Sunday, February 27, 2011
Measurements
We need to plan the allotment so that it is accessible by as many people as possible, and that includes those with different levels of mobility, including those who use wheelchairs. So we need to think about having raised beds, and paths that are easy to negotiate. But how high should we make the raised beds? Reference to the very helpful Thrive website gives us some answers. For example, they recommend that the minimum path width for those using a wheelchair needs to be at least 900mm. For raised beds, Thrive supply an excellent leaflet, that can be downloaded and printed off here. As a rough guide, they recommend a maximum bed width of 500mm if the bed can only be accessed from one side, and that the height of the bed should be approximately 900-1000mm (for somebody who gardens standing up), 690-760mm (for those sitting) and 615mm (for those in wheelchairs). I think we need to make raised beds that are of different heights.
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Also took a look at the measurement discussion with Thrive. They have a wealth of practical experience which is going to be priceless. My first thought is that a variety of heights sounds a good plan, although people need to move around from one to another according to the work in hand so perhaps a few in between i.e not a perfect height but useable sitting or standing could be worth considering but then we will have to consider bending issues; good for short people though! Raised beds can usually only be accessed side on which can limit time if people need to reach or twist round too much, so some thought may be needed about how close in people can get. This will depend on the chair to some extent. It is often easier to plan on an individual basis e.g. self propelled chairs have larger wheels which can be a problem, arm rests may be removable or not. Wheelchairs can be very variable but I am guessing that most will use a fairly standard issue. I could get more information on that from one of the wheelchair services easily enough. You will need to think about turning space too. Once beds are planted, they tend to stay that way for a while with just the up keep/weeding to do but there is often potting on which can be done, so having potting stations with easy access for a chair to be positioned straight on will give some flexibility. I suspect you have already thought of that one. I have also seen things like parsley grown in suspended beds, in fact a whole field of half tubes/pipes just held by wooden posts at intervals with grey wallabies hoping between them, presumably they don't like parsley!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gwyn, I look forward to being able to exploit your professional occupational therapy knowledge!
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