Exploring all the senses in Castle Archdale Country Park
RNIB Fermanagh group have recently taken part in an interpretation tour of Castle Archdale Country Park in Co Fermanagh with ‘About Ulster’ walking guide Martin Bradley. This interpretation tour, which concentrates on stimulating the senses, was designed to provide an appreciation of the geology, archaeology and ecology of our landscape to those who are visually impaired and provided a great twist on an early summer’s stroll through the beautiful grounds of Castle Archdale Country Park. The group also experienced interactive tours around Florence Court and Castle Coole.
The tour was a great opportunity for the group to enjoy the smells and texture of the flora and fauna on offer and learn more about the origin of the wide variety of trees and flowers in bloom. A group member from the RNIB group commented, “The walk at Castle Archdale Country Park was fantastic in terms of boosting confidence and lovely to get out with other people, whilst learning about the trees and shrubs. It has been a brilliant experience and I wish it could go on for longer.”
The RNIB Fermanagh Group was set up to help people with Visual impairments get out in their local area, meet other people with visual impairments and try a range of social activities. The group is just one of forty community groups across Northern Ireland taking part in activity taster sessions which have been put in place by the Venture Outdoors - Creating Healthy Communities project.
The overall aim of this project is to support people with disabilities, minority ethnic and disadvantaged communities all over Northern Ireland access the outdoors, encouraging them to take part in outdoor activities and also learn about where they can get involved in outdoor activities in their local area.
Martin Bradley, About Ulster walking guide commented, ‘It is both enjoyable and fascinating to guide RNIB groups on interpreted walks, during which participants gain an appreciation of the natural world. I find it very rewarding to realise that in many instances these walks are probably the first time that some of the participants have been given the opportunity to experience and learn about many aspects of their surrounding environment.’ One of the RNIB group members went on to highlight, ‘ Since the sessions I have felt confident enough to go back to the venue’s with my family and it has help encourage me to go to other places.
The Venture Outdoors Project is a 3 year initiative of the Countryside Access and Activities Network and has been provided with a grant of £500,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities Programme and Ulster Garden Villages.
For more information on the Venture Outdoors – Creating Healthy Communities Project contact Maeve Curran 02890 303 930 or email maeve@countrysiderecreation.com