Accessibility Statement for Gardening Forest Gate

This accessibility statement explains how Gardening Forest Gate area works to make community gardening and related online materials usable and inclusive for as many people as possible. We are committed to meeting accepted accessibility standards and to improving accessibility where we find gaps. Our approach covers physical community spaces, digital content about Forest Gate gardening, and events in the local area.

We follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA level for our online content and aim to apply the same usability principles to in-person sessions and printed resources. This means we continuously test pages and resources for contrast, clear semantic headings, and predictable navigation to reduce barriers for people with disabilities who want to participate in Forest Gate gardening activities.

To support assistive technologies such as screen readers we ensure that key content uses descriptive headings, ARIA landmarks where necessary, and meaningful link text. For people relying on speech output, our menus and content follow a logical structure so that information about Forest Gate community gardening — events, volunteer roles, and accessibility provisions — is announced in a readable order by screen readers.

We prioritize keyboard navigation so visitors who cannot use a mouse can still access everything important on our pages. You can navigate to interactive elements, such as registration controls for gardening sessions or maps of the Forest Gate gardening plots, using the keyboard alone. We also test focus order and visible focus indicators so users can tell where they are on the page.

Physical accessibility in the Forest Gate gardening area is equally important to us. Raised beds at accessible heights, clear routed paths, and seating options are considered when planning activities. When organising a community planting or horticulture session we provide alternatives and reasonable adjustments to enable full participation.

Our content design emphasizes readable text: ample line-height, accessible font sizes, and support for zooming without loss of content or functionality. When we publish resources about Forest Gate gardening techniques we make sure files are available in accessible formats where possible, and that images include descriptive text for those using non-visual browsers.

Ongoing testing and monitoring is part of our accessibility work. We use a mix of automated checks and manual user testing to find and fix issues. This includes checks for:

• Contrast and colour use that meets WCAG 2.1 AA requirements
• Proper heading structure and semantic markup for screen-reader friendliness
• Keyboard operability for all interactive components

We strive to make information about Forest Gate gardening activities inclusive: event descriptions, site maps, and volunteer guidance are written plainly and structured so they are easier to navigate and understand.

If you experience any barriers while trying to use our resources or participate in an activity in the Forest Gate gardening area, please let us know. We will work with you to provide an alternative format or reasonable accommodation. Examples of reasonable adjustments include providing printed materials in large print, arranging a quieter workspace during events, or offering one-to-one guidance on site.

We value ongoing improvement: accessibility plans are reviewed regularly and updated as technologies and community needs evolve. Staff and volunteers receive training on inclusive communication and accessible practices for the gardening site and digital materials to help maintain a welcoming environment.

Thank you for your interest in accessible gardening in Forest Gate. To make an accessibility request or to report a problem, contact our accessibility team using the contact methods listed on our community pages; we will acknowledge your request and propose a solution or timeline for remedy. We are committed to transparency and continuous improvement.