Accessibility Statement for Gardeners Marks Gate Services

This accessibility statement explains how the Gardeners Marks Gate website is designed to be usable and accessible for as many people as possible, including residents and visitors in the Marks Gate area who rely on assistive technologies. We are committed to providing a digital experience that supports a wide range of accessibility needs.

Our Commitment to Accessibility

We aim to make our online information and services simple to use for everyone, regardless of technology or ability. Our goal is to provide a website that is easy to navigate, clear to understand, and compatible with the tools people use to access digital content. This commitment supports gardeners, homeowners, and community members in Marks Gate who may have visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive access needs.

Standards and Guidelines

The website is being developed and maintained with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1, at level AA, as a target standard. WCAG 2.1 AA is an internationally recognised benchmark for creating accessible web content and focuses on making content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. We regularly review pages to improve alignment with these guidelines and to support an accessible digital experience for gardeners in Marks Gate.

Screen-Reader Support

The site is designed to work with common screen-reading software. We use semantic HTML structure, headings, and text descriptions so that people who cannot see the page can still access the information. Images that convey important information are given descriptive alternative text, and form fields use clear labels to support screen-reader navigation. We aim to keep language straightforward so that content is easier to understand when read aloud by assistive technology.

Keyboard Navigation

Pages are designed to be navigable using only a keyboard, without the need for a mouse or touch input. Users should be able to move through menus, links, and form fields in a logical order using the Tab, Shift plus Tab, Enter, and arrow keys. Visible focus indicators are used where possible so that keyboard users can clearly see which element is currently selected.

Layout, Text and Colour

We aim to use clear headings, consistent layouts, and concise text so that information is easy to follow. Text size can be increased using your browser settings without loss of content or functionality. Colour choices are made to provide sufficient contrast between text and background so that content remains legible for users with low vision or colour vision differences.

Ongoing Improvements

We recognise that accessibility is an ongoing process rather than a one-time task. As we add new content and features related to gardening services in the Marks Gate area, we aim to review them for accessibility and make improvements based on user feedback. Some older content may not yet fully meet WCAG 2.1 AA, but we are working to bring it up to the same standard over time.

Accessibility Feedback and Requests

We welcome feedback from users who experience any barriers while using the Gardeners Marks Gate website. If you find that some content is hard to access, cannot be read with your assistive technology, or is difficult to use with a keyboard, you can contact us to request support or alternative formats. When you get in touch, it is helpful if you can describe the page or service you were using, the type of device or assistive technology, and the nature of the accessibility issue.

We will review all reasonable requests for improved access to information or services and will work to respond in a timely manner. Our aim is to ensure that people in the Marks Gate community can obtain gardening information, make enquiries, and request services in a way that suits their access needs.

Reporting Accessibility Issues

If you encounter an accessibility problem or believe we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please let us know. Your feedback helps us improve the experience for everyone who uses the Gardeners Marks Gate website. We will consider your comments as part of our ongoing accessibility reviews and future updates.