Access Assessment

One of the major aims of Birding For All is to encourage universal access to facilities designed for birders. This page is devoted to a 'template' for assessing your local reserve... please use this template so that we can compare like with like. When you have made your assessment please send the details to us (in a word document if you can) and we will include it in our reserves section... or better still get in touch so we can give you access to this site and you can add the report yourself!

National Accessibility Scheme

 This is a scheme run by "visitBritain" the UK Tourist Authority, grading accommodation according to 3 different categories of accessibility, all given an individual sign:

Symbol1  Category 1 [Accessible to all wheelchair users including those travelling independently]
 Symbol2 Category 2 [Accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance]
 Symbol3 Category 3 [Accessible to a wheelchair user able to walk short distances and up at least three steps]

 

Local tourist boards are now inspecting accommodation of all types according to these categories, This will provide users with a clear understanding of accessibility. Bear in mind that the criteria they use is their own and not necessarily that of the British Standards. The web site also has a search facility for inspected accommodation throughout Britain. There are also details of "Tourism For All" a national charity who will help with travel enquiries for disabled people. Full details on their website

Access Questionnaire

This questionnaire is based on the Accessibility Standards laid out in the BT Countryside for All Standards and Guidelines. We have simplified these for the purpose of this survey. This means that although your questionnaire may appear to give good access standards to the site you review, it does not mean that the site necessarily meets the BT standards. We are simply using this method to gain an initial idea about accessibility. Use the notes to help you fill in the questionnaire.

The BT Standards use lots of measurements to assess paths etc, you can of course use a tape measure (useful when assessing hides) but I use a lot of estimating (by measuring out before hand the set standards against my body I can get a good idea of the measurements without having to take out a tape every time). You can use average steps to work out distances. Without proper equipment it is very difficult to assess gradients, use your common sense and keep an eye out for areas you think may be difficult. Ideally mark up a map of the reserve/site as this will be extremely useful to give an overall picture of the sites accessibility. When you mark up your map make sure you explain the symbols you used! Of course if the site has an inaccessible area at the beginning of the "route" the whole site is out of bounds however good the rest is!

The questionnaire is designed in several distinct parts. This means you need only print off the sections that apply to your survey. You can leave out the Hide part if your reserve has no hides or print 3 copies of that part if the site has 3 hides. To make the questionnaire easy to fill in I've put explanations in the corresponding notes. They should be easy to find as the numbers in the notes correspond to the numbers in the survey.

If you need any help or have questions regarding this questionnaire please email the dba. Before you survey a reserve try and contact the people who run it, particularly if it is a permit entry site. Hopefully we'll get positive feedback and start useful dialogue with those who run things. Please avoid any confrontation and always emphasise the positive aspects of our work and surveys. Please always consider your personal safety when visiting any site and always follow the Birdwatchers' Code of Conduct.

Access Form

Please read the following notes before attempting the survey...
On arriving at the reserve please note the weather and anything else you feel might be relevant to the condition of the paths etc. When assessing Public Transport Links Include the distance to site from station or bus stop and the transport company's name and phone number.
When looking at trails and paths see how long the trail or path is overall? We are looking for your best estimate of length of trail or path and how long it takes to complete. Also include the number of trails and descriptions of each different trail where relevant, and if they are circular.
When noting paths, look at what surface they have and describe it - for example is it tarmac, grass, stone, timber, sand, loose gravel, woodchips, etc. We are looking for a surface that is compact and firm, stable, non-slip and obstacle free so please indicate if the surface is any of the above. In many cases you will find loose stones and chippings; do these cover the whole surface and are the stones bigger than 10mm?
When judging steepness, an indication of whether a path is steep, flat or has a mild gradient will be useful. We also need to know the length of the incline. This is not easy so just do your best. We also need information about any incline across the width of the path or trail as these can pose difficulties, especially to wheelchair users. Again, an indication of the steepness and distance will be useful. Remember that Surface Breaks include grills, cattle grids and gaps in boards. If we know how long a ramp is, and how high the door is from the path it is easy to calculate the gradient and see if it will be an easy or hard 'push' for a wheelchair user.
Assessing the suitability of a viewing point for a wheelchair users involves a lot of measuring - a tape measure would be a real help. A sensible thing to do is sit at one of the viewing slots and see how well you are able to open it, or use it, without ever rising from the seat, many wheelchair users are not able to stand. The best hides will have an extension in front of a wheelchair slot so that the person can get close to a viewing slot with room for their knees.
The "Condition & Non slip treatment" of boardwalks can include a wire/mesh covering or special paint treatment which should be visible' it would be helpful to know.
The "Any other comments" section under "Hides" gives you the opportunity to list your overall impression of the hide - how comfortable it is, the height of the windows, seating etc. If you want to add further comments or information, please feel free and do so at the very end of the form or on a separate sheet - the more information you give us, the better the overall picture we have. Many thanks for taking the time to do this questionnaire.
 
