Latest news with #AccessforAll
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Accessible trail opens at site of famous New Forest tree
A newly upgraded and accessible trail has opened at the site of the Knightwood Oak. The Knightwood Oak, located between Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst, is the largest oak tree in the New Forest, with a girth of 7.4 metres, and is more than 500 years old. The beauty spot has been upgraded with accessibility in mind. Forestry England's team has resurfaced the car park and previous trail to ensure a flat and even surface suitable for mobility vehicles and pushchairs. Two fully accessible parking spaces are available in the car park and new picnic benches have been placed on the trail. The team has also been working around the boundary of this very special tree removing overgrown and encroaching vegetation and adding new signage and information explaining the history of this mighty tree. The work was funded by the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) through a £50,000 grant from Defra's Access for All fund as part of the NPA's ongoing commitment to ensuring the National Park is accessible to all. Richard Burke, recreation manager for Forestry England, said: "The Knightwood Oak is one of the New Forest's most famous and much-loved trees. "This additional funding has allowed us to ensure that everyone can access this special place."
Metro
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The best London lidos, ponds and outdoor pools for this bank holiday weekend
After what feels like a never-ending winter, the sun has finally put its hat on. With the UK experiencing a welcome heatwave, Brits are digging out their summer clothes, firing up the BBQs and heading for the nearest beach. In London, we don't have the luxury of a coast. But along with dozens of parks and buzzing beer gardens, we do have plenty of lidos and spots for wild swimming. So, grab your towel, slap on some factor 50, and dive right in (if the good weather holds). After a £4 million revamp, Tooting Bec Lido is finally open to the public this summer. At 90 metres long, it's the UK's largest freshwater swimming pool, catering to 1,300 Londoners. The lido offers two sessions per day, alongside special swim times to kickstart the season. As well as installing a new pumphouse and UV filtration system to keep the water clean and safe, the surrounding area has also had a glow-up. The changing rooms have been given a sleek, modern update and there's fresh landscaping around the water's edge. According to Wandsworth Council, 130 free tickets for swimming sessions will be available for eligible residents under Wandsworth's Access for All scheme. Otherwise, it's £9.40 for adults and £5.20 for kids. If you want wild swimming without travelling to the countryside, make for Hampstead Heath Ponds. Split between mixed, and men's and women's areas, the ponds have a cult following and come July will be heaving with crowds. Who knows, you might even spot a celebrity. A-listers are known to frequent the Heath, with Harry Styles, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Woody Harrelson all swimming there in recent years. Tickets are £4.80 for adults and £2.90 for concessions for 60 minutes of swimming. Tucked in the corner of Brixton's Brockwell Park, this lido is a real sun trap on a warm day. The 50m Olympic-sized pool sits beside an art deco building, with a cute café where you can refuel after a swim. Lane swims cost £8 for up to 50 minutes, and must be booked in advance. Another South London gem, this Olympic-sized heated pool has a summer sun terrace, coffee bar, and outdoor gym equipment. If you're lucky, you'll see the local parakeets flying above while you backstroke. Adult swimming sessions cost £11.50, with prices starting at £5.50 for concessions. Opened in the 1930s, this unheated outdoor pool is open to the public 365 days a year. Located near Gospel Oak train station, it's ideal for those who don't feel ready to brave the ponds. Swimming sessions start at £4.80 for adults and £2.00 for concessions, with no need to book ahead (but you may need to queue if it's busy). At Green Lanes in Stoke Newington, you can go for an open-water swim or try your hand at kayaking at the West Reservoir. It's not for the faint-hearted – temperatures are low, but it's a great spot to get used to the cold water in a beautiful setting. Once you're done, warm up with a coffee at the waterside cafe. Open water swimming – which is available between 7am and 6pm – costs £13.15. Sessions are 30 minutes. Beckenham Place Park is the largest green space in Lewisham, and although you'll get the feel of wild swimming, lifeguards are on hand to ensure everything is safe, and you can hire kayaks or paddle boards at certain times too. Whichever water-based activity you choose, the lake offers a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle. One-hour sessions cost £7.40 for non-residents. Lewisham locals pay a little less, at £6.80. Fancy hitting up one of London's most iconic 'open water' swimming locations? Head to Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park. Here you can swim surrounded by nature, before drying off in the Lido Cafe Bar with a fresh lunch and a glass of wine. If you don't want to swim, but fancy checking out the views,waterside tables are available. For a full day at the lido, it's just £7.50. According to the