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WILDLIFE WITHIN REACH
Animals Within Reach
Most people learn about wildlife from pictures in books, images online and from documentaries or YouTube videos. Additionally, live creatures are all around us, especially birds, in our gardens, parks and in the countryside. Farm animals can be viewed across fields or at county shows. Animals from outside the UK can be seen in zoos.
Have you ever considered how blind and partially sighted people get to appreciate the vast array of wildlife that is all around us, either on screens or in our neighbourhoods.?
Apart from domesticated creatures, the animal kingdom is mostly ‘out of reach’, if your main senses are touch, smell, taste and hearing.
Bryan’s Quest recognises that tactile animal models provide an important way for the wonderful shapes, array of sizes and survival features of hundreds of animal species, to be brought ‘Within Reach’.
Animal Models – A National Collection
A well displayed collection of accurate animal models can provide everyone, including blind, partially sighted and fully sighted people who appreciate creativity, artistry and wildlife, a rare opportunity to examine the shape, size and unique features of many creatures they might never have the chance to get close to. In fact, approaching wild animals in their natural habitats is discouraged and potentially illegal!
Create and Donate
Anyone who works with wood, ceramics, metal, fabrics and even plastic can contribute their crafted animal model to our collection. The models will be used to educate visually impaired people, as well as the general public about wildlife. The models need to be reasonably accurate when compared to the living creatures, although the levels of detail will of course, vary depending on the materials used and the levels of skill involved. Basically, any model that conveys the size, shape and a few of the features, unique to that animal will provide us with a very valuable item of beauty and learning.
A wood carving, for example, will not feature the texture of a real animal, but will still provide a durable model that can convey so many interesting aspects of the creature’s form and function. A current ‘star’ of our collection is a magnificent wood-carved barn owl displaying out-stretched wings, gripping a rodent in its talons – a spectacular piece of art, for all to see and a unique tactile experience for those who cannot.
By Way of Thanks
The following options are offered to all our makers/donors:
If you make and/or donate your model to our national collection, any or all of the following options apply:
• Reimbursement of material costs (must be agreed before commencement of project)
- Reimbursement of packing and postage
- Acknowledgement for you or your Craft Club/Society
- A link to your website
- Publicity for you or your Club/Society in any way you prefer.
Contact Us
If you are considering making a carving, sculpture, fabric or any other type of animal model, to donate then we would be extremely delighted to hear from you. Your contribution can help educate blind and partially sighted people about the natural world, for years and years to come.
Please do Contact us to tell us what you are considering making and/or sending to us, it is useful to know what we might expect as it can avoid too much duplication of the same animals in our steadily growing collection. We can also discuss reimbursing some specific expenses such as for materials and postage. In some cases we might need to book a courier service to ensure your creation arrives safely and soundly.
Thank you
Andrew
Bryan’s Quest Trustee
The Sound of Nature
Contribute Your Audio
To add your audio recording to the growing list of ‘sounds of nature’ please use the following upload form. Any type of noise made by animals or environmental conditions are very welcome.
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Submissions Form
Please Share Your Non-visual Nature Experience
If you’ve heard, touched, smelt or tasted something interesting, in a nature attraction or wild place, then, share your experiences in the form below.
Similarly if you’re a nature professional tell everyone what non-visual sensory experiences you have for visitors.
Add An Image
You can include up to two photos relating to the non-visual experience, we will add some alt text description, if you haven’t already done so.
Non-visual Nature
Introduction
This page considers the dominance of the sense of sight when it comes to appreciating nature, then it goes on to reflect on the opportunities to present the natural world in other sensory ways.
Just Looking
For most people, appreciation of the natural world is predominantly a visual experience; the other senses have their place, but these tend to be secondary to using eyesight. In fact it might be hard to imagine how features such as distant mountain ranges, seascapes, meandering rivers, tree-tops, breaching whales and star filled sky’s could be observed in any other way than to be seen.
Then, there are the closer nature encounters such as watching a beaver build a dam, a spider creating a web, a tufted duck resurfacing from a dive, spotting an adder, slithering back in to a Cornish hedge or witnessing an ant hauling a leaf back to its nest.
Since wild animals should never be touched by the general public, it is fair to say that, for example, the scale and size of a hump-backed whale or the shape of a dragon fly’s wings, must only ever be, visual encounters.
Bird watching, aquarium visiting, safaris, pond dipping, astronomy and whale watching are all visual nature experiences. In fact, ‘sight-seeing’ is a universally popular pastime.