Part One
Arriving at the Reserve:
1. Your Details: 

Name: 

Address:


Email: 

Telephone
2. Reserve Details: 
 
Name of Reserve: 

Grid Reference [if known]: 

Opeing Hours: 

Public Transport Links:

What was the weather like during your visit?:

Are guidedogs allowed?:
3. Parking: 
 
Parking for orange badge holders? (Extra wide spaces): 

Are accessible spaces signposted?: 

Parking charge? (any exemptions): 

Are any Parking Machines at a suitable height?: 

Is there a dropping off place?: 

Is there parking for minibuses?: 

Does The carpark have an even, firm and well drained surface?: 
4. Management: 
 
What is the Managing Authority?: 

Is there a member of staff [Warden] who could give help and/or information on site if needed?: 

If staffed: part time or full time?: 

Contact details for Warden:
5. Toilets: 
 
Are there disabled access toilets?: 

Are they open at all times?: 

If locked is there a RADAR key scheme?:
6. Visitor Centre:
  
Is there an accessible payphone?: 

Is the centre accessible by wheelchair?: 

Is there an Induction Loop?: 

Is there information available for disabled visitors?:

Is there an information board or leaflets about the reserve?:
Part Two 
Trails & Paths:
7. Path Length: 

How long is the trail/path?:
8. Path Surface: 

What sort of surface does the path have?:
9. Path Width: 
 
Is any part of the path below 700mm wide?: 

What proportion of the path is less than 1000mm wide?: 

What proportion of path is at least 1200 mm wide:
10. Steepness of path or trail: 
 
(please qualify with distances of steep sections) 

Steep Slope: 

Medium Gradient: 

Shallow Gradient:
11. Cross slope of path or trail: 
 
Length(s) of path with noticeable cross slope(s) 
12. Surface breaks: 
 
Number of breaks in the surface of the path more than 12 mm wide measured along the line of the path. 

Location of breaks:
13. Barriers: 
 
List number of barriers and whether they are passable:
14. Clear Walking Tunnel: 

Is the path clear of overhanging branches etc. for a width of 1 meter and a height of 2.1 meters.
15. Distance between passing places 
 
(if path less than 2 meters): 

100 meters or less?: 

Over 100 meters?:
16. Distance between resting places 
 
(level area near to the path that is at least 1.2 meters to 1.5 meters with a seat or perch with room for a wheelchair):

Less than 300 meters: 

More than 300 meters:
Part Three 
Hides: (Please fill for each hide unless all are common design)
Name of Hide:
17. Is the path to/from the hide accessible?: 
 
Is it level surface (or has a ramp), stable, firm/compact, non-slip and obstacle free?:
18. Hide Entrance: 
 
Is the area/ platform outside the hide at least 1.5 x 2 meters?: 

Is there a threshold or step?:
19. Hide door: Sliding?: 
 
Opens Outwards?: 

Opens Inwards?: 

What is the width of the door?:
20. Hide Access for Wheelchair users: 
 
Is there clear access (or moveable seats) to viewing points?: 

Is the viewing point at least 900mm wide per person?: 

Does each have knee space of at least 600mm deep x 680mm high? (is it angled ?): 

Are viewing slots: shelf provided?: 

What height are they?: 

Is the bottom edge of window no more than 920 mm high?: 

Does each window have at least a 380mm gap?: 

Are viewings flap no wider than 1 meter?: 

Can viewing flaps be split in half:?: 

Are they light?: 

Are the fasteners easy to grip and within reach of user?:
21. Hide Access for Other users: · 
 
Seating: Are the gaps between seats sufficient to allow easy entry and exit?: 

Is the hide free of obstruction at ground level?: 

Does any seating with backrest?: 

Any other comments on Hides?: 
Part Four 
Boardwalks & Bridges:
22. Start of boardwalk: 

Level with the ground (lip of up to 5 mm allowed)?: 

Lip greater than 5 mm?:
23. Width: 
 
Is it under 1.2 meters wide?: 

Is it more than 1.2 meters wide?: 

Is it at least 2 meters wide?:
24. Construction: 
 
Are there boards at right angle to the direction of pedestrian flow?
25. Gaps: 
 
Are there gaps between boards?: 

If so are they more than 12mm wide?:
26. Rails: 
 
Is there an edge board/rail to boardwalk?: 

If yes, is the deck level edging at least 75 mm high?: 

If rail present, is the bottom edge no more than 75 mm from boardwalk?: 

Are handrails present at "risky" locations, where there are gradients, sharp turns, more elevated areas etc.?:
27. Condition of structure: 
 
Are the boards in good condition?: 

Is there any non-slip treatment?: 

Are the boards stable and non-springy?: 

Are the boards obstructed in any way?:
28. Passing places and rest points: 
 
If the boardwalk is under 2 meters wide, are there sufficient passing places?: 

On long boardwalks, any resting points? (seating and places for wheelchairs):

Further Comments:

 
Feel free to ad anything you feel would be of value to other visitors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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