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Accessibility

· 13 checks — Landmarks, headings, alt text, forms, and link quality rolled into one auditable list.
SCORE
60
GRADE
D
FIX
6
REVIEW
3
PASS
4
INFO
0
Checks
13
4 PASS 3 REVIEW 6 FIX
D
Landmark Structure
Action
6 landmarks
FIX
6 landmarks
Critical::
No <main> landmark found
Screen reader users cannot quickly navigate to the primary content. Wrap your main content in <main>.
Info::
2 <nav> landmark(s) found
Warning::
1 of 2 <nav> elements are unlabeled
Multiple navigations need aria-label to distinguish them for screen readers.
Warning::
Skip navigation link is missing (WCAG 2.4.1)
Add a skip link as the first focusable element so keyboard users can bypass repeated navigation.
Page Structure — as a screen reader sees it
BANNER header NAV MAIN (missing!) CONTENTINFO footer

Screen reader users cannot quickly navigate to the primary content. Wrap your main content in <main>.

Why this matters

Without a <main> landmark, screen-reader users can't skip past the navigation to the page content — every page starts with re-reading the menu.

Learn more

The <main> element marks the page's primary content area. Assistive tech offers a 'jump to main' shortcut — but only if <main> exists. Without it, every page navigation forces re-reading the header. Wrap your primary content in a single <main>.

Source: WAI-ARIA / WCAG 2.4.1

Multiple navigations need aria-label to distinguish them for screen readers.

Why this matters

Some <nav> elements lack aria-label — screen-reader users hear 'navigation' multiple times with no way to distinguish them.

Learn more

When a page has multiple <nav> regions (primary, footer, breadcrumb), each needs aria-label or aria-labelledby. AT users navigate by landmark; identical 'navigation' announcements force them to enter each one to discover purpose.

Source: WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices

Add a skip link as the first focusable element so keyboard users can bypass repeated navigation.

Why this matters

Without a skip-nav link, keyboard users tab through every nav item before reaching content — every page, every visit.

Learn more

WCAG 2.4.1 (Bypass Blocks) requires a mechanism to skip past repeated content. The standard implementation is a 'Skip to main content' link that's the first focusable element, visually hidden until focused. Three lines of HTML + four of CSS.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 2.4.1

D
Favicon & Branding
Action
3 icon(s) detected
FIX
3 icon(s) detected
Info::
favicon.ico present at site root
Info::
HTML icon links detected
Info::
No apple-touch-icon detected
iOS devices use this when users add your site to their home screen. Add <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='180x180' href='/apple-touch-icon.png'>.
favicon.ico Present
PNG Icons Present
Apple Touch Missing
SVG Favicon Missing
Manifest Icons Missing
Multiple Sizes Missing
D
Web Manifest
Action
Not found
FIX
Not found
Info::
No web manifest found
No manifest at standard paths (/manifest.json, /site.webmanifest). A manifest is optional but enables PWA features like home screen installation and standalone display.

No web manifest found.

D
Dark Mode Support
Action
No dark mode signals
FIX
No dark mode signals
Info::
No dark mode signals detected
Consider adding CSS with @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) and <meta name='color-scheme' content='light dark'>.
Info::
Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles
External CSS files may contain prefers-color-scheme rules not visible to this scan.
Dark ModeNo Dark Mode Detected
color-scheme meta Not set Dark theme-color Not set CSS indicators Not detected

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles.

