Accessibility Statement
This statement outlines the commitment of United Kingdom Botanical History to ensuring our digital archive of botanical heritage is accessible to all users, regardless of ability or technology. Last updated: 15 March 2025.
1. Our Commitment
We believe the history of Britain's flora—from the ancient Caledonian pine to the humble garden rose—belongs to everyone. It's a shared heritage. Therefore, we are actively working to ensure UKBotanicalHistory.com conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.2 at Level AA. This isn't a one-time project; it's an ongoing process integrated into our content and development workflow.
Our goal is a perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust experience for users who rely on screen readers, voice recognition software, screen magnification, keyboard-only navigation, or other assistive technologies.
2. Measures to Support Accessibility
We take the following measures to ensure accessibility:
- Clear Structure: Semantic HTML5 markup (headers, landmarks, lists) provides a logical document outline for assistive technology.
- Text Alternatives: All informative images have descriptive alt text. Decorative images have null alt attributes (alt="").
- Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements are fully operable using a keyboard, with visible focus indicators.
- Adaptable Content: Content can be presented in different ways (e.g., simpler layout) without losing information. We avoid using colour as the sole means of conveying information.
- Readable Text: Sufficient colour contrast (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text) and the ability to resize text up to 200% without loss of functionality.
- Predictable Navigation: Consistent navigation mechanisms across the site.
- Input Assistance: Clear labels and instructions for forms, with error identification suggestions.
Assistive Technology Compatibility
We regularly test with tools including NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and browser zoom functions. Our archive descriptions are written for clarity first—jargon is explained, Latin names are provided with common equivalents. Complex data tables (e.g., plant classification charts) include appropriate headers and summaries.
3. Conformance Status & Known Limitations
The WCAG 2.2 Level AA guidelines define requirements for accessible web design. We aim for full conformance. However, as an archive containing historical documents and complex illustrations, some areas are works in progress:
- Historical Scans: Some PDFs of 18th-century manuscripts are image-based and not fully machine-readable. We are gradually adding transcriptions.
- Complex Illustrations: Detailed botanical plates may have long descriptions that are still being authored to capture fine taxonomic details.
- Third-Party Content: Embedded media from trusted academic sources may have varying accessibility levels outside our direct control.
We prioritise fixing issues that present the most significant barriers first. A detailed conformance roadmap is available on request.
4. Feedback & Contact Information
Your experience is vital. If you encounter any barriers, or have suggestions for improving accessibility, please contact us. We aim to respond to feedback within 5 working days.
For detailed reports: accessibility@UKBotanicalHistory.com
Telephone
+44 116 370 49 97
(Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm GMT)
Postal Address
Data Controller,
United Kingdom Botanical History,
45 Suite 3/12, Falkirk Business Hub,
45 Vicar Street, Falkirk,
Scotland, FK1 1LL
Feedback Form
Please describe the issue, including the page URL (if applicable) and the technology you were using (e.g., Safari with VoiceOver, Windows with NVDA).
5. Enforcement & Compliance Procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 in the UK. If you're not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
As a dedicated educational archive, we view accessibility compliance not as a legal hurdle, but as a core part of our mission to disseminate botanical knowledge. Our internal procedures mandate accessibility checks for all new content and features before publication.
6. Technical Specifications & Assessment
This website relies on the following technologies for accessibility:
- HTML5
- WAI-ARIA
- CSS
- JavaScript (Vue.js)
We assess accessibility through a combination of methods:
Automated Testing
Regular scans using tools like axe DevTools and WAVE to identify common technical issues (e.g., missing alt text, contrast errors).
Manual Expert Review
Quarterly audits by our team, including keyboard-only navigation and screen reader testing on critical user journeys.
This statement was approved by the Board of United Kingdom Botanical History on 10 March 2025. It will be reviewed and updated annually, or following any significant site changes.
Company Registration: SC314110 | VAT Number: Not registered | Founded: 2015