Now published: CJS Focus on Overcoming Barriers in association with the Outdoor Recreation Network

24 pages in total, Natural England provide an article on behalf of the Outdoor Recreation Network on nature-based interventions for mental health and wellbeing. Referencing a number of studies the piece talks about green prescriptions and the increasing number of initiatives aimed at getting people outside. BAME communities often lack the tools needed to access and enjoy the outdoors, Judy Ling Wong, President of the Black Environment Network (BEN) describes some of the barriers and also some of the ways in which countryside managers can work with these communities to enable access. The Come Outside! model developed by Natural Resources Wales to overcome multiple barriers to outdoor recreation proved highly successful; Juliet Michael, the Programme Manager, talks about the development of the model and how it worked to overcome the barriers faced by disadvantaged communities in Wales. Surrey Choices works with people with learning difficulties to maintain the countryside and public spaces in Surrey; find out what the group does and how this involvement with outdoor activity is beneficial to the participants. Alison Irving, currently a PhD student at Stirling University carried out a pilot study to explore the reason why people with dementia were not accessing the natural environment. This article talks about her study and how she is now involved with RSPB in the creation of a new dementia friendly reserve in Scotland. The Sensory Trust details some of the different ways in which a site can build opportunities for sensory engagement and why this type of experience is so important. Phil Chambers runs through some of the barriers to accessing the countryside for disabled people and makes some suggestions for countryside managers to improve their offer to wheelchair bound visitors. One way of improving access is by using the Pony Axe S pony driven vehicle to transport you and your wheelchair. Simon Mulholland describes how and why he developed this mode of travel. Heritage Insider believes that thinking about access & threading it through everything aspect of a site can make the visitor experience better for many visitors. Find out what they suggest. Last but not least… Cairngorms National Park Authority aims to make theirs a ‘Park for All’, read about their campaign to encourage people to get outside in the park and get active. Read it here http://c-js.co.uk/CJSFocus