25 September 2024
The first Changing Places toilet in the North York Moors National Park is now available for public use at Sutton Bank National Park Centre. Its opening is the latest milestone in a series of improvement works that have seen the landscapes of the North York Moors made more accessible than ever before.
Changing Places toilets offer enhanced accessibility by providing essential equipment like adjustable benches, hoists and extra space for caregivers. They ensure dignity, hygiene and comfort, allowing more people to visit beautiful areas and attend community events without facing the barrier of inadequate facilities. The radar key operated toilet has been funded as part of a grant from National Grid’s Landscape Enhancement Initiative.
Chris Pye, Manager of Sutton Bank National Park Centre, said: “We have always worked hard to ensure as many people as possible had access to the famous Sutton Bank views, but over the last two years, this has really switched up a gear.
“We now have two all-terrain Tramper vehicles available to hire through our partnership with Outdoor Mobility and a choice of two stunning trails, including to Kilburn White Horse.
“We’re incredibly proud to be adding a Changing Places toilet to our list of facilities, as we know these make such a crucial difference to so many families.”
All-terrain Trampers are now available at seven locations across the North York Moors, with a brand-new vehicle and trail launched at Danby Lodge National Park Centre earlier this month. Both National Park Centres also have robust, custom-built wheelchairs available to borrow free of charge.
It’s been a big year at Danby Lodge, with the much-anticipated new playground opening shortly before the summer holidays. The playground itself is designed with accessibility at heart, featuring a level platform that provides wheelchair access to the top of a double-width slide.
Lucy Heal, Manager of Danby Lodge National Park Centre, said:
“It’s very exciting for us to have launched our first Tramper trail that extends in a circular loop around our grounds and even through to Crow Wood. Our new playground offers so much more for children that have additional accessibility requirements and it’s been an absolute delight to see this being enjoyed over summer.”
Visitors to the National Park Centres or other locations in the North York Moors, are always advised to make their own checks to ensure individual accessibility requirements can be met before travel.
More information on accessible attractions and the Outdoor Mobility Tramper hire scheme can be found at northyorkmoors.org.uk/access-for-all
ENDS
Media contacts
Nina Beadle
Communications Office
North York Moors National Park Authority press@northyorkmoors.org.uk or 01439 772700
The North York Moors National Park
The North York Moors is a beautiful landscape of stunning moorland, ancient woodland and historic sites. Created on 28 November 1952, it became Britain’s sixth national park. Covering an area of 554 square miles (1,436 square kilometres) the National Park has 26 miles of coastline, two national nature reserves, 840 Scheduled Monuments and over 3,000 listed buildings, attracting an estimated 8.4 million visitors a year.
The National Park has two visitor centres, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre, providing opportunities for cycling, walking, eating, picnicking, shopping, crafts and wildlife-watching. The centre in Danby also houses the Inspired by… gallery, which features regularly changing exhibitions by artists who draw their inspiration from the North York Moors.
The North York Moors National Park Authority works with a wide variety of people to care for this beautiful corner of Yorkshire, providing apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities with nearly 14% of staff being apprentices from local families.
To view other press releases and for further information about the North York Moors National Park, visit www.northyorkmoors.org.uk