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Access Statement for the Wild Place Project
This access statement does not contain personal opinions as to our suitability for those with disabilities, but aims to accurately describe the facilities and services that we offer all our visitors. Page 2 of 26
Table of Contents
3 – Introduction
4 – Pre-arrival
5 – Car Parking and Arrival
6 – Shop and Reception
7 – Guest Village
9 – Fun Fort
10 - Toilets
11 – Mazes
12 – Central Play Area
13 – Edge of Africa
14 – Webbs Brake
15 – Gelada Rocks
17 – Woodland Walks
18 – Cheetah Viewing Area
19 – Madagascar/ Lemur Walkthrough
21 – Secret Congo
22 – Congo Bongo
22 – Walled Garden
24– Barefoot Trail
25 – Wolf Wood
26 – Tower Meadow Page 3 of 26
Introduction
Wild Place Project is a fun, family attraction that provides outdoor adventure, play and learning. Visitors to Wild Place Project can meet amazing animals from across the world from the mischievous lemurs of Madagascar to the striking grey wolves of Europe. Wild Place Project was opened by the Bristol Zoological Society with an emphasis on protecting threatened habitats on our doorsteps and around the globe.
The Wild Place Project takes our responsibilities for providing universal access very seriously and adheres to the Equality Act accordingly. We work hard to provide the highest level of access to the whole site, however due to the rugged nature of the site, this is not always possible.
We look forward to welcoming you. If you have any queries or require any assistance please phone 0117 980 7175 or email [email protected].
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Pre-Arrival
For full details and maps of how to reach us please see the directions section of the 'Plan Your Visit' section on our website. Alternately, you can plan your journey by car or public transport using http://www.transportdirect.info; simply enter your post code and ours, which is BS10 7TP. The nearest bus stop is Cat Brain Lane on the 1st bus route 70 approximately 0.7 miles away. There are no buses that directly pass the Wild Place Project. The nearest train station is Patchway approximately 3 miles away. Pedestrian and Cycle access requires crossing some dual carriageway using lighted crossings. Unfortunately, we are not able to welcome outside animals even guide dogs due to potential risk of cross animal infection.
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Car Parking and Arrival
The Wild Place car park is open every day during the parks open hours. There are four disabled spaces next to the entrance gate. The carpark is rough gravel and the surface can be uneven. Entrance to the park is on the north-west side of the car park and is marked by an overhead welcome sign.
Pedestrian Entrance
Car Park Page 6 of 26
Shop and Reception
During busy periods tickets can be purchased from the white ticket booth directly in front of the entrance. During quieter periods tickets can be purchased from the shop to the right of the ticket booth. Access through the shop is accessible to wheelchairs but note that the door frame is single width at 110cm. If you have a larger mobility aid please alert a member of staff who will allow you in through a different entrance. The entrance area of the park has a cobbled surface. Neither the shop nor the booth is lowered and we do not currently have a hearing loop.
Shop and Reception
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Guest Village
The Guest Village area of Wild Place includes the shop, café and Guest info. This area has a closely packed cobbled surface which forms a relatively flat surface To the left of guest village as you enter is the Café. There are two entrances to the café one off of guest village and one from the courtyard. The doors are 103cm wide. The café desk is not lowered. The Café has several rooms most of which have tables with movable seats that can be used by wheelchair users though some of them have fixed benches or are on a step. The seating in the courtyard features fixed benches. There is open space on either end of the tables. On the right side of the Guest Village is Guest Info. Access to guest info is an 136cm door and requires going up a small incline. The Guest Info desk is lowered.
Guest Village Page 8 of 26
Café interior
Café outside area
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Fun fort
The Fun Fort is to the right as you leave Guest Village it and the path leading to it has an asphalt surface. The fun fort itself has a surface made of a mix of concrete and soft asphalt. There is seating in the Play Fort in the form of tables and chairs.
Fun fort play area
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Toilets
The toilet block is behind the Fun Fort. It includes one disabled toilet which is located on the outside section of the fun fort toilets. The surface of the toilets is concrete and the surrounding area is asphalt. The toilet door is 90cm wide and is only locked when it is in use. There are no further toilet facilities available in the park.
Accessible toilet. Other toilets to the left and right. Page 11 of 26
Mazes
The Butterfly Maze has a fine gravel surface that is level. This surface can become quite muddy after prolonged periods of rain. The information in the Butterfly Maze is at a medium height and is accessible by wheelchair users. The type is in high contrast and large font. The Maize Maze is in a field and the surface of the path is compacted dirt. This area can become very muddy when it rains. This maze is a seasonal attraction.
Path to the mazes. Open seasonally
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Central Play Area
The central play area is surfaced with loose wood chips there is a small edge around the play area with a break for assisted wheelchair access. There is seating in the central play area in the form of picnic tables.
Central play area.
