Dorset Council’s Durlston Country Park in Swanage has scooped bronze in the South West Tourism Awards in the ‘Accessible and Inclusive Tourism’ category.
The award recognises the effort by staff, volunteers and disability organisations to make Durlston one of the best places in the south-west for people with disabilities to visit or volunteer.
Durlston now offers tablet-based tours in British Sign Language, Easy Read leaflets for people with learning disabilities, a Visual Story to help visitors with autism prepare for a visit, as well as ‘Tramper’ off-road mobility vehicles and friendly helpful staff and volunteers, trained in disability awareness along with many other resources.
Volunteering at Durlston is also now more accessible than ever, thanks in part to the National Lottery funded Everyone Needs a Shed! project which offers new ways to volunteer in a friendly, informal setting.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “We want to make Dorset’s fantastic coast and countryside accessible to as many people as possible, and this award represents a huge step along the way.
“As part of our ‘Durlston Pleasure Grounds’ project, over the next couple of years, we will be adding new accessible interpretation, improving paths, seating and access around the Park and creating a new sensory play trail.”
