Gardeners Barbican Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement explains our commitment to making the public spaces maintained by the Gardeners Barbican group accessible to everyone. We aim to meet inclusive design standards and to provide a clear explanation of what we do to support people with different needs. Accessibility is central to how the Barbican gardeners approach landscaping, path design and signage, and we work to ensure that information and physical routes are usable by as many people as possible.

Our accessibility aims cover both digital and physical environments in the Barbican gardening areas. Where possible we follow WCAG 2.1 AA compliance principles for any public-facing digital information about planting, maintenance schedules and route descriptions. We also focus on on-site cues such as tactile markers, contrast on signs and seating placement to support mobility and wayfinding. The team of Barbican gardeners collaborates with accessibility advisors and local partners to apply best practices in inclusive horticulture.

We provide a range of accessibility features designed to assist visitors and volunteers. Key digital supports include support for screen readers and proper semantic structure for content about the gardeners at the Barbican area. Physical supports include level pathways, accessible seating areas and clear sightlines. Where maps and planting plans are offered online, they are structured to be navigable via keyboard and to expose meaningful headings for assistive technologies.

The Gardeners Barbican team ensures that our online materials work well with assistive technologies. Our content is created with a focus on compatibility with common screen-reader software, clear heading hierarchies and alternative text descriptors for images that explain visual information. We test pages for logical tab order and focus states so that keyboard navigation is reliable, efficient and predictable for all users.

Accessibility features we maintain include:

• WCAG 2.1 AA aligned content structure to help people using assistive tools;
• Screen-reader support through semantic markup, descriptive links and meaningful image descriptions;
• Keyboard navigation and visible focus indicators to ensure full operation without a mouse;
• Contrast and legibility improvements for signs and maps in public planting areas;
• Clear, plain language in instructional and informational materials provided to visitors and volunteers.

How we test and improve accessibility

We use a combination of manual review, assistive technology testing and automated checks to identify barriers. Our process includes routine checks for WCAG 2.1 AA criteria, trials with screen readers to confirm content order and labelling, and keyboard-only walkthroughs of interactive material. When physical features are updated, the Barbican gardeners evaluate routes and signs for contrast, tactile cues and seating access to maintain inclusive outdoor spaces.

We welcome accessibility requests and take them seriously. If you require information in an alternative format or need assistance related to accessibility for in-person visits to the Barbican gardens or for digital materials about our gardening work, please contact our accessibility team through the channels provided by the organisation. We will respond and make reasonable adjustments to support your needs. Our commitment is ongoing: we regularly review procedures and improvements to ensure that gardeners based in the Barbican area remain welcoming and accessible to all community members.