AGE Friendly Ireland has awarded Age Friendly recognition to Beyond the Trees Avondale located in County Wicklow’s Avondale Forest Park, acknowledging it as the first age-friendly tourist destination in the country.
Beyond the Trees Avondale received its official Age Friendly Charter at a launch event held on Thursday and will now also be recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an international model of good practice for age friendly development. A case study publication was also launched by Age Friendly Ireland, outlining the work undertaken at Beyond the Trees Avondale.
Beyond the Trees is a new visitor destination, developed in partnership between Coillte, Fáilte Ireland and EAK Ireland in Avondale Forest Park, combining a 700 metre treetop walk with a 12-storey viewing tower, created for the project by EAK Ireland. It was officially opened by President Michael D Higgins in July.
Age friendly principles were incorporated into Beyond the Trees Avondale in order to ensure its ease of use and accessibility across the life course.
Under its Age Friendly Programme, Wicklow County Council, in partnership with the key stakeholders, co-ordinated the age friendly four stage process to ensure that older people’s needs were considered in the development. This work included consultation with a diverse range of older people and a walkability audit.
In undertaking the improvements, Beyond the Trees Avondale referenced the guidance material provided by Age Friendly Ireland for the development of outdoor space and buildings and the World Health Organisation’s checklist for age friendly cities and communities.
Speaking at the official recognition ceremony, Mary Butler TD, Minister for Mental Health and Older People, said: “It is wonderful to be able to visit and see in person this extremely impressive world class amenity where you can journey through the forest and above the canopy of the trees.
“The Government is firmly committed to the Programme for Government goal of creating an Age Friendly Ireland and making Ireland a great place to live as we age. This age-friendly tourist destination brings us one step closer to achieving this goal.”
She added: “The importance of creating age-friendly public spaces cannot be overstated. Design that takes an age friendly perspective can help to create environments which provide enhanced access for all.
