Blind residents encourage people to cut it back

Sight Loss Councils and Thomas Pocklington Trust are encouraging residents to cut back and report overgrown trees, bushes and hedges to increase blind and partially sighted people’s independence.

We are spearheading this campaign because 75 per cent of blind and partially sighted (BPS) people reported that ‘Overhanging branches, overgrown hedges and vegetation are a real deterrent to people and a cause of accidents’ (Listening Month, 2022).

This is because many blind and partially sighted people are forced to walk onto the road and risk injury whilst navigating the streets due to overgrown hedges, bushes and foliage. This impacts their confidence, independence, and the ability to make safe journeys to live full and independent lives.

Cut It Back videos

This video shows a man using a white cane and walking along the pavement being hit in the face by some vegetation on the left side of the screen. The right side of the screen shows the pavement and overhanging hedge from his perspective.

To deliver their campaign, Sight Loss Council volunteers have produced a series of short videos highlighting the issue. They have also produced online guidance and resources, including around the best times of the year to cut foliage back and how to avoid an impact on local wildlife. They are also raising awareness in local media.

Local authorities are also legally obliged to act on reports of overgrown foliage so people can navigate our streets and are safe from injury, and guidance has been developed by Thomas Pocklington Trust to support them to do this.

A Sight Loss Council spokesperson said:

“Many BPS individuals have reported that they have been hurt, injured, and had their path blocked by overgrown bushes, overhanging branches and foliage. This can reduce people’s confidence to travel independently and safely, and discourage people from going out.

“We hope everyone will work with us to raise awareness of this issue and encourage everyone to cut it back.

“Local residents can also report problem overhanging vegetation and foliage to their local authority. Under the Highways Act 1980, local authorities can require landowners to cut back overhanging branches and vegetation if it endangers or obstructs the passage of pedestrians.

Sight Loss Council volunteer members shared their own experiences of overhanging vegetation in the local Sight Loss Council regions in which they live.

London Sight Loss Council volunteer member and London resident Nikki Hughes, who is registered blind, said:

“I would urge everyone to get involved in our cut it back campaign. Not having safe and accessible streets means I am unable to access the world independently.

“It can be extremely frightening to come across overgrown bushes, which sometimes covers the pavement causing me to end up in the road, praying that a car will see me. It can also be painful and disorientating to be hit in the face by overgrown vegetation.

“Everyone should be able to pop to the local shop free and independently and something so simple can be life changing for us.”

North Yorkshire Sight Loss Council member, Verity, is registered blind. She explained:

“When I am out, I am always coming across branches and bushes encroaching the pavement, which can be really dangerous for me. Not long ago, I was walking and was hit in the face by an overhanging branch. It narrowly missed my eye and caused a graze all down my face. It would make such a difference to me if people could cut back their vegetation.”

Nottinghamshire SLC member Sian Petty is registered severely sight impaired. She said:

“I experience these issues on a regular basis including on the route that I walk to get to my bus stop. There are several overgrown bushes that are already very wide, but then they get taller and wider at head height.

“They are so overgrown that you walk into them, and they bash you in the face, or you scratch your hand protecting your face. I ruined a coat doing this when the branches got caught in my sleeve and made a hole.

“We are taught to navigate our surroundings using our white canes by sweeping the cane back and forth to touch the shoreline, which is the inside edge of the end of the pavement. However, I cannot do this as my cane gets caught in the overgrown weeds at ground level and the bush pushes me over to the other side of the pavement.

“This means I get disorientated and bump into parked cars. I sometimes miss the kerb and end up in the road. It’s very frustrating and dangerous.  My cane trainer taught me techniques to keep me safe. If I cannot use these techniques, I will be isolated and have to rely on taxis instead of being independent, using buses and travelling on my own.”

Nottinghamshire SLC member Nick is registered as severely sight impaired. He added:

“My weekly walk to meet friends contains two hazardous areas. The first is a short length of path with overhang. Bushes like bramble or holly can really scratch my face.

“The second area is further along where the path becomes separated from a cycle lane by a white line. Along this stretch, the kerbside grass has encroached and spread almost the full width of the pedestrian path which forces people to walk on the cycle lane. This is a hazard I cannot avoid if I want to still enjoy a trip to meet my friends and go out.”

East Sussex SLC member, Linn Davies, said:

“There was a monkey-puzzle tree growing through the wall of a garden which I used to pass every day when I walked my daughter to school. A monkey-puzzle tree has very sharp needles. On several occasions, I got scratched and started bleeding. It also tore the fabric of several items of clothing which I had to replace. I’ve also had overgrown hedges hitting me in the face several times.

“It’s so important to #CutItBack so that nobody gets injured or inconvenienced in other ways. The solution is so simple.”

 

West Midlands SLC member, Steve Keith, said:

“Now that summer is here and we’re having a combination of wet weather then warm weather, lots of hedges, bushes and trees have sprouted lots of new growth. This, in places, has been left to grow over paths and walkways.

“As a result, when I am navigating a footpath with my cane, I am regularly walking into overhanging foliage, resulting in scratches to my face and arms. In some instances, hedges have grown so large that I have no choice other than to walk into the road to get around it. This subsequently puts me at high risk of being hit by a car or cyclist. This can, as you can imagine, be quite frightening, especially on busy roads!”

“In addition, overhanging foliage can cause a hazard at junctions and pedestrian crossings, as the oncoming traffic are unable to identify me waiting on the side of the road due to the trees blocking the view.”

“I also have been attacked by insects on a number of occasions that have live in these overhanging bushes which creates more anxiety for me when trying to navigate safely along the path. Sometimes I find this to be disorientating and struggle to concentrate on how to navigate around the obstacles on the pavement.”

 

West of England SLC member Anela added:

“I am a very independent blind lady and I like to be able to get out and about in my local area by myself. However, I am completely blind, so overhanging foliage is a huge problem to me. I don’t see it. I only know it’s there when I walk into it which isn’t a nice experience at all.

“I have gained many injuries as a result including scratches on my face, bruises around my eyes, tripping and injuring myself as well as feeling embarrassed, etc. I urge everyone to cut back overhanging foliage so blind and partially sighted people can get out and about safely.”

South Yorkshire SLC member Helen is registered blind. She said:

“I have a real problem with overgrown vegetation in my area. The problem for me is with overgrown trees. The branches hang over the path and so it’s hard to avoid them when I am walking.”

David, who is registered blind and from West Yorkshire SLC, added:

“It is a daily problem. Every time I go out, overhanging or overgrown vegetation block my path, making it hard for me and my guide dog to safely and confidently navigate my local area.”

Thomas Pocklington Trust’s North East Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager, Jack Moffat, is registered severely sight impaired. He added:

“As a local resident, overhanging branches and vegetation are of huge concern to me on a daily basis. Between my home and nearest shop or bus stop, there are several gardens with vegetation that hangs over the pavement. I have cut myself on brambles several times and once hit my head badly on a solid tree branch.

“This impacted on my confidence in going out on my own and caused me to withdraw into a state of isolation. Physically I had no scars to show.  However, psychologically I felt scared vulnerable and isolated. I missed out on work opportunities, social activities with my friends and visiting family members. I want to have confidence in my local community and hope that they engage with this campaign. That would go a long way to putting myself and other blind and partially sighted people at ease.”

Get involved in the cut it back campaign. Learn more at www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk/CutItBack

Publication date: 06 August 2024