Accessibility Statement for Gardeners Forest Gate Services

Gardeners Forest Gate is committed to providing a website and local gardening services that are accessible to the widest possible audience, including disabled customers and visitors with access needs. We aim to make it easier for people in the Forest Gate area to find and use information about our gardening services in an inclusive and barrier-free way.

Our Accessibility Commitment

Our goal is to align this website with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, version 2.1, Level AA. These international standards define requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities.

We are working to ensure that both our online content and our in-person gardening services in Forest Gate are as accessible and welcoming as reasonably possible.

Current Level of Compliance

The Gardeners Forest Gate website is designed with the aim of being largely compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines. This includes using clear structures, readable text, and consistent navigation to support visitors using a variety of devices and assistive technologies.

While we work towards full conformance, some content or older pages may not yet fully meet every requirement. We are continuously reviewing and improving our site to close any accessibility gaps we identify.

Screen Reader Accessibility

The site is developed to support people who use screen readers and other assistive technologies. We use headings, paragraphs, and lists in a logical order so that screen readers can interpret the structure of each page. Text alternatives are provided for images where possible, so that important information about our gardening services in Forest Gate is available in text form.

Where we become aware of content that is difficult to interpret with a screen reader, we will take steps to revise or replace it so that key information remains accessible.

Keyboard Navigation

The Gardeners Forest Gate website is designed to be navigable using only a keyboard, without the need for a mouse or touchpad. Visitors can move through menus, links, and form fields using standard keyboard commands such as the Tab, Shift plus Tab, and Enter keys.

We aim to maintain clear focus indicators so that it is easy to see which element is currently selected. If you experience difficulty completing a task using only a keyboard, you can contact us to request assistance or an alternative method of accessing the information.

Text, Colour and Layout

We use simple language where possible so that our gardening information is easier to understand for all visitors. Colour contrast between text and background is being checked and improved so that content is easier to read, particularly for users with low vision or colour-vision differences.

Pages are designed to be responsive, allowing visitors to zoom or adjust text size using their browser settings without loss of content or functionality wherever possible.

Ongoing Improvements

Accessibility is an ongoing process. We regularly review feedback, update our content, and check the site against WCAG 2.1 AA guidance to identify areas that can be improved. This includes reviewing new features before they are added to the site and updating older content that may not fully meet our current accessibility standards.

Contact for Accessibility Requests

If you are in the Forest Gate area and experience any difficulty using this website, or if you need information about our gardening services in an accessible format, you can contact us and request support. You may ask for information in an alternative format such as large print or a simplified written summary, or request help with booking or service details.

When you contact us about an accessibility issue, please include as much detail as possible, such as the page you were visiting, what you were trying to do, and the type of assistive technology or device you were using. This helps us understand the problem and work towards a suitable solution.

Feedback and Reporting Problems

We welcome feedback about the accessibility of the Gardeners Forest Gate website and our services. Your comments help us identify problems, prioritise fixes, and plan future improvements for local customers. If you believe we are not meeting accessibility requirements, or if there is something we can do better, please let us know so that we can review the issue and take appropriate action.

We are committed to making gardening services in Forest Gate accessible, inclusive, and easy to use for everyone.