Wildlife parks and reserves provide ‘viewing’ hides and some have observation platforms or towers – all providing an excellent visual experience.
People see animals in books, in documentaries, feature films, live streaming and in real life at nature reserves, public spaces and gardens. Vantage points, such as train, bus, coach and car windows give travellers a wonderful chance to glimpse landscapes with a multitude of flora and fauna. At home people marvel at the birds and occasional squirrel that eat at the bird-tables and hanging feeders.
Nature attractions provide colourful, printed guidebooks, maps and leaflets full of images and drawings, enabling visitors to get a taste of what is to come, as well as assisting them to keep track of what they’ve seen and the locations of natural features, enclosures, pathways, exhibits, cafes, refreshment kiosks and toilets.
Non-visual Nature
In essence, ‘non-visual nature’ is a term that groups together all nature experiences that do not rely on just looking.
Non-visual Nature is anything that utilises some or all, of the four senses of hearing, touch, smell and taste to inform, educate or simply to enable the enjoyment of, a nature experience.
The aforementioned Humped-back-whale and the dragonfly can be appreciated using touch and hearing. by the creative use of models, audio description and tactile diagrams.
All the above situations rely on sight, but what of the other senses . . .
The Other Four Senses
This section will contain each sense and a list of examples in nature. To be confirmed!
NON
Nature Professionals
Anyone who manages or works in the natural environment can have an influence on how it is presented to the general public.
Stimulating Visitor Senses
To include everyone, in the enjoyment of the natural world, logic suggests that a visitor attraction must strive to stimulate all five senses.
By definition, every nature attraction wants to offer all visitors an enjoyable and often an educational experience. Therefore, it is not just the visitor Experience managers that should be aware of the potential non-visual aspects of their venues and sites. Countryside wardens, wildlife park rangers, zoo keepers, collection curators, Head Gardeners, nature Reserve staff and ecologists are all in a good position to identify existing and initiate new, opportunities to present the natural world in ways that appeal to the senses of every visitor.
Bryan’s Quest exists to highlight and champion all the wonderful exhibits, services and natural opportunities for people to use the senses of touch, hearing, smell and taste to appreciate the natural world, as opposed to – ‘just looking’ at it!
If your organisation has devoted resources, time and effort, to recognise the value of awakening the senses, then society should be told. The chances for visually impaired people, in particular, to learn about and be fully included in the natural world are sadly lacking; anywhere that addresses this issue will be welcomed by many and your visitor numbers can only rise.
Action You Can Take
Start, by identifying the non-visual sensory opportunities you already offer. Hopefully, you’ll find you have things for visitors to hear, touch, smell and even taste (don’t forget to include your café). For a definition and many practical examples read through our Non-visual Nature page.
By way of ‘encouragement’ the Bryan’s Quest, 90 seconds short, introductory video contains a passionate plea.
Once you have listed the non-visual aspects of the exhibits, services and natural features at your establishment, the next step is to inform people that you have them available. You can reach many interested parties and potential visitors by adding your details to the Sensational Nature Access Knowledge Exchange (SNAKE) Directory. This is a totally free service, our aim is to encourage places to offer more sensory opportunities and to let everyone know about them.
Go to the Submissions Form page; to ensure your nature place gets included.
New Sensory Opportunities
After you’ve submitted your current listing, it’s time to look to the future. Please do consider what else might be done at your nature place, to increase the number of sensory experiences. You may wish to sign up to our newsletter to keep up-to-date with what other nature organisations are doing for Non-visual Nature, around the UK. Don’t forget to tell us of any of your own ideas, plans and new services and we can feature them.
The creative use of ‘audio description’ (AD) and life-size or scale models can be deployed to great effect. Most of the world’s flora and fauna is either; too big, too tiny, too dangerous, or just too far away, to be touched. In any-case wildlife should not be approached by humans, let alone handled!
It is worth bearing in mind, that good ‘access’ in all its forms is usually an important part of any funding application, so paying attention to stimulating all five senses can only be advantageous and truly inclusive!
Places to Visit
Sensational Nature Access Knowledge Exchange (SNAKE)
The UK has thousands of places to visit to enjoy the natural world. However, how does anyone know if they have experiences that appeal to more than just the sense of sight. Use our unique directory to find out which nature places have made an effort to awaken and stimulate the senses of hearing, touch, smell and taste.
Just before you use the search box below, may I draw your attention to the fact that you can also share your own non-visual nature discoveries on the Submission Form page. All contributions will be added to the directory for others to find.
