Treasures of Pleasure and Leisure in Cambridge thanks to the University

The final batch of nominations for TW2B 2007 included two famous assets of the city, and it was good to learn that they are being recommended by disabled visitors.

We have had a nomination for the University Botanic Gardens, and this is the second time it has been recommended for the special tours they arrange for visitors with visual impairment. To quote from the nomination form:

"They offer free monthly guided walks for visually impaired people. These focus on non-visual aspects of the garden and include smelling highly scented plants, stroking bark and bird song. Staff and volunteers are sensitive to the needs of visually impaired people."

I first went to the Botanics soon after I moved here because I signed up as a volunteer for Crossroads and I was given the job of taking a gentleman out in a wheelchair. He knew Cambridge like the back of his hand, but could not speak following a stroke, so I just followed his hand signals, and one day found myself in the Gardens. It was wonderful!

On another occasion he directed me to the Fitzwilliam Museum, only in those days we had to go round the back, via the goods entrance, where apparently this gentleman was a familiar sight, judging from the greetings of various workers on their teabreak.
Nowadays things are very different, I'm glad to say, and as our nominator says:

" The museum is so accessible. The staff are friendly and helpful and the tea and cakes are lovely. I am a disabled person, I love art and this has opened up treasures on my doorstep."

Cambridge residents do indeed have treasures on our doorstep!

Rain or shine, this autumn, what are we waiting for?!