Essex Wildlife Trust Nature Park
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: July 2021
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets, moving around and understanding.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet
Overall Rating
Good
This has recently re-opened after a major revamp. The car park has vastly increased but sadly the place has lost a lot of its charm. A much bigger cafe and outdoor seating area which may improve with time. The interior is now painted sludge grey/black and is just not welcoming. The sensory community garden however continues to be a delight.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The ground is fairly rough and you would not be able to access most of the site in a wheelchair. You can get to the visitor centre and the sensory garden but that's about it. Level access throughout the shop and cafe. Plenty of benches for those needing a rest.
Parking & Transport
Good
You need a car to get here really as I am not aware of a bus stop nearby. The car park has been greatly expanded but is very rough for the most part. The disabled bays are tarmacked but you still need to cross the rough ground to get out of it.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
No changing place toilet which is surprising for a new building but a decent disabled toilet.
Staff
Average
I think the cafe staff are very new. They didn't seem to know what they were doing and I had to ask for a saucer with my cup. The cafe and tables were filthy and all needed clearing and washing down. (staff shortages?) The sanitizer had stopped working . They had run out of serviettes. It was very dirty indoors and outside.
Additional Information
Because of the general grubbiness and the hand free sanitizer not working and people being told to hang around for their orders we did not feel very covid safe. There is no apparent queuing system in place so people were bunched together.
