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Kew Wakehurst - Arrival and facilities

Ardingly, Haywards Heath, RH17 6TN

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • Kew Wakehurst is with diverse landscapes including meadows, woodlands, a Walled Garden, Winter Garden and natural play spaces.
    • Throughout the year, Wakehurst hosts events such as art installations, family trails and the annual winter lantern trail, Glow Wild.
    • Services and facilities available in the venue include: onsite Cafes, a shop and plant centre, the Millennium Seed Bank, an Elizabethan Mansion and multiple walks of varying difficulty around the gardens.
    • View information on opening times.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • The most accessible entrance is also the main entrance.
    • There is 1 other entrance.
    • There is step-free access via ramp at the other entrance.
    • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
    • There are no doors along circulation routes.
    • Access throughout may include uneven surfaces.
    • The 1 other entrance is used for school groups only.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • Seating is available.
    • There is a fixed hearing assistance system.
    • You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair and a mobility scooter.
    • Additional equipment which can be borrowed or hired includes: an all-terrain wheelchair.
    • View more information on borrowing or hiring equipment (opens new tab).
    • The alternative formats documents can be provided in include: Braille and large print (on request).
    • Large print and braille are only available for the cafe menus.
    • There is a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.

Standard Toilet Facilities

  • The female and male standard toilet facilities were surveyed.
  • The toilets are located in the main venue shop area.
  • The distance from venue entrance is 100m.
  • The most accessible route to the toilets has step-free level access.
  • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • There is step-free level access into the toilets.
  • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
  • The door is easy to open.
  • The width of the opening is 75cm.
  • Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
  • There are not ambulant toilet facilities available.
  • Hand washing facilities include: a wash basin and a wall mounted soap dispenser.
  • The wash basin has a twist/turn mixer tap.
  • Hand drying facilities include: a hand dryer.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is a lowered sink unit and tap at height of 70cm.
  • There is insufficient room underneath for wheelchair users.

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off Selsfield Road.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 15 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 240cm (width) x 350cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to one side but not at the rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 95cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 60m from the Visitors Centre entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a slight ramp.
    • This route has bollards.
    • There is a dropped kerb without tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
    • Payment machines are located at the front of the car park and inside the venue.
    • There is a payment machine with controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • There is a level manoeuvring space for a wheelchair user in front of the payment machine (185cm x 210cm).
  • Charges and Restrictions View
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Points View
    • Electric Vehicle charging points are not available.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance

  • This entrance is located at the front of the venue.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide.
  • There are no handrails for the ramp.
  • There are double automatic doors.
  • The doors open by revolving.
  • The width of the opening is 148cm.
  • The doors have a low colour contrast.
  • There is a separate schools entrance that can be utilised during busy school trip periods.
  • The gateway is 100cm wide and opens inwards.
  • There are slight ramps before and after this entrance.

Visitors Centre

  • Location View
    • The reception is located ahead as you enter the venue.
    • The distance from the entrance is 20m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the reception has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access to reception.
    • The height of the reception desk is 94cm.
    • There is a lowered section at the desk.
    • The height of the lowered section is 73cm.
    • The reception has patterned/distracting backgrounds which may affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • There is a clearly signed fixed hearing assistance system.
    • The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
    • The flooring is shiny.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.
    • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
    • Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests and benches.
    • Some seating is fixed.

Exit (to external facilities and gardens)

  • The exit area is not clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the exit.
  • There are double automatic doors.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 153cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a low colour contrast.
  • This exit leads from the visitors centre/admissions area and from the shop to all additional facilties. There are additional swing barriers when exiting via the shop. One of the barriers is permanently open and has a width of 87cm.

Shop

  • Access to the Shop View
    • The shop is located to the left as you enter the main entrance.
    • There is selection of plants for sale prior to the entrance.
    • This area has 4 tables and chairs with arms.
    • The height of the tables is 74cm.
    • The most accessible route has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
    • There is step-free level access into the shop.
  • Shop View
    • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
    • The majority of main aisle widths are between 150cm - 180cm.
    • The majority of main product widths are between 150cm - 180cm.
    • Some aisles did have obstructions at the time of the survey, these included: product displays.
    • Product displays/containers that may be more difficult for some to reach or open include: low shelving and high shelving.
    • The flooring is shiny.
    • There may be background noise.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.
  • Payment Counters and Checkouts View
    • The payment counter is located to the left as you enter the venue.
    • Signage is not provided for the counter.
    • The height of the counter is 91cm.
    • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
    • The counter has patterned/distracting backgrounds which may affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • The card payment machine is at a height of 94cm.
    • The payment machine is portable.
    • There is a clearly signed fixed hearing assistance system.
    • The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Exit (to car park area)

  • The exit area is clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the exit.
  • There are double automatic doors.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 158cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a low colour contrast.
  • There is step-free access via ramp as you exit.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide.
  • There are no handrails for the ramp .

Parent and Baby Room / Feeding Room

  • The room is located in the main venue and shop area.
  • The distance from main entrance is 100m.
  • The most accessible route to the room has step-free level access.
  • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
  • There is step-free level access into the room.
  • There is a single manual door.
  • The door opens away from you.
  • The door is easy to open.
  • The width of the opening is 73cm.
  • The door has a low colour contrast.
  • Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
  • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 100cm.
  • There is also a wash basin in the room.
  • The wash basin has a twist/turn mixer tap.
  • The room has a nappy/incontinence items bin.
  • The walls and floor have a medium colour contrast.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location View
    • The toilet surveyed is located in the venue shop area, to the left as you enter .
    • The distance from the entrance is 100m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a medium colour contrast.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The width of the opening is 80cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a medium colour contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 150cm (width) x 200cm (depth).
    • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 70cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush for the toilet.
    • The flush is on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the right as you face the toilet.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a low colour contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a low colour contrast.
    • There is a dropdown grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown grab rail has a low colour contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a medium colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 97cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a twist/turn mixer tap.
    • The wash basin and tap can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 74cm from the floor.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the left side of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a low colour contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low colour contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low colour contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 110cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 146cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a medium colour contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.