Botanical Garden in Poznan
What is it?
The main aim of the project “Botanical Garden: COME IN! VSTUPTE! KOM IN! WEJDŹ! GYERE BE!” was to develop methods of making the botanical gardens accessible to visitors with special needs. Project participants met five times in the partnership countries, working, among other things, on the preparation of the guide with methodology for working with visitors with special needs in botanical gardens.
The final stage of the project was an international conference held in Poland, in Poznan, entitled: „Botanical garden: A green world for everyone! Educational activities for visitors with special needs in green spaces”. As part of the conference, participants were able to visit the exhibition of all the senses “Never alone – Secret of Symbiosis” organised at the UAM (University of Adam Mickiewicz) Botanical Garden.
The theme of the exhibition was to showcase various forms of symbiotic relationships between living organisms. It was developed so that visually impaired people could learn about plants using the senses available to them – taste, smell, touch.
Why is it important? / How can it help the professionals of the cultural sector?
The results of the project have important implications for botanical garden staff through methods designed to work with the visually impaired. The methodology includes practical tips divided into several sections: visitor comfort, verbal communication, non-verbal communication and conclusions with general principles of communication (one of the most important: we treat visitors equally, respecting human dignity).
In addition, the guide offers tips for working with visitors with hearing impairments, visitors with intellectual disabilities, visitors with neuropsychiatric disorders, visitors with reduced mobility.
Project /organisation name
Where (country / region)
Type of institution
Permanent or temporary exhibition / project
Date
Physical / digital
Public targeted
Visually impaired persons
Device/ inclusive features
Collaborations / partners
- Botanical Garden in Prague
- Gothenburg Botanical Garden
- Hungarian Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta.
Funding
Funded by the ERASMUS + programme
Replicability/adaptability
The methods of making botanical gardens accessible to visitors with special needs developed in the project are easily adaptable in the context of other such facilities.
Websites
Results / impact
The Guide available in EN: “BOTANICAL GARDEN: COME IN! Visitors with Special Needs in Botanical Gardens Methodology”
https://ogrod.amu.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/metodologia_wersja_angielska.pdf