National Trust buys child all-terrain wheelchair

The National Trust has invested in its first all-terrain wheelchair for children to enable them to explore more of the Oxburgh Estate

A stately home has introduced its first all-terrain wheelchair for children to use to explore the grounds and property.

Oxburgh Estate in Oxborough, near Swaffham, Norfolk, hopes the wheelchair will increase accessibility support for young heritage explorers at the National Trust site.

“We are incredibly excited about the arrival of our new mountain trike, designed especially to meet the needs of young people,” said Emily Parker, Oxburgh Estate’s operations manager.

The initiative came after a member of the Oxburgh team, Louise Turner, visited another attraction with her son who needs a wheelchair, but the one offered was completely unsuitable.

The initiative will help wheelchair users explore the Oxburgh Estate

Ms Turner had called ahead and booked a wheelchair at the site for the day of their visit.

“When we arrived, the wheelchair that we collected wasn’t suitable for a child to use," she said.

"It was huge for my then ten-year-old, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - a life-limiting muscle-wasting condition.

"He was totally lost in it, completely unsupported, uncomfortable and embarrassed about his diminishing street cred in front of his cousins."

Oxburgh Estate has a fleet of accessibility aids available for adults, as do many other National Trust sites, but until now, none were specifically designed for, or could be safely used by children.

The powered wheelchair is the estate's first accessibility aid specifically for children

Keen to be more inclusive, Oxburgh has increased accessibility by improving pathways, adding hearing loops and installing accessible picnic benches, offering sensory bags.

“We're aware we still have more to do to develop an offer that really benefits all of our visitors,” said Ms Parker.

“We'll continue to listen and learn from those who work, volunteer and visit, to achieve our ambition.”