website, Serpentine Lido will reopen for the weekend on May 17, and then fully from 24 May. If you've got kids in tow, Hillingdon Lido is a great shout. The 1930s Grade II-listed, 50m open-air swimming pool oozes art deco charm, and is considered a 'hidden gem.' Not only are there stunning fountains to play around in, but there's also a new, heated shallow splash pool for little ones. It's close to Ruislip Lido, a sandy (man-made) beach with a lake beside it, though swimming is not permitted there. Also ideal for families, there's an ice-cream shop and play areas suited for kids. Worth the journey if you fancy a day in nature. Tickets cost £11 for non-residents. Let's be honest, this is the UK, and we're not always guaranteed good weather. More Trending And if the heavens open this weekend, Finchley Lido Leisure Centre has your back. This indoor complex combines a pool with slides, a wave machine and jets. There's also a cinema and a bowling alley for some post-swim fun. Outside, there is a 25-metre swimming pool open during the summer months. Swimming costs £8.30. MORE: I took 46 buses from Land's End to John O'Groats – the gossip I heard was gripping MORE: London King's Cross station evacuated with 'all lines blocked' MORE: 10 unmissable Time Out deals — including The Shard, burgers, bowling and more
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Accessibility scheme completed at railway station
A £6.2m accessibility scheme has been completed at a railway station in Surrey. Two new lifts and new footbridge have been installed at Leatherhead Station after work first started in January 2024 thanks to funding from the Department for Transport's Access for All scheme. Although it was previously considered step-free, passengers had a long, steep and difficult route out of the station and under a railway bridge to switch platforms while avoiding stairs, Network Rail said. Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail's local route director, said: "We want our railway to be as inclusive as possible and Access for All is opening up travel by rail to more and more people." The funding was also used to make minor modifications to existing ramps and to widen platform two. The station remained open throughout the work, which saw the existing subway with steps retained. Southern has also built a new 26-bike cycle hub on platform one - which has a pump and maintenance area and is protected by a key fob entry system. At the entrance to platform two, Southern has also installed a new double-decker bike rack for another 32 bikes and a parking area for six motorbikes. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Work starts on rail station accessibility upgrade Plans could breathe new life into town - council Disabled access issue tackled at railway station Network Rail Department for Transport
BBC News
01-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Leatherhead Station benefits from £6.2m accessibility upgrades
A £6.2m accessibility scheme has been completed at a railway station in new lifts and new footbridge have been installed at Leatherhead Station after work first started in January 2024 thanks to funding from the Department for Transport's Access for All it was previously considered step-free, passengers had a long, steep and difficult route out of the station and under a railway bridge to switch platforms while avoiding stairs, Network Rail McAuliffe, Network Rail's local route director, said: "We want our railway to be as inclusive as possible and Access for All is opening up travel by rail to more and more people." The funding was also used to make minor modifications to existing ramps and to widen platform station remained open throughout the work, which saw the existing subway with steps has also built a new 26-bike cycle hub on platform one - which has a pump and maintenance area and is protected by a key fob entry the entrance to platform two, Southern has also installed a new double-decker bike rack for another 32 bikes and a parking area for six motorbikes.
BBC News
18-04-2025
- BBC News
Network Rail gives Herne Bay station a £6m accessibility boost
A railway station in Kent has been made more accessible after £6m of improvements were carried Bay now has two new lifts, each capable of carrying up to 16 work, which was finished in March, took 16 months to complete, with both platforms now having step-free access to the main Rail said it was planning similar work at other stations across the region, in partnership with the Department for Transport's Access for All scheme. David Davidson, Network Rail's Kent route director, said: "We want our railway to be as inclusive as possible and Access for All is opening up travel by rail to more and more people."Herne Bay is just the latest station to be completed with more to come across our network over the next few years."Work has also started on a major scheme at Hither Green, and another project at Shortlands is set to be completed in the coming weeks." Steve White, Southeastern Railway's managing director, said: "This scheme supports the strong increase in the number of passengers with accessibility needs choosing rail travel."Encouragingly, the majority are now travelling as turn-up-and-go customers, without needing to pre-arrange assistance."To provide easier access from platform to train, we are also working to replace our ageing Metro trains with a more modern and accessible fleet."
