Accessibility at Gardeners Leamouth

This accessibility statement explains how the Gardeners Leamouth website is designed and maintained to be usable by as many people as possible, including disabled visitors and people using assistive technology. We aim to provide an accessible digital experience that supports everyone interested in the Gardeners Leamouth area, its green spaces, and community gardening activities.

Our accessibility commitment

We are working to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1, level AA. These guidelines describe how to make web content more accessible for people with a wide range of access needs, including visual, hearing, motor and cognitive impairments. Our goal is to ensure that people can access information about Gardeners Leamouth, local gardening projects and community events without unnecessary barriers.

Accessibility is an ongoing process. We review content, design and functionality regularly, and we aim to address issues as they are identified. As the Gardeners Leamouth area develops, we will continue to improve the website so that new information and services remain accessible.

How the website is designed to be accessible

The Gardeners Leamouth website uses a responsive design so that pages work on a range of devices and screen sizes, including mobile phones, tablets and desktop computers. Text is written in plain language where possible, and headings are structured to make pages easier to follow and navigate.

Colour contrast is chosen to make text easier to read, and we avoid relying solely on colour to convey meaning. Images that provide important information include alternative text to support visitors using screen readers.

Screen reader support

The website is designed to work with modern screen readers. We use proper heading levels, descriptive page titles and meaningful labels for form fields to help visitors understand the structure and purpose of each page. Where images illustrate gardening activities or features of the Gardeners Leamouth area, we aim to provide alternative text that explains their relevance.

Interactive elements, such as navigation menus and buttons, are coded so that screen readers can identify and announce them clearly. We seek to avoid content that flashes or moves in a way that may be difficult to interpret or could cause discomfort.

Keyboard navigation

You should be able to navigate most of the Gardeners Leamouth website using only a keyboard. This includes moving through menus, following links, completing forms and accessing key sections of each page. Visible focus indicators are provided so that you can see which element is currently selected as you tab through the content.

We aim to ensure that keyboard focus follows a logical order that matches the visual layout of the page. Keyboard traps, where focus gets stuck on a particular element, are avoided. Where complex components are used, we work to ensure that keyboard shortcuts and controls are clearly identifiable and usable.

Known limitations

Although we aim for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, some content or features may not yet fully meet this standard. For example, older documents or media relating to Gardeners Leamouth may not be fully accessible. Some third party content or embedded tools that we do not control may also present accessibility challenges.

We are reviewing these areas and plan improvements over time. If you experience difficulty with any specific content, please contact us so that we can offer an alternative format or make reasonable adjustments.

Requesting information in an accessible format

If you need information about Gardeners Leamouth in a different format, such as large print, audio description or an easy read version, you can contact us and explain what you need and which page or document you are interested in. We will discuss your requirements and aim to provide a suitable alternative as soon as we can.

Reporting accessibility problems

We welcome feedback about the accessibility of the Gardeners Leamouth website. If you find a problem that is not mentioned in this statement, or you think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact us and tell us which page is affected, what the problem is and what device, browser or assistive technology you are using. This information helps us investigate and fix issues more quickly.

Continuous improvement for the Gardeners Leamouth area

Accessibility is a core part of how we present information about the Gardeners Leamouth area and its gardening community. As we add new content, expand services, or share updates about local projects, we will test against WCAG 2.1 AA where possible and look for ways to make the site easier to use. Your feedback is an important part of this process, and it supports us in making the Gardeners Leamouth digital experience more inclusive for everyone.