It has taken me a while to get around to writing this blog, for which I apologise, but I wanted to give it the time and attention it deserves.
In Scotland, under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, everyone can enjoy their outdoor access rights as long as they are exercised responsibly.
In summary, these right are:
Visit www.outdooraccess-scotland.com for more information!
But what if you cannot physically take up your right to responsible access? I’m not just talking about being in a wheelchair; but also people who have asthma, chronic heart problems, arthritis or other such conditions that affect their mobility.
At RSPB Forsinard we are committed to all our visitors and this year I decided to try and make the reserve more accessible for those with limited mobility. Unfortunately the nature of blanket bog does not lend itself well to all access paths. We have two trails on the reserve; Dubh Lochan Trail (1 mile long) and Forsinain Trail (4 miles long) but neither are all access routes as the extremely wet peat of the bog tends to claim most materials that you try and lay across it. So these trails are only really suitable for able walkers with wellies and waterproofs. Despite our best efforts it is only possible to “improve” sections of these routes and we are simply unable to make them all access.
So trying to think “outside the box” a little, I decided to try offering “4x4 Safaris” on the reserve. Alright, we do not have any big cats, elephants or wildebeest; but the opportunity to take visitors with limited mobility out in one of our 4x4 vehicles would also give me a chance to talk to them about the wildlife and the conservation work that we undertake on the reserve.
As I was thinking about this idea I came across a comment on the Forsinard Forum from Keith Fisher. Keith explained that he would love to see the Forsinard reserve and would be on holiday, with his family, in Speyside in October. However, he also explained that he couldn’t walk very far. I suggested that if he could give me dates that he would be around then I would try and get one of our 4x4 vehicles and would be willing to take him and his family out on the reserve. He eagerly agreed and...well...I’ll let keith tell you about it in his own words:
“Two weeks in Scotland and that was the best day. Paul looked after us really well; thank you. Mat and Nathan were talking about it for days (both special needs adults). For me it will stay with me forever. 4x4 is the way to see Forsinard especially when you have a warden to tell you all about the reserve and what the RSPB is doing, not just today but in the future; a real long term approach. The size of the reserve and the distance you can see is amazing; maybe we didn't see shed-loads of wildlife (that’s why it's called wildlife) but that’s the way it goes. Was it worth driving from Gloucestershire to Forsinard (640 miles each way)? You bet it was, somehow we will be back!!”
Keith, Gerri, Mat and Nathan on the reserve at Forsinard
So from next April 2013 watch out for specific 4x4 Safaris being advertised on the RSPB Forsinard website as part of our people engagement events. I should stress that the 4x4 vehicles we have are normally in use for operational activities on the reserve and therefore unavailable most of the time. If anyone with mobility problems would like to get out on the Forsinard reserve you MUST get in touch with the reserve well before any visit and we will see if there is a warden and vehicle available. While we will always try our best to accommodate requests, we are extremely busy most of the year and our resources are limited. That said...you don’t ask...you don’t get!!
Panoramic photo of Keith. Gerri, Mat and Nathan on the Forsinard Reserve