The Accessible Marches

Eric Sayce, a visually impaired walker, is climbing over a three-barred style with a cross bar step. He is wearing walking boots and a sunhat. On the left of the picture a man is opening the dog gate so that Eric's Guide Dog Harry can go through. Behind them there are green fields with grazing sheep and some clumps of tall trees.

Eric Sayce and Harry

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A countryside access research project

The Dog Rose Trust carried out a European funded project to produce a high quality visitor information package for people who are blind and visually impaired.

Eric Sayce, dressed in waterproofs and cap ready to go walking, is leaning over a map of the area which is mounted at an angle on a stand. Eric is running his fingers over the tactile elements of the map. Beside him is his Guide Dog, Harry, a large German Shepherd.

Examining a tactile map

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The Trust worked on an information tape that captures the atmosphere and character of the area of Shropshire and Herefordshire adjacent of the Border Marches of England and Wales. Special music has been composed by Adrian Williams for both the wild Shropshire Hills and the rippling streams of the valleys. The narration has been done by John Kirkpatrick, an internationally known folk singer who is much involved with the music of the area. Interviews with local people involved in the visitor activities will be included. This information is available in large print and Braille together with a tactile map.

Clun Museum: A dark-haired woman wearing glasses stands behind a display case holding up a script and reading it into the microphone in front of her. In the background are the white-washing stone walls and a window of the old Museum building and some of the exhibits in cabinets and displayed on the walls and screens.

Recording audio at Clun

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In Shropshire, work has been done at Clun Museum to make it accessible and there is a guide for a walk around the town. The Maltings Cafe in Clun has its menu on tape, in large print and Braille. There is an audio guide also for the historic parts of Craven Arms.

There has also been a focus on three areas for walking in the country; the iron age fort of the Bury Ditches, the rugged Stiperstones and the gentler Onny Trail. All of them have a different type of terrain and character and information about them and a multi-sensory approach to enjoying them can be found on audio guides which have been produced in conjunction with English Nature, Forestry Commission and The Shropshire Hills Countryside Unit.

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