A FREE accessibility event held in Gisburn Forest proved to be a resounding success, with every spot on the two-day symposium quickly reserved, writes Lesley Tate. Meanwhile, there is plenty going on in the area over the summer.

 

Hosted by The Forest of Bowland National Landscape team and Access the Dales, the accessibility event was described as an ‘exciting celebration of what’s possible’, and was designed to help organisations, businesses and individuals learn more about accessibility, share examples of best practice and engage in inclusive activities in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Activities included bushcraft skills, foraging, forest bathing, charcoal sketching and more, with workshop discussions focused on autism, dementia, mental health, inclusivity in the outdoors and tourism.

A variety of all-terrain wheelchairs were also available for the duration of the event for delegates to try out for themselves.

Organisers were delighted to welcome staff from Paralympics GB who were filming for their Everybody Moves programme during the event.

Sustainable tourism officer for the Forest of Bowland National Landscape Hetty Byrne said: "Feedback from the event has been incredible and very humbling. We were joined not only by visitors from the local area, but also from Kent, the Wye Valley, the Lake District, Northumberland, and even Fife and London.

"We were thrilled that the event was so well received and opened up some really important conversations around accessibility and inclusivity. Delegates were keen to take part in a host of outdoor workshops while sharing ideas with each other and learning from our session leaders.

"We know we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible, and we hope that attendees will take lots of ideas away and be inspired to create their own events or implement what they’ve learned on a day-to-day basis."

Sarah Dornan, countryside access officer for the Forest of Bowland National Landscape added: "Events like this provide a wonderful opportunity to come together and share experiences and best practice. We are proud to showcase what’s on offer in Bowland and delighted that we could offer this event to people for free, which was made possible via DEFRA Accessibility Funding."

Meanwhile, people are being invited to step outside this summer and 'discover the beauty of Bowland'.

Whether you take a journey through time, get close-up to nature with your smartphone, or venture out for a guided nocturnal walk, the Festival Bowland events programme is a great way to discover the Forest of Bowland and surrounding countryside.

Take a walk through time in the Trough of Bowland on August 21 and step back millions of years to discover the geology of this popular visitor destination. The morning will also offer the chance to look for minerals and fossils along the way.

Why not head out at dusk and explore the night-time world of the bat? These flying mammals are fascinating creatures and there is no shortage of guided walks this season, including at Gisburn Forest on September 6.

For those with a creative eye, Friday September 6 offers half day workshops on smartphone nature photography at Gisburn Forest and nature-inspired pottery in Slaidburn, so why not discover your inner artist?

And, as the summer draws to a close, journey to Dunsop Bridge on September 7 for an immersive morning of movement in the Centre of the Kingdom.

Singing and songwriting workshops inspired by the call of the curlew and led by nature writer, Karen Lloyd and musician, Mary Keith have been taking place. The call of the curlew heralds spring and has inspired a wealth of folklore, poetry, art and music. Calls are composed of both major and minor tones and can provoke strong feelings of both sorrow and joy. Perhaps this explains why curlews have stirred such a range of responses from poets, musicians and writers.

Mary and Karen will use the call of the curlew as the melodic starting point for new songs, written and composed together with workshop participants. There will be the opportunity to perform the songs in Masham Town Hall, as part of the North of England Curlew Conservation Awards on August 18.

The first in July took place at Malham Methodist Chapel and a second took place on August 4 at Leyburn Arts Centre. The last is due to take place in Nidderdale at The Owl Barn on Sunday, August 11 from 10am to 4.30pm. Half of the places are allocated for people directly linked to curlew conservation, whether through work, art, or volunteering, and the other half on a 'first come, first serve' basis. An ability to read music is not needed and workshops are free.

Tickets: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/nidderdale-nl/t-vvdxdev Forest of Bowland National Landscape project officer, Sandra Silk, said, "Bowland has beauty in every season but, as the heather starts to cover the fells, this is a fantastic time to get out and experience this wonderful part of Lancashire and North Yorkshire. The Festival Bowland programme has a whole range of events - many of them free or low-cost – and they offer a great way to explore the area."

Full details of all the Festival Bowland events, including booking information and costs, can be found on the Forest of Bowland National Landscape website - https://www.forestofbowland.com/ For details of Access for All opportunities in the Forest of Bowland visit: www.forestofbowland.com/access-all-guide