Leading Gloucestershire visitor attraction, Slimbridge Wetland Centre, has won two gold awards at the 2023/24 South West Tourism Awards — one of which recognises its commitment to accessibility.
The WWT site was put through to the awards after winning gold for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award at the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Awards in December 2023.
Slimbridge was delighted to win a further two gold awards at the finals, held at the University of Exeter on Thursday 14 March 2024 — an incredible achievement which recognises its dedication to providing memorable visitor experiences for all, particularly those with accessibility requirements.
The win comes a year after Slimbridge opened its new Changing Places facility, giving visitors use of a larger accessible toilet for severely disabled people, with features including a hoist, washbasin and adjustable changing bench.
Markers' feedback from the awards said: 'WWT Slimbridge is certainly an expert in the accessibility field and many other visitor attractions could learn from the initiatives that WWT Slimbridge have implemented. The visitor attraction is taking steps in advancing its facilities to improve the wellness of its visitors with some significant site redevelopments.
'Access is central to every decision that is made across this site, this is evident with the Changing Place toilet and the Living Wetland Theatre — both designed with access at the core.'
The Living Wetland Theatre is Slimbridge's open-air theatre space, staging interactive live demonstrations where visitors can see birds soar overhead. Films are subtitled and audio played through speakers, with a fixed hearing loop also in place; the theatre has large tiered seating with ramp access, too.
Across the site, there's a number of accessible exhibits and a large portion is wheelchair-accessible, with a fleet of mobility scooters and manual wheelchairs for visitors to use — aligning with the WWT's mission to connect more people with nature and make wildlife accessible to everyone.
Winning gold at the South West Tourism Awards means that Slimbridge will now be entered in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2024, in which the centre has previously won a bronze award for accessibility.
For even more accessible days out in the county, see SoGlos's hot list of Gloucestershire's most accessible attractions that cater for visitors with additional needs.
