Starting point

The Sanginjoki Nature Reserve was transferred to Metsähallitus in 2021, and the area’s nature services began to be renewed. An accessible nature trail with experiential activity points was wanted at the Loppula starting point. Accessibility had to be considered in the design of the activity points in a multidimensional way, not just in terms of physical accessibility.

The activities and content were intended to offer something for people of all ages and abilities, and to also consider challenges related to the senses and perception.

Solution

A total of eight walk-through activity shelters showcasing the area’s nature were planned along the route. Each shelter has its own theme, such as bugs, mushrooms and berries, woodpeckers, underwater life, trees, plants, and animal tracks.

The contents of the activity shelters invite visitors to, for example, climb onto a large ladybird, identify edible mushrooms using a memory game, determine insect species using an identification chart, compare animal tracks with human tracks, marvel at underwater life, and learn about the inhabitants of woodpecker nests.

Accessibility was considered in the plans, for example, in the placement height and orientation of the contents, the clarity and contrast of the graphic materials and colours, and the insightful simplicity of the activities.

For the visually impaired, there are also tactile maps, Braille plates, and other tactile content. For the hearing impaired, audio descriptions are available via QR codes.

The design work included conceptualising the shelters and their activities, implementation planning, and graphic layout work. The project was carried out in collaboration with WSP Finland Oy.

WSP was responsible for project management, route planning, and the design of the area’s signage. WSP also carried out the structural design of the activity shelters.