First visit to this Nature reserve
5
5
Date of visit: January 2015
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Excellent
Access off the main A338 to Salisbury from Ringwood in the New Forest. There is a car park and disabled friendly access, you can also book and Hire one of the 2 mobility Trampers to visit the hides and lakes. There are ramps leading into the hides, seating inside them and laminated pictures of the birds that can be regularly seen, a notice board outside has notifications of what has been seen on the day. All tracks to the hides are well tamped down gravel that was in good condition in spite of the heavy rain the night before my visit.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
Gravel that has been laid down and tamped well in made for a pretty smooth ride in my own small wheeled disabled buggy, which I could have taken into the hides, but felt I could manage to hobble up the ramp, which was well maintained, the seating inside was ample and the views across the lakes wonderful. All the paths are signposted and with seating at regular intervals all along the way to the hides where you can look out and take pictures.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
Parking for disabled is usually left clear by non disabled people outside the education Centre building but I saw no signs saying this was solely for disabled, but I could have parked in up to 5 places along the front of the centre and still leave the doorway clear,
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
I didn't have to use this facility but it looked clean and spacious, there were facilities for all and the rangers were extremely helpful. I could also have accessed the opposite side of Ellingham Drove, for the Ibsley Water lake with Tern Hide and Lapwing hide which requires a Radar key or from the education centre you can ask for the key to open the entrance to the other hides.
Staff
Excellent
On the Sunday we went there were at least 3 members of staff and they were doing an even to encourage children to make things and see what is around and about the water, as well as on the lakes.
Additional Information
I used the scooter, my husband used the walking stick, there were more than enough seating areas to sit and view or rest before walking again. The first image shows the way the paths have been dressed to allow access for disabled people, the next 2 pictures show the birds on the Ivy Lake on the south side of Ellingham Drove.
