Crabs, Birds, and Beach Wheelchairs
By Emma Marriott, Conservation Assistant
We are a nation of beach-lovers. In Scotland, around 41% of us live within 5km of the seaside, and even those that don’t enjoy trips to the coast for its sand, sea and (if you believe in its existence) the elusive Scottish sun. Whether you’re a swimmer, sunbather, coastal trekker or avid birder, beaches are a great place to be. As an island nation, we often take their accessibility for granted. Unfortunately, a mixture of environmental barriers may prevent some people from regularly enjoying the beach and all its simple pleasures.
Moving over sand and slipways can be a tough task. Sand is bumpy, soft, or so wet that you sink, and to make things even more of a challenge it’s often strewn with seaweed and loose stones. For wheelchair users, these are obstacles that most everyday wheels just can’t overcome. Unfortunately, this leaves many distanced from the places they once enjoyed or that they’ve never been able to experience.
Fortunately, change is happening for the better. In North Berwick we’ve got access to a brilliant service worth boasting about—beach wheelchairs!
We are very fortunate here at the Scottish Seabird Centre to work in partnership with North Berwick’s Beach Wheelchairs. Founded in 2015, Beach Wheelchairs is a charity providing free access to a range of specially-designed wheelchairs that allow disabled people to enjoy the seaside to the fullest. The bright and colourful Beach Wheelchair beach hut—located at North Berwick harbour—provides hoist facilities and currently has four manual and one powered beach wheelchair, though they are hoping to acquire a second power chair in the future. The Scottish Seabird Centre has partnered with Beach Wheelchairs on a variety of events, meaning that fun and friendly sessions like beach cleans and wildlife tours are accessible to everybody.
We were recently overjoyed to welcome a group visit from the Euan’s Guide team and Ambassadors. Euan’s Guide is a charity that endeavours to provide the disabled community with the information they need to get out and about and access different areas around the country with confidence—beaches included.
It was fantastic to meet everybody. Conservation officer Emily Burton and Marine Engagement Officer Charlotte Foster led us on a wonderful wildlife tour around the harbour side and along Milsey Bay beach. We talked about edible crabs (Cancer pagurus) and the unfortunate nature of their name, sifted through colourful seaweeds and scanned the skies for seabirds. For some of Euan’s Guide’s Ambassadors, it was their first time to the beach in a very long time and we were glad to learn that they enjoyed themselves from their recent blog.
Access to beach wheelchairs has also benefited many older people who have become less mobile. For those who have lived a great portion of their lives by the sea or who simply enjoyed visiting it, it can be upsetting to discover that they are no longer able enough to visit the places that they love.
Having wheelchair access to the beach can therefore rekindle that joy. By stimulating the senses, it can also trigger positive memories in those suffering from dementia, and the fresh sea air and calming sound of the waves can reduce stress and anxiety. In fact, a 2013 study found that people were generally happiest in marine and coastal areas.
At the beginning of June, some staff and residents from Fidra House Nursing Home chose to make the most of the facilities provided by Beach Wheelchairs and joined the Scottish Seabird Centre team on a trip along West Beach. It was a tad breezy, as it often is on the east coast, but the residents seemed to enjoy themselves nevertheless and confessed that they would gladly come back another day…preferably when the sun is shining!
We are incredibly proud and grateful to be working in partnership with Beach Wheelchairs to deliver events like these. Beach Wheelchairs and their network of volunteers work tirelessly to provide access to the coast, and we’re delighted to work with them to bring people closer to marine habitats and wildlife.
For more information on Beach Wheelchairs and how you can hire them in North Berwick and beyond, see the charity’s website. For advice and information on disabled access across the UK, have a look at EuansGuide.com.
To keep up to date with what’s happening at the Scottish Seabird Centre throughout the year, check out our regular blogs or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
My role as Conservation Assistant has been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund via the New to Nature programme - an exciting initiative that is helping to support people from diverse backgrounds into environmental roles. To find out more, visit: www.groundwork.org.uk/new-to-nature-apply