Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- The most accessible entrance has automatic doors, a door permanently held open and a steep ramp/slope.
- There is step-free access once inside.
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- The following are also available: seating and a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was working.
- This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: a parent and baby room, a toilet with some adaptations and standard toilets.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found between the Farm Area and Farm Café.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found between the Farm Area and Farm Café.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a mountain trike, a manual wheelchair and manual wheelchairs. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: mobility scooters. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
Route to (Farm Café and Picnic Area)
- Farm Café is located at the rear of the site, next to the Pleasure Grounds area.
There is a surfaced path leading from the Hardwicke Gate and Visitor Arrivals to the Gardens and a surfaced path through the Gardens to the Barns. - The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are concrete, gravel and bonded gravel.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to this area.
Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the building.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The steep ramp is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There are double automatic doors (with one door locked) which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 80cm.
Eating and Drinking
- This is a café which serves hot and cold meals and snacks.
- There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
- Staff can provide assistance and offer service to tables.
- Menu types include: written wall menus and counter menus.
- Menus are easy to read (large clear font with contrasting colours).
- The following are available here: drinking straws, takeaway cups and a portable card machine for payment.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- There is a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There is a counter under 85cm high with a tray rail.
- The counter is 84cm high.
- There is step-free level access around the seating area.
- The seating area does not have: a priority table and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
- There are no tables which are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The surface height of the tables is 75cm.
- Some flooring in the area is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- There is a separate ice cream counter which is 105cm high.
Picnic Area
- The following information describes the picnic area located at the rear of Home Farm and next to Farm Café.
- There is step-free level access into the area.
- There are picnic tables.
- Adapted picnic tables are available.
- The distance between the floor and the underside of the lowest picnic table is 68cm.
- The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest picnic table is 72cm.
- The following furniture is permanently fixed: all of the chairs and all of the tables.
- There is step-free level access around the area.
- The surface in the picnic area is not smooth and even.
- The surface of the paths around the picnic area is loose chippings.
The surface around the picnic tables is grass.
There is a sheltered picnic barn.
Toilet with Adaptations (Home Farm - Ambulant - Right Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located between the Farm Area and Farm Café.
- Access into the toilet is via a steep ramp/slope.
- The ramp is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 84cm.
- The door has a twist lock.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 147cm x 200cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the seat but it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 80cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and a vertical rail on the right side of the wash basin.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: wash basin, soap dispenser and toilet roll holder.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: towel dispenser.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 40cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 90cm.
- The wash basin tap type is push.
- The height of the wash basin is 75cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 95cm.
- The height of the towel dispenser is 120cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it is not at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is not a shelf.
- The cubicle has: a nappy/incontinence items bin and a waste bin without lid.
- The cubicle does not have a full length mirror.
- The height of the coat hook is 160cm from the floor.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door and the floor.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat, the dropdown rail and all grab rails.
Standard Toilet
- Access into the toilet is via a steep ramp/slope.
- The ramp is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 84cm.
- The male and female standard toilets were surveyed.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 60cm.
- The wash basin tap type is push.
- There are hand dryers.
- There is a baby change facility which is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
Parent and Baby Room / Baby Feeding Room
- Access into the room is via a steep ramp/slope.
- The ramp is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 84cm.
- The height of the baby change table is 100cm.
- The wash basin tap type is twist/turn.
- There is no seating available in the room.
- Waste bins include: a nappy bin.