F
Navigation UX
Action
No navigation patterns
FIX
No navigation patterns
Info::
2 navigation landmark(s) detected
Info::
Hamburger menu detected (responsive design)
Info::
No breadcrumbs, search, or skip link detected
These navigation aids help users orient themselves and find content efficiently, especially on large sites.
Breadcrumbs
Search
Skip Link
Labeled Navigation 2 <nav> element(s)
Back to Top
Hamburger Menu
Sticky Navigation Cannot reliably detect (CSS-based)
2 of 6 testable patterns navigation patterns detected. Limited navigation support. Consider adding breadcrumbs, search, and skip link.
B
Form Accessibility
2 of 25 controls have issues
REVIEW
2 of 25 controls have issues
Critical::
1 control(s) without accessible label
Form controls need a <label>, aria-label, or aria-labelledby for screen readers.
Got: <input type="checkbox" id="modal-1">
Warning::
1 control(s) rely on placeholder only
Placeholder text disappears on focus and is not a reliable label.
Got: <input type="text" name="ctl00$MainMegaMenu$txtUnivSearchSticky" id="txtUnivSearchSticky">
Info::
23 control(s) properly labeled
25 controls
23 labeled
1 placeholder only
1 unlabeled
ControlTypeLabelMethod
#yxt-SearchBar-input--search-bartextConduct a searcharia-label
#yxt-SearchBar-input--search-bar-mobiletextConduct a searcharia-label
#ot-group-id-C0002checkboxPerformancefor/id
#ot-group-id-C0004checkboxAdvertising Cookiesfor/id
#ot-group-id-IAB2V2_1checkboxStore and/or access information on a devicefor/id
#ot-group-id-V2STACK42checkboxPersonalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services developmentfor/id
#ot-sub-group-id-IAB2V2_2checkboxUse limited data to select advertisingaria-label
#ot-sub-group-id-IAB2V2_3checkboxCreate profiles for personalised advertisingaria-label
#ot-sub-group-id-IAB2V2_4checkboxUse profiles to select personalised advertisingaria-label
#ot-sub-group-id-IAB2V2_5checkboxCreate profiles to personalise contentaria-label
#ot-sub-group-id-IAB2V2_6checkboxUse profiles to select personalised contentaria-label
#ot-sub-group-id-IAB2V2_7checkboxMeasure advertising performancearia-label
#ot-sub-group-id-IAB2V2_8checkboxMeasure content performancearia-label
#ot-sub-group-id-IAB2V2_9checkboxUnderstand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sourcesaria-label
#ot-sub-group-id-IAB2V2_10checkboxDevelop and improve servicesaria-label
#ot-sub-group-id-IAB2V2_11checkboxUse limited data to select contentaria-label
#ot-group-id-ISF2V2_1checkboxUse precise geolocation datafor/id
#ot-group-id-ISF2V2_2checkboxActively scan device characteristics for identificationfor/id
#vendor-search-handlertextCookie list searcharia-label
#chkbox-idcheckboxcheckbox labelfor/id
#select-all-hosts-groups-handlercheckboxcheckbox labelfor/id
#select-all-vendor-groups-handlercheckboxcheckbox labelfor/id
#select-all-vendor-leg-handlercheckboxcheckbox labelfor/id
#txtUnivSearchStickytext(Enter keyword(s))placeholder only
#modal-1checkbox(none)none

Form controls need a <label>, aria-label, or aria-labelledby for screen readers.

<input type="checkbox" id="modal-1">

Why this matters

Form controls without labels — assistive tech announces 'edit text' with no context; users can't complete forms.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 3.3.2

Placeholder text disappears on focus and is not a reliable label.

<input type="text" name="ctl00$MainMegaMenu$txtUnivSearchSticky" id="txtUnivSearchSticky">

Why this matters

Placeholder-only labels disappear when the user starts typing — they must remember what the field was for.

Learn more

Placeholders are NOT labels. They vanish on input, fail color contrast checks (most are gray), and don't satisfy WCAG SC 3.3.2. Always use a real <label> alongside (or aria-labelledby).

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 3.3.2 / Nielsen Norman

B
404 Error Page
HTTP 404, custom page
REVIEW
HTTP 404, custom page
Info::
Correct 404 status code returned
Got: HTTP 404
Info::
Custom styled 404 page
Info::
Navigation links present on 404 page
Info::
Homepage link present on 404 page
404 Page Quality Custom 404 Page
Status Code HTTP 404 Page Title Sorry we couldn't find that page / RHS Custom Styling Navigation Homepage Link Search Form
C
Color Contrast (Screenshot)
Action
20 text elements analyzed, 19 fail WCAG AA
REVIEW

Analyzes text contrast against the actual rendered page, including background images, gradients, and overlays that CSS-based tools cannot detect.

1 pass 19 fail WCAG AA
h1 The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity,…
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
32px · bottom of viewport · over background image/gradient
h2 RHS Flower Shows
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Get involved
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Join the RHS
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 We Care About Your Privacy
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Privacy Preference Centre
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h3 Grow
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport · over background image/gradient
h3 Grow
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport · over background image/gradient
h3 Gardening to save the planet
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 RHS Bridgewater Growing Skills Garden
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 RHS Botanical Art & Photography Show
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 Grow, Visit, Join
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 Get gardening
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 Gardening for wellbeing
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 Protecting wildlife
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 Ideas for beginners
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 We and our partners process data to:
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 Manage Cookies
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport
h3 Cookie List
2.45:1
#000000
on
#005747
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
19px · bottom of viewport

3 contrast failures on background images/gradients

These failures are invisible to CSS-based accessibility tools like Lighthouse. The text may be fine on a solid background, but fails when rendered over an image or gradient.