To find somewhere to visit, enter a county in the ‘quick search’ box to get a list of nature places, then click on the name to discover what non-visual nature opportunities they have for you.
LABELLING with WayAround – Tag and Scan
OVERVIEW –
Turn your NFC enabled smartphone in to a label writer and label reader.
No need to buy a pen to read the labels.
Labels can be rewritten time and time again.
The text on the label appears on your phone’s screen.
Download the app, buy some tags and you’re ready to label.
Before buying any WayTags, check in Settings that your mobile phone can be NFC enabled.
Download the WayAround app from the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple’s App store (IOS).
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wayaround.wayaround&pcampaignid=MKT-Other-global-all-co-prtnr-py-PartBadge-Mar2515-1https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wayaround.wayaround&pcampaignid=MKT-Other-global-all-co-prtnr-py-PartBadge-Mar2515-1
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wayaround-tag-and-scan/id1294361140https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wayaround-tag-and-scan/id1294361140
INTRODUCTION
WayTags give you the power to label any household and work place item. Creating a label is quick and easy. Simply type or voice input your information in to the mobile app then touch your NFC enabled phone to the WayTag. Success! Your label is made. To read a label, just open the app, touch the tag with the phone and let Talkback or Voice Over speak out the info.
STEP BY STEP GUIDE
FOR PHONES WITH TALKBACK OR VOICE OVER
TO WRITE A LABEL
This step by step guide assumes that your phone has NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled in settings and that you have already downloaded the WayAround app for IOS or Android.
Step 1: open the create option in the WayAround app
Step 2: type or voice dictate what ever text you want on your label – to a maximum of 2000 characters.
Step 3: (optional) the next option down the screen is an opportunity for you to add further detail to your tag. Simply tap a category and add some further information.
Step 4: scroll down the screen and tap on ‘Write’
Step 5: touch the NFC sensor of your phone to the smoothest side of the WayTag you have chosen to label and listen for the sound or feel the vibration that confirms the label has been written.
Step 6: Check your phone screen for the word success to gain further confirmation that the label has been created.
To READ A LABEL
This step by step guide assumes that your phone has NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled) and that you have already downloaded the WayAround app for IOS or Android.
Step 1: open the WayAround app and touch your phone’s NFC sensor to the smoothest side of the WayTag.
Step 2: listen to the label being read out via Talkback or Voice Over.
HOME
Welcome
Bryan’s Quest exists to explore how the natural world can be experienced without having to rely on the sense of sight. Everyone, regardless of whether they can see or not, can use their other four senses to good effect to enjoy and learn more about nature. Often however, there is a serious shortage of opportunity and a lack of understanding. Addressing this situation is the basis of the ‘quest’!
Here, you can find ‘sensational nature’ places to visit throughout the UK, you can follow Bryan’s activities as he pursues nature experiences and you can get yourself some WayAround Tag & Scan reusable labels.
Please use the submissions Form to tell Bryan about your own non-visual nature experience. Sign up for our newsletter to keep up-to-date.
Where It All Began
PLACES TO VISIT
Enjoy a day out and get closer to nature. Find non-visual Nature experiences, by going to the Sensational Nature Access Knowledge Exchange, or S. N. A. K. E. – directory By entering a county in the quick search box you’ll be presented with results, listing nature places that have made an effort to offer sensory opportunities. These might include tactile models, audio guides, personal tours, animal encounters, accessible maps, natural sounds, fragrances and many more. Taste sensations will certainly be found in the numerous refreshment huts, restaurants and cafes.
Click HERE for the directory and start planning your day in the great outdoors.
ADVENTURES IN NATURE
Bryan demonstrates how he attempts, sometimes successfully, to plant things, grow things and explore the countryside. Bryan uses all his senses to enjoy what the natural world has to offer everyone.
His YouTube Channel is ‘called ‘Bryan’s Quest’. Why not share your own ideas, tips and tricks for enjoying nature or ask questions in the comments section for each episode.
MAPS & MODELS
Tactile maps, 3-D models and audio outputs are essential to give access to everyone who can not fully access printed information. Bryan’s Quest carries out research and development to meet the educational requirements for anyone who relies on touch and sound. These valuable resources can be deployed in education and leisure settings.
WayTags – AN INNOVATION IN LABELLING
Download the free WayAround app, for ANDROID or IOS then get some ‘reusable labels‘ and you are ready to label virtually anything and everything.
