Overview

This is a regular haunt - Lovely place, lots of parking, does get busy but there tends to be staff on duty when there are events on. Disabled parking is outside the garden centre and near the shops. Paths in the shopping area, are paved and flat. At the far end away from the Garden Centre is a Changing Places toilet. It needs a radar key to enter, and this can be loaned from the Gardens entrance (it's a fair walk back if you don't know you need one, and you haven't got one). There is a closer disabled toilet and ladies/gents by the Garden's entrance and also one of each in the Garden Centre, but we love the Changing Places as it makes live so much easier. There are lots of places to eat, some dog friendly places, can be very busy in warm weather especially. Personally, I know there are several staff on site that sign BSL, but I think that's more luck than good management. You can loan wheelchairs at both the Garden centre and the Garden's Entrance, although at the garden centre, they can not be taken away from the garden centre. (You exchange the chair for your car keys or driving licence) There is a cost to the Garden's Entrance unless you are an annual pass holder, but the lake can be navigated by a wheelchair user, manual or electric - I haven't tried but would expect. There are a couple of steepish hills near the South end, and you would need to go through the Italian Garden's at the North end rather than over the gravel potentially. There is a train ride, which is the kids love, but no access to wheelchair users and no support unless they can transfer independently and sit unsupported. There is a boat trip across the lake, this accepts wheelchair users and buggies, we've accessed this and had no issues getting out of the wheelchair on the boat or remaining in it. Sensory garden, we've explored in the wheelchair buggy, but there's bark on the floor. We haven't been to the maze yet this year, but there's one of those too.

Transport & Parking

4

Can be busy, but good sized spaces and provided outside the Garden Centre and by the shops. Child and Parent spaces also limited.

Access

5

Access to the Garden Centre is great, Some of the smaller shops is more limited. Access is flat and paved. Lots of seating. Can be busy of hot and sunny days. Some seating outside which could be moved into the path of visually impaired people. Lots of dogs known to visit. Some venues are dog friendly. Some staff have awareness of BSL, (I know this as I am learning and have friends who work here - but this may be good luck rather than planning.) In the Gardens, some gravel areas. Some areas including the park, bare foot walk and such like which would be difficult to access but easy to be nearby.

Toilets

0

There is a Changing Places toilet in the shopping area, accessible by a radar key, either your own or borrowed from the Garden's entrance which is a walk back from where you have come. (so worth knowing before you get to the bathroom). There are toilets (disabled/ladies and gents) outside the Garden's entrance at the far end of the Garden's and by the café/play area in the Garden's as well as in the Garden Centre and at the far end of the shops away from the Garden Centre, along side the Changing Places toilet.

Staff

4

No issues with staff to date, but staff are varied.