Show all checked elements (20)
ElementRatioRequiredFGBGResult
h1 The RHS is the UK’…2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h2 RHS Flower Shows2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h2 Get involved2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h2 Join the RHS2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h2 We Care About Your P…2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h2 Privacy Preference C…2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 Grow2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 Grow2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 Gardening to save th…2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 RHS Bridgewater Grow…2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 RHS Botanical Art & …2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 Grow, Visit, Join2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 Get gardening2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 Gardening for wellbe…2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 Protecting wildlife2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 Ideas for beginners2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 We and our partners …2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 Manage Cookies2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
h3 Cookie List2.45:13.0:1
#000000
#005747
Fail
title RHS - UK's leading g…21.00:14.5:1
#000000
#FFFFFF
Pass

Methodology: The top 20 text elements by font size were checked. Background color was sampled from the desktop screenshot using a 5-point pattern. WCAG 2.1 AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

A+
Heading Hierarchy
47 headings
PASS
47 headings
Info::
Single H1 present
  • H1 The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow
  • H2 RHS Flower Shows
  • H3 Grow
  • H3 Grow
  • H3 Gardening to save the planet
  • H3 RHS Bridgewater Growing Skills Garden
  • H3 RHS Botanical Art & Photography Show
  • H3 Grow, Visit, Join
  • H4 Gardening
  • H4 Days out
  • H4 Become a member
  • H4 Get involved
  • H4 Shop with us
  • H3 Get gardening
  • H3 Gardening for wellbeing
  • H3 Protecting wildlife
  • H3 Ideas for beginners
  • H2 Get involved
  • H2 Join the RHS
  • H2 We Care About Your Privacy
  • H3 We and our partners process data to:
  • H2 Privacy Preference Centre
  • H3 Manage Cookies
  • H4 Strictly Necessary
  • H4 Performance
  • H4 Advertising Cookies
  • H4 Store and/or access information on a device 114 partners can use this purpose
  • H4 Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development 127 partners can use this purpose
  • H5 Use limited data to select advertising 102 partners can use this purpose
  • H5 Create profiles for personalised advertising 96 partners can use this purpose
  • H5 Use profiles to select personalised advertising 95 partners can use this purpose
  • H5 Create profiles to personalise content 30 partners can use this purpose
  • H5 Use profiles to select personalised content 26 partners can use this purpose
  • H5 Measure advertising performance 120 partners can use this purpose
  • H5 Measure content performance 48 partners can use this purpose
  • H5 Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources 78 partners can use this purpose
  • H5 Develop and improve services 94 partners can use this purpose
  • H5 Use limited data to select content 17 partners can use this purpose
  • H4 Use precise geolocation data 46 partners can use this special feature
  • H4 Actively scan device characteristics for identification 19 partners can use this special feature
  • H4 Ensure security, prevent and detect fraud, and fix errors 93 partners can use this special purpose
  • H4 Deliver and present advertising and content 86 partners can use this special purpose
  • H4 Match and combine data from other data sources 74 partners can use this feature
  • H4 Link different devices 79 partners can use this feature
  • H4 Identify devices based on information transmitted automatically 84 partners can use this feature
  • H4 Save and communicate privacy choices 78 partners can use this special purpose
  • H3 Cookie List
A
Alt Text Quality
1 of 18 images have issues
PASS
1 of 18 images have issues
Critical::
1 image(s) missing alt attribute
Images without alt text are invisible to screen readers.
Info::
2 decorative image(s) correctly marked
Info::
15 image(s) with good alt text
18 images 15 good alt text 2 decorative 1 missing
IssueCount
missing1 image(s)

Images without alt text are invisible to screen readers.

Why this matters

Each image without alt text is a WCAG 1.1.1 failure — invisible to screen-reader users, lost from Google Image Search.

Learn more

WCAG 2.1 Level A requires text alternatives for non-decorative images. Empty alt='' is fine for decorative; meaningful images need descriptive text. Common fixes: CMS audit + bulk add, build-time linter (alt-text-required ESLint rule), CI gate on Lighthouse a11y score.

Source: WCAG 2.1 SC 1.1.1 / WebAIM Million Report

A+
Print Stylesheet
Print styles detected
PASS
Print styles detected
Info::
External print stylesheet detected
Got: /wwwroot/css/bundles/print.min.css?v=73043
Print Stylesheet Print Optimized
Print stylesheet /wwwroot/css/bundles/print.min.css?v=73043 Inline @media print Not detected
A
Lighthouse Accessibility Audits
Score 91/100 — 4 failing, 28 passed
PASS
91

Accessibility

These checks highlight opportunities to improve the accessibility of your web app. Automatic detection can only detect a subset of issues and does not guarantee the accessibility of your web app, so manual testing is also encouraged.

Contrast

Low-contrast text is difficult or impossible for many users to read. Learn how to provide sufficient color contrast.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
Find out how div.card-default > div.card-default__body > a.button > span.button__text
Read more div.card-default > div.card-default__body > a.button > span.button__text
See the entries div.card-default > div.card-default__body > a.button > span.button__text

Low-contrast text is difficult or impossible for many users to read. Link text that is discernible improves the experience for users with low vision. Learn how to make links distinguishable.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
T&Cs div.l-module > div.form-inline > p.text-small > a
privacy policy div.l-module > div.form-inline > p.text-small > a

These are opportunities to improve the legibility of your content.

