Yorkshire Water enhances access around some of its scenic reservoirs

It is a pleasure to visit the countryside, watch wildlife and breath in fresh air. But for large sections of society many areas are out of bounds.

For people with disabilities access to the countryside is often severely restricted. Wheelchair users in particular, find they are restricted to those places where special access routes have been created.

Now, at sites across Yorkshire, not only will they and other people with disabilities be able to discover more areas of natural beauty, but will be able to explore further afield.

As the second largest landowner in Yorkshire, Bradford-based Yorkshire Water, is striving to enhance access around some of its scenic reservoirs so more wheelchair users can visit these popular upland beauty spots.

According to the firm’s research, most visitors to its 70,000 acres of land are currently white, middle class and between 35 and 55 years old. In a bid to attract more disabled people, the company is improving pathways and disabled facilities at its most popular reservoir destinations.

“We have 115 scenic reservoirs dotted around the region and all these are popular with dog walkers, picnic-goers, runners, angler and cyclists, but we now want to make some of them more inviting to, disabled people as a go-to destination,” says Geoff Lomas, recreation manager at Yorkshire Water.

“This may mean improving paths around reservoirs by making them flatter, wider and addressing any surface issues so wheelchair users’ needs are met.”

Yorkshire Water has teamed up with Experience Community, a not-for-profit community interest company who help disabled people access the countryside. The company has introduced the Mountain Trike, a special all-terrain wheelchair which enables disabled people to explore places they would otherwise struggle to reach.

Since the initiative - which has also improved access for conventional wheelchair users - was launched pathways have been improved at Grimwith in the Yorkshire Dales near Skipton, working in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, and Swinsty in the Washburn Valley north of Otley, with work due to be carried out at its neighbouring reservoir Fewston.

Improvements have also been made at Damflask in South Yorkshire and Langsett on the edge of the Peak District. The work has already resulted in more disabled group trike rambles.

Ogden Reservoir near Halifax and Scammonden near Huddersfield are also wheelchair-friendly.

“This is about inclusion - making activities that are normal for most people accessible to disabled people,” says Craig. “At Grimwith 700 metres of footpath was narrow and very muddy with a one foot-wide footbridge. Now it is so different, it is incredible.”

Around two million people visit Yorkshire Water’s land, including reservoirs, ancient woodland, and moorland, every year. These locations have become increasingly popular since they first opened up to the public after privatisation of the water sector in 1989.

Experience Community hold Mountain Trike taster sessions at Oakwell Hall in Birstall, which can be booked. They are also making films of activities that can be enjoyed at Yorkshire Water’s sites, showing the reservoir pathways.

“Disabled people want to know that if they are going to visit our sites they can do so with confidence, knowing that they can get around. We want them to be able to go off the path as well,” says Yorkshire Water spokesman Tom Underwood. ”Having direct links with Experience Community will help to get the message out there.”

As seen in events such as the recent Invictus Games in London, physical activities for people with disabilities can boost confidence and aid recovery and rehabilitation.

Those who have already sampled the experience have been thrilled by it. “The feedback we have got, especially from people who have had an accident and become disabled” has been brilliant,” says Craig. “They did not think they were going to be able to experience the countryside like this. It is not just about access it is about achievement.”

He adds: “Gaining access to the countryside for disabled people has been an uphill battle, but co-operation from landowners such as Yorkshire Water really makes a difference. Through working with them we’ve been able to identify various reservoirs where small changes to infrastructure such as widening a gate or better access has been provided. There are now new longer routes with varying levels of difficulty that we can use with our rambling and hand cycling groups.”

In time, Yorkshire Water hopes to roll out the scheme to other reservoirs across the region.