Improving Access, One Project at a Time
The Access for All programme is a Defra-funded initiative that provides financial support to England’s Protected Landscapes, including National Landscapes and National Parks, to help remove barriers and make nature, heritage and outdoor spaces more accessible for everyone. In the Tamar Valley National Landscape, Access for All funding has supported a range of practical projects designed to improve access for people of all ages and abilities, creating more opportunities to experience and enjoy the area’s special landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage.
Here are a few of the projects Access for All helped to fund last financial year:
Bere Ferris benches and boards:
Thanks to funding from Defra’s Access for All programme, Bere Ferrers Parish Council has installed a new accessible bench and community noticeboard at Weir Quay, helping more people enjoy this beautiful riverside location. Positioned to make the most of the stunning views across the River Tamar, the bench includes a level space alongside it for pushchairs and mobility aids, making it easier for everyone to stop, rest and enjoy the landscape. The nearby noticeboard has a lower viewing height and features large, high-contrast interpretation panels sharing information about the area’s history, wildlife and natural environment.
The project was marked by Richard Leithall, Chair of Bere Ferrers Parish Council, and Jane Hart, Project Officer for Tamar Valley National Landscape, who met at Weir Quay to celebrate the new installations.
Access for All funding has also supported the installation of five new benches along the Tamara Coast to Coast Way across the Bere Peninsula, including in Bere Ferrers village and at Weir Quay. Made from recycled plastic bottles and maintained by the Parish Council, the benches provide welcoming places for walkers to pause and enjoy the surroundings. Three of the benches have been generously donated by local families in memory of much-loved parishioners, creating lasting spaces that can be enjoyed by both residents and visitors.
Bere Ferrers Community Orchard:
Bere Ferrers Community Orchard also now has accessible seating supported by Access for All funding. The new bench and picnic table were put to good use at the opening event on Blossom Day, 26th May, a local resident remarked “It’s lovely to see the orchard looked after and to have a peaceful place where we can come, on the edge of the village. Having the benches makes a real difference, especially for older people who may need somewhere to rest when out walking.” The Tavy and Tamar Apple Group have additionally been busy pruning trees, planting new trees, making other site improvements and providing training, with support from the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.
Philip Hygate FRSA, Chair of both the National Landscapes Association and the Tamar Valley National Landscape shared “The Bere Ferrers Community Orchard is a fine example of collaboration within the Tamar Valley National Landscape. It beautifully demonstrates what can be achieved by community effort combined with very modest financial contributions from the National Landscape and local councils. It respects the past traditions of the Tamar Valley with its at least two centuries of orchard fruit growing and proclaims a determination to give the beauty and nature friendly experience of orchards to generations yet to come. Well done to all involved.”
Wacker Quay paths and parking:
With support from Access for All funding, Tamar Community Trust has made important improvements to parking and footpath access, helping more people enjoy this much‑loved riverside site. Since managing the vegetation and footpath from 2011, the Trust recognised that the area was difficult for older visitors, people with mobility challenges and families with young children. Part of the parking area has now been carefully cleared and reshaped to create a clearly marked disabled parking bay, offering easy access, excellent views up the River Tamar and a welcoming space for bird‑watching. Drainage improvements have also been made to manage surface water safely, and nearby ground has been seeded and stabilised to provide a firm, accessible surface where a wheelchair‑friendly picnic table and bench will be installed through a separate grant.
Further improvements have been made along the footpath leading towards Antony, including surface upgrades, vegetation clearance and better drainage to resolve long‑standing water issues. These changes have made the path easier to use for people with walking difficulties and pushchairs, while opening up new viewing areas with stunning river views, especially valued by birdwatchers. The work also included the safe and legal removal of fly‑tipped asbestos uncovered during clearance. Despite challenging weather conditions, the project was delivered through the dedication of Phil Harwin, supported by local volunteers and Venture Scouts, who worked tirelessly over 15 days to help make this site safer, more welcoming and accessible for the whole community.
“We are delighted to have received two Access for All Grants through TVNL, enabling us to improve the paths at Calstock Wetlands and Wacker Quay as well as creating a dedicated Disabled Parking Bay and wheelchair viewing area. This will be further enhanced by the addition of specially designed benches and picnic table, thanks to a National Lottery Environment Grant.” Gill White, Tamar Community Trust.
Audio and translation walks:
Access for All funding has helped make the Tamar Valley’s network of walks more inclusive by expanding how people can access and enjoy them. Audio versions of the catalogue of walks have been recorded and will be added to the website, allowing users to download the routes and listen to instructions, local history and points of interest as they walk. This makes the walks more accessible for people with visual impairments, learning differences, or those who simply prefer to explore the landscape through audio.
The funding has also supported the translation of both written and audio walk guides into German, French and Polish, working with Multilingua Devon. These languages were chosen to reflect the Tamar Valley’s strong connections with international visitors and local communities, including long‑standing interest from German tourists, links with France through the Cordial project, and the significant Polish community living in the Southwest. By offering walks in multiple formats and languages, the project helps ensure that more people feel welcome, included and confident exploring the Tamar Valley landscape.
More information about all our Access for All projects will be uploaded to our website. The Access for All fund has now come to an end. However, details of alternative Access funding through Defra, will be made available soon.
