Sensory walks for the blind and partially sighted have been launched at Tyntesfield.
Located just outside of Bristol, it has introduced an accessible tour of the grounds.
The National Trust team at Tyntesfield has introduced this interactive walk as part of their continued efforts to promote accessibility.
Volunteers lead visitors on a gentle walk through the estate, bringing Tyntesfield's history to life and encouraging visitors to indulge in their senses.
Nick Deering, who leads the walks, said: "As a volunteer I have really enjoyed taking people with varying degrees of sight around Tyntesfield and witnessing their reactions at being able to enjoy different elements of the estate for the first time.
"In addition, we have learned to appreciate Tyntesfield from a different perspective – the smell of freshly mown grass, the touch of leaves and buds, the songs of the birds and the rustling of the trees.
"It’s a pleasure taking visitors on this journey with us."
Crucially, the creation of these walks involved collaboration between the Tyntesfield team and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), alongside independent consultants Judy Pride and Mark Austen.
All parties worked together to develop a bespoke walk that considers all senses and caters to each visitor.
Paula James, the visitor operations and experience manager at Tyntesfield, said: "Working in partnership with other organisations allows us to tap into their expertise to ensure the experience we are providing is appropriate and caters for the participant’s needs."
Richard Shuker of the RNIB added: "RNIB’s latest research shows that more than seven in ten (71 per cent) of blind and partially sighted people say spending time in nature and getting outdoors supports their mental wellbeing."
Before the collaboration with RNIB, Tyntesfield had established a partnership with The Guide Dogs Association.
This association had delivered free sighted guiding training sessions to their staff and volunteers throughout 2023.
In the future, Tyntesfield plans to continue its commitment to accessibility with the development of an Audio Descriptive tour of Tyntesfield House, along with sensitised walks around the estate.
The sensory walks and tailored tours for blind and partially sighted visitors’ will take place on the second and fourth Friday from 11am.
For more information and to book, visit the National Trust Tyntesfield website.
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