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Edge of Africa
The surface of the Edge of Africa path is made of a hard packed mix which provides a relatively smooth surface but can become quite muddy after periods of prolonged rain. Before the zebra and eland house there is a viewing area which is surfaced with large gravel that is difficult to access with a buggy or wheelchair. There is a viewing area on the far side of the house which is surfaced with the same hard mix as the path and provides a relatively smooth surface.
Edge of Africa with paths typical of the main area Page 14 of 26
Webbs Brake
Webbs Brake has two paths. The lighter coloured path is made of a hard packed mix which provides a relatively smooth surface but can become quite muddy after periods of prolonged rain. The darker path is compacted dirt and stone and can be uneven in places. The circular path takes 20 minutes at a leisurely pace. Within Webbs Brake there is a bird hide. The bird hide has one step up to get into it which is 13cm high. The bird hide has a door 73cm wide. Inside the bird hide there is only natural light. There is seating within the bird hide in the form of a fixed bench. This hide has lower viewing window.
Typical Webbs Brake path Page 15 of 26
Gelada Rocks
The surface of the Gelada Rocks path is made of a hard packed mix which provides a relatively smooth surface but can become quite muddy after periods of prolonged rain. The undercover viewing area is accessed through a door 120CM wide
The entrance to the undercover viewing area Page 16 of 26
There are two climbing rocks which are surrounded by matting with a 2CM lip The information in this is displayed on the fence at a height of approximately 1.5 meters. There is seating at Gelada Rocks in the form of circular picnic tables.
The Gelada Rocks play area
The Gelada Rocks viewing area Page 17 of 26
Walks
Our woodland walk trails cover rugged terrain and while we have built some railings these trails are not recommended for wheelchair users. The surface of the trails is compacted dirt and can become muddy when it rains. These trails take 30 minutes to complete at a leisurely pace. There are stairs at various points on the paths.
Typical woodland paths with steps and bridge
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Cheetah Viewing Area
The paths throughout the cheetah viewing area are surfaced with small gravel. There are no steps or doorways. Information is fixed to the wall and in large font. The National Park Headquarters is accessed through one of two open doorways which are 128cm wide. The information in this is is displayed on the wall at a height of approximately 1.5 meters.
National Park Headquarters(Above) and Cheetah viewing area (Below) Page 19 of 26
Madagascar/ Lemur Walkthrough
The lemur walkthrough has two sets of gates to get into each section some of these gates can be heavy. There are volunteers on hand to assist if needed. Push chairs are not allowed in the Lemur walkthrough. As you enter the Lemur Walkthrough there is an upward slope to get past the set of gates. All the paths within the Walkthrough are made of hard packed mix and form a level surface. These paths can become muddy after periods of prolonged rain. There is seating with in the lemur walk through Outside the walkthrough there is a covered viewing area with seating.
The entrance set of gates
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The set of gates leading into the walkthrough
The covered viewing area outside the walkthrough
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Secret Congo
The Secret Congo area comprises the Okapi and Red River Hog enclosures. The paths are made of a hard packed mix and form a level surface. These paths can become muddy during periods of prolonged rain. The signage in the area is posted behind the standoff barriers at a height of around 2 meters. The information is in large font.
Typical setup in Secret Congo with path and info behind stand off barrier Page 22 of 26
Congo Bongo Play Area
The Congo Bongo play area is surfaced with loose wood chips. There is seating in the Congo Bongo Play area.
Congo Bongo play area Page 23 of 26
Walled Garden
The Walled Garden paths are made of a hard packed mix that forms a level surface. This surface can become muddy when wet. The interior of the Meerkat enclosure can be accessed through two doors which are 105cm wide. It is surfaced with loose sand. The signage is posted at around 1.5 meter height and is in large font. There is seating in the Walled Garden in the form of picnic tables
Meerkat viewing area. Page 24 of 26
Barefoot Trail
The Barefoot Trail is comprised of a series of boxes which contain various materials. The boxes are 13cm high. The path alongside the boxes is formed of compacted dirt and form a relatively flat surface. The shelter by the Barefoot Trail is on a platform 12cm high. There is seating in the shelter in the form of benches. There is seating at the Barefoot Trail in the form of picnic tables.
Barefoot trail with example of box Page 25 of 26
Wolf Wood
The Wolf Wood paths are made of a hard packed mix which forms a level surface. This surface can become muddy in periods of prolonged rain. The information in this area is displayed at a height of roughly 1.5 meters. The Wolf Wood viewing shelter is on a raised platform 20cm high. There is a ramp up to the viewing shelter.
Wolf wood viewing shelter
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Tower Meadow
The Tower Meadow is a field with some uneven ground and some areas of long grass. The long grass can be slippery when wet. There is seating in the form of picnic tables near the southern entrance to Tower Meadow.
Tower meadow