the countryside)
- Lack of appropriate facilities and equipment
- Poor provision of information in suitable formats
- Lack of suitable transport
- Concentrating on the needs of those with physical impairment
- ‘Over protective’ service provision.
Outputs
Summary of research, findings and receommendations (PDF-652K)
Burns, N., K. Patterson, et al. (2008). Exploring disabled people's perceptions and use of forest recreation goods, facilities and services in Scotland, England and Wales (PDF-472K). Glasgow, Strathclyde Centre for Disability Research, Glasgow University for the Forestry Commission: 83.
Learning about disability
Three different research projects were commissioned to provide information about disability access issues. In addition to this project the others were:
- Assessing the contribution of forestry grants to equal access for disabled people to recreation goods, facilities and services in Scottish woodlands
- Enhancing the forest sector’s contribution to equal access for disabled people to recreation goods, facilities, and services in Scottish forests
Forestry Commission’s diversity and equality policies
The Forestry Commission is committed to promoting equality to the users of its goods and resources, its services and public functions, as well as amongst its employees:
- Forestry Commission Equality and Diversity Strategy (PDF-343K)
- Forestry Commissions Disability Equality Scheme (MS Word®-154K)
Funders and partners
The project was funded by the Forestry Commission Scotland, commissioned by Forest Research and undertaken by the Strathclyde Centre for Disability Research, University of Glasgow.
Status
This project was completed summer 2008.
Contacts
Bianca Ambrose-Oji
Forestry Commission Wales Office
Gwydyr Uchaf
Llanrwst
Conwy
LL26 0PN
Tel: 0300 068 0300
Email: bianca.ambrose-oji@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
The Diversity Manager
The Forestry Commission
Silvan House
231 Corstorphine Road
EDINBURGH
EH12 7AT
Tel: 0131 314 6531
E-mail: diversity@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