Names and labels

Link text (and alternate text for images, when used as links) that is discernible, unique, and focusable improves the navigation experience for screen reader users. Learn how to make links accessible.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
div#optimizely-extension-AFEEBA1C-C07B-44A2-B8C6-79D4C1A9498B > div.brand-header-hero__content > div.brand-header-hero__cta > a.button div#optimizely-extension-AFEEBA1C-C07B-44A2-B8C6-79D4C1A9498B > div.brand-header-hero__content > div.brand-header-hero__cta > a.button
div.l-col-xs-8 > div.text-center > p.hidden-xl > a.button div.l-col-xs-8 > div.text-center > p.hidden-xl > a.button

These are opportunities to improve the semantics of the controls in your application. This may enhance the experience for users of assistive technology, like a screen reader.

Visible text labels that do not match the accessible name can result in a confusing experience for screen reader users. Learn more about accessible names.

Why this matters

Performance issues directly impact user engagement and conversion rates.

Failing Elements
Our cookie policy div#onetrust-group-container > div#onetrust-policy > div#onetrust-policy-text > a.ot-cookie-policy-link
Interactive controls are keyboard focusable
Interactive elements indicate their purpose and state
The page has a logical tab order
Visual order on the page follows DOM order
User focus is not accidentally trapped in a region
The user's focus is directed to new content added to the page
HTML5 landmark elements are used to improve navigation
Offscreen content is hidden from assistive technology
Custom controls have associated labels
Custom controls have ARIA roles
`[aria-*]` attributes match their roles
`[aria-hidden="true"]` is not present on the document `<body>`
`[role]`s have all required `[aria-*]` attributes
Elements with an ARIA `[role]` that require children to contain a specific `[role]` have all required children.
`[role]` values are valid
`[aria-*]` attributes have valid values
`[aria-*]` attributes are valid and not misspelled
Buttons have an accessible name
Image elements have `[alt]` attributes
Form elements have associated labels
`[user-scalable="no"]` is not used in the `<meta name="viewport">` element and the `[maximum-scale]` attribute is not less than 5.
`button`, `link`, and `menuitem` elements have accessible names
ARIA attributes are used as specified for the element's role
Elements with `role="dialog"` or `role="alertdialog"` have accessible names.
`[aria-hidden="true"]` elements do not contain focusable descendents
Elements use only permitted ARIA attributes
Document has a `<title>` element
`<frame>` or `<iframe>` elements have a title
`<html>` element has a `[lang]` attribute
`<html>` element has a valid value for its `[lang]` attribute
Lists contain only `<li>` elements and script supporting elements (`<script>` and `<template>`).
List items (`<li>`) are contained within `<ul>`, `<ol>` or `<menu>` parent elements
No element has a `[tabindex]` value greater than 0
Touch targets have sufficient size and spacing.
Heading elements appear in a sequentially-descending order
Document has a main landmark.
Deprecated ARIA roles were not used
Identical links have the same purpose.
`[accesskey]` values are unique
ARIA input fields have accessible names
ARIA `meter` elements have accessible names
ARIA `progressbar` elements have accessible names
`[role]`s are contained by their required parent element
Elements with the `role=text` attribute do not have focusable descendents.
ARIA toggle fields have accessible names
ARIA `tooltip` elements have accessible names
ARIA `treeitem` elements have accessible names
The page contains a heading, skip link, or landmark region
`<dl>`'s contain only properly-ordered `<dt>` and `<dd>` groups, `<script>`, `<template>` or `<div>` elements.
Definition list items are wrapped in `<dl>` elements
ARIA IDs are unique
No form fields have multiple labels
`<html>` element has an `[xml:lang]` attribute with the same base language as the `[lang]` attribute.
Input buttons have discernible text.
`<input type="image">` elements have `[alt]` text
The document does not use `<meta http-equiv="refresh">`
`<object>` elements have alternate text
Select elements have associated label elements.
Skip links are focusable.
Cells in a `<table>` element that use the `[headers]` attribute refer to table cells within the same table.
`<th>` elements and elements with `[role="columnheader"/"rowheader"]` have data cells they describe.
`[lang]` attributes have a valid value
`<video>` elements contain a `<track>` element with `[kind="captions"]`
Tables have different content in the summary attribute and `<caption>`.
All heading elements contain content.
Uses ARIA roles only on compatible elements
Image elements do not have `[alt]` attributes that are redundant text.
Tables use `<caption>` instead of cells with the `[colspan]` attribute to indicate a caption.
`<td>` elements in a large `<table>` have one or more table headers.
All checks on this page are automated. Results are estimates - run targeted manual reviews when the score affects a release decision.

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