Supporting people to get outdoors and enjoy time in nature is something we're passionate about at Forestry England. The physical and mental health benefits of time spent in green spaces like forests are well-documented and shouldn't be underestimated. Recognising this, we’ve embarked on a series of access improvement projects funded by Defra, to enable people with more complex access needs to visit the nation’s forests and enjoy those benefits too.
One of those projects was to increase the number of Changing Places we have available. By the end of March 2025, we will have 13 Changing Places available for use across the country, more than doubling the original number when work first began. Discover more about Changing Places and how they can make a huge difference for visitors to the nation’s forests below.
What are Changing Places?
Thousands of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well other disabilities that severely limit mobility, cannot use standard accessible toilets. People may be limited in their own mobility so need equipment to help them, or may need support from carers to meet their personal needs.
Changing Places provide a much larger space to allow wheelchair users, or those with other mobility aids, to access and move around more easily, as well as any accompanying carers to fit comfortably within the space.
Changing Places also include specialist equipment such as hoists, adult-sized changing benches, adjustable height sinks as well as the expected transfer space next to the toilet, grab rails, hooks and shelving for specialist equipment. In some Changing Places a shower is also provided.
Making a difference to forest visitors
At the recent opening of the Changing Places at High Lodge in Thetford Forest we met Scarlett, who has multiple, complex physical needs. Through British Sign Language (translated by Maria, her mother) Scarlett explained the importance of Changing Places:
I love adventures and coming to the woods is an adventure… with a Changing Places we don’t have to go home early and I don’t have to be changed on a wet, dirty floor. We can meet our friend with disabilities in the forest as they can also use the space.
Providing physical and wellbeing benefits
These life changing facilities allow visitors to have their personal needs met in warm, safe and appropriately equipped spaces. Changing Places also provide carers with space to support their loved ones and the specialist equipment to help with lifting, saving them from injury too.
Having access to a Changing Places facility means that users can enjoy a full day out before needing to return home to be appropriately cared for, enabling them to enjoy all the health and wellbeing benefits of being out in the forest just like everyone else. As one visitor reiterated:
All members of the family can now come for a day, not just a few hours. Children and adults alike who cannot transfer, can be changed safely with dignity and no more using a dirty toilet floor!
Find a forest with Changing Places
To find out if your local forest has a Changing Places toilet, follow the link below to search and then make sure to select the 'facilities and access' tab when clicking through to a forest.
