Cared for by generations of the Berkeley family, Spetchley Park & Gardens offers something for everyone from families enjoying the open spaces around the lake, to garden enthusiasts exploring themed 'rooms,' to plant lovers discovering rare and unusual species.
Located just three miles from Worcester and close to Junction 6 of the M5, Spetchley Gardens is one of Worcestershire’s hidden gems.
What made you want to join the Accessibility Programme?
We wanted to improve the visitor experience for all of our visitors.
What did you find was the most useful part of the Accessibility Programme for your business?
Understanding the needs of people with different disabilities and learning what small changes we could make to help visitors have a more enjoyable experience.
What changes have you made at Spetchley Park & Gardens since the Accessibility Programme to make it more accessible & inclusive?
- Step-by-step video guide: We are developing a detailed video guide to show visitors what to expect before and during their visit, highlighting sensory experiences such as sights, sounds, smells, and textures across the Gardens. The guide will feature videos, pictures, sounds, and spoken descriptions, helping visitors with accessibility needs plan their visit more confidently.
- Improved visual contrast: We have changed our welcome mat from black to blue/grey to provide better visual contrast for visitors with visual impairments.
- Enhanced signage: We have updated toilet signage to clearly indicate that our accessible toilet is open to all visitors who need it.
- Accessible guides: We are incorporating video content into all our guides wherever possible.
- Staff training: Our team has been trained in how to use the ramp for café access, where there are two steps down.
- Outdoor seating improvements: We have added more wheelchair-accessible tables and additional parasols to provide shaded seating areas.
- Improved visitor introductions: Our team now ensures that visitors are aware of accessible routes and mobility support options around the Gardens.
- Community partnerships: We are collaborating with The Myriad Centre a charity supporting adults with profound learning disabilities to provide gardening experiences for their clients and to explore the development of specific sensory areas within the Gardens.
What benefits have you seen for your business since making these changes?
Our team feels much more confident in welcoming and supporting all visitors. They are now better able to identify potential accessibility needs and offer tailored support during visits.
What has the feedback been like from your visitors/customers since you have made changes to your accessibility?
Although we have only just reopened for the season, early feedback has been very positive. A recent visitor said: "Thank you for showing our mother how easy the mobility scooter is to use. Our visit today has been brilliant for the whole family."
What advice would you give to other businesses thinking about making changes to their accessibility?
Please do it! It's incredibly rewarding to see the happy whether it is the families of the person with the disability or the smiles of the person with the disability when they discover how wonderful the Gardens are. Simple changes can have a big impact.
Are you planning any further changes to your accessibility over the coming months? New products, expansion etc.
Yes!
- We aim to continue working with organisations such as Dementia UK, Age UK, The Myriad Centre, and local SEN teachers to find more ways to make the Gardens accessible and enjoyable for even more visitors.
- We are also hoping to provide British Sign Language (BSL) training for our team
What would you say to encourage other businesses to get involved & improve their accessibility?
The Accessible Tourism Programme helped us realise that while we were already doing some good things, there were lots of small, easy improvements we could make.
Since taking part, my eyes have been opened to how much more we can do to make Spetchley Park & Gardens a wonderful experience for everyone. The changes we’ve made so far haven't been expensive, but they are already making a real difference.