Beyond The Trees Attraction In Rathdrum Receives Age Friendly Status

The Wicklow attraction is the first age friendly tourist destination in the country.

Delighted to visit @AvondaleBeyond to launch Irelands First Age Friendly tourist destination. I was honoured as Minister for Mental Health & Older People to award the Age Friendly Charter to Beyond the Trees Avondale @AgeFriendlyIrl @coilltenews @wicklowcoco #inclusive #allages pic.twitter.com/Vca8gU5400

— Mary Butler TD (@MaryButlerTD) November 3, 2022

Beyond the Trees Avondale received its official Age Friendly Charter at a launch event 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 today by Age Friendly Ireland, outlining the work undertaken at Beyond the Trees Avondale.

Beyond the Trees is a 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-story high Viewing Tower, created for the project by EAK Ireland.

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.

Chief Exec of ⁦@wicklowcoco⁩ Brian Gleeson speaks about their very strong #agefriendly programme in Wicklow and their ambition to make Wicklow a great place to age - ⁦@AvondaleBeyond⁩ goes a long way to support this. ⁦@coilltenews⁩ pic.twitter.com/1INFK0VBEE

— Age Friendly Ireland (@AgeFriendlyIrl) November 3, 2022