Access Statement for RSPB Dungeness nature reserve

This access statement does not contain personal
opinions as to our suitability for those with access
needs, but aims to accurately describe the facilities and
services that we offer all our guests/visitors.
Access Statement for RSPB Dungeness nature reserve
Introduction
RSPB Dungeness is set at the heart of the Dungeness National
Nature reserve. The Visitor Centre and hides give views over the
reserve's restored gravel pits, where a wide variety of waterbirds can
be seen. The trails provide views across the unique shingle
landscape and offer opportunities to get close to the wide variety of
wildlife at Dungeness - including birds, insects and wildflowers. The
Visitor Centre reception, shop, exhibition space and classroom are all
on one level.
Whilst parts of the nature trail have some narrow and slightly
undulating paths and some surfaces are loose shingle the large part
of the trail surface is hard-packed shingle or short grass.
All visitors with mobility difficulties may drive to four of the hides on
the main trail - please ask at reception for access. The track to the
Hanson-ARC hide can be accessed by RADAR key holders or a key
can be borrowed from the Visitor Centre for a £20