Black History Month event

Black Disabled Lives Matter with thanks to @jtknoxroxs for the image

We are very happy to announce that we were successful in our application to Greenwich #RBG for two Black History Month events.

There will be a webinar on 5th October and a small interview and videoing event on the 10th October.

See more information at this post on the webinar

Register for Webinar https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/culture-access-28016946337. URL for webinar will be posted to those who registered.

We are working with BME Volunteers, Greenwich DPAC . Thank you for the support from Woolwich Centre Library and Bathway Theatre, Greenwich University.

Funded by the Royal Borough of Greenwich for Black History Month 2020

If you’re interested in being a participant, do write to us at eleanor@cultureaccess.co.uk or send us a tweet at @cult_access

Greenwich for an accessible day trip

woman wheelchair user looking at river next to heritage building looking at new buidings across the water
Greenwich along the river

We have many friends who come visit us in Greenwich. Some of these friends are disabled and, quite a few of them, are wheelchair users.

We thought it would be useful to write up some information for visitors – especially those who are here for a day trip to Greenwich.

Arrival

By DLR /Cutty Sark Station Cutty Sark DLR station has step-free access. It is a light metro station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) Bank-Lewisham Line in Greenwich Town Centre.
By train there is a train service (from London Bridge station). From the station bus 177 will take you into the town centre. However, it is within walking distance but the pavements are not too even with some cobblestones and sometimes blocked by dustbins. The station itself is accessible.
By the underground/North Greenwich station is on the accessible Jubilee Line. From the station, there are many buses, you can take the bus 129 or bus 188 (you can take this bus from Waterloo or Russell Square all the way from London) towards Greenwich centre.
By boat Thames Clippers is another way of getting to Greenwich from the city of London. They are accessible by ramps. (but they are not always easily negotiable. You might require some help.)

the DLR station at Cutty Sark
the DLR station at Cutty Sark

Sites to visit

Greenwich landscape from the Observatory with tall buildings in the back with historical buildings in the foreground
Greenwich landscape from the Observatory with tall buildings in the background and historical buildings in the foreground

These are the sites we would recommend as places not to be missed in a visit to Greenwich:

The National Maritime Museum / Greenwich Park

The National Maritime Museum is a free museum good for the whole family and it has Greenwich Park

The Observatory

The Observatory is worth a walk up even if you dont go in (price £14 – £16}. It has a great view. There are two routes up, a steep path or a more gradual but longer route).

Cutty Sark

Here are some videos we took of the accessibility of the Cutty Sark a few years go.

The open space near the Cutty Sark is usually bustling with stalls, buskers etc and often music to entertain the tourists and residents.

Entrance Prices

The 02 area/ Greenwich Peninsula

The 02 is adjacent to the North Greenwich Tube station. There are also buses (188) connecting to Russell Square and (108) to Stratford International as well as to neighbourhood areas like Woolwich and Lewisham. There is also parking free for those with Blus Badges.

See the Tides Festival if you re coming for that event.

Alongside it the Emirates airline/ cable car .

Accessible toilets

There is an accessible toilet (needs a radar key) by the exit of the N Greenwich station. And at the 02 with the restaurants too, many of them have accessible toilets. And a Changing Places toilet.

portaloo

At the city centre, near the Cutty Sark, there is a portable loo.

All along there are restaurants and pubs, some of which have accessible toilets although it must be said that they are not so easy to locate.

There is another Changing Places toilets at IKEA.

Accessible restarants in Greenwich

Access to conservation:Greenwich Meantime Plant Nursery

First posted at Connect Culture

The Meantime Plant Nursery is an innovative volunteer powered project, aiming to put vacant development land to good use growing plants. The Conservation Volunteers are now offering a new volunteering opportunity at the Meantime Plant Nursery:

-learn and develop horticultural skills such as plant propagation and maintenance.
-enhance your DIY and carpentry skills, building new raised beds, irrigating polytunnels and constructing staging.
-discover dendrology with the ‘Remarkable Tree Project’, our new initiative to find and multiply London’s most unusual and unique trees.

Volunteer days are held every Tuesday from 10-3, tea, coffee, biscuits, and all tools, training and equipment will be provided.

I went along to volunteer one Tuesday and found a cheery welcome. We are sorting out how to be most useful to the project. Plans include a suitably high worktable and possibly raised bed.

Michael and Pat
Michael and Pat

The venue has level access and cleared paths with good surfaces for wheelchair users.The site is at the Greenwich Peninsula West Parkside, easily accessed by buses to the Meridian village near the 02 on Jubilee Line (accessible station North Greenwich). It is a good place to relax in a green environment set up in an urban space.

There is a ramp into the office. Unfortunately there is not an usable accessible toilet on the site yet. (But there is an Odeon Imax cinema within a few minutes walk and several restaurants and a B&Q)

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We are developing a project on accessible conservation and planting project together – watch this space!

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More photos at the flickr page.

Also have a look at this blog on the website which is slightly different from here.

Next blog would give an idea of how the pilot project has developed