We put accessibility at the forefront of our work to help launch an exciting new addition to Northumberland’s historic Bamburgh Estate. Set to open in spring 2025, the Bamburgh Walled Garden is designed to be a “space for all,” featuring fully accessible sensory gardens, a café, play areas, and the village’s first Changing Places Toilet.
The Walled Garden
Located just a stone’s throw from its sister attraction, Bamburgh Castle, the Walled Garden has a rich history, having been first laid in the 1600s. For over 400 years, it has been an integral part of the Bamburgh Castle Estate. Now, estate owner Francis Watson-Armstrong is breathing new life into the overgrown gardens, transforming them into a thriving, accessible space for everyone to enjoy.
Visitors will soon be able to relax in the garden’s café, nestled within the footprints of an old glasshouse, where they can enjoy coffee or lunch sourced from local suppliers. Little ones will have the chance to climb, jump, and swing through sustainably-built playgrounds. Then, kids and adults alike can dive into the sensory gardens—no ‘keep off the grass’ signs in sight.
At the heart of the attraction is Bamburgh village’s first-ever Changing Places Toilet, a cornerstone of the garden’s mission to be accessible to all. Open to everyone, whether they’re visiting the garden or just passing by, this facility ensures that needing extra assistance won’t stand in the way of a great day out with family and friends.
Bringing Accessibility Online
Bamburgh Walled Garden’s commitment to accessibility isn’t just limited to its physical venue – it’s a value we set to carry over into their brand and website, too.
With only 3% of the internet fully accessible to people with disabilities and 1 in 6 adults living with a disability, we knew it was crucial to design a website with inclusivity at its core.
For example:
- People with vision impairments might use screen readers to have text read aloud to them, so websites need to have properly labelled images and buttons.
- Those with limited mobility might have trouble using a mouse, so pages need to be easily navigated with a keyboard.
- People with colour blindness or low vision might not be able to distinguish certain colours, so the colours we choose have to serve more than just aesthetic appeal.
We paid close attention to colour choices, iconography, and user navigation to ensure the experience is welcoming to all visitors. When it comes to UX, we also made sure the website is user-friendly, with clear and intuitive pathways that accommodate a wide range of needs.
Stepping offline, the brand’s iconography serves as practical guides both on the web and within the physical garden, enhancing the overall visitor experience.
With these considerations in place, our team ensured the new brand identity still chimed with the existing Bamburgh Castle brand, respecting the Walled Garden’s rich heritage while introducing a fresh, modern appeal.
Explore the new website here. Or, head here to dive into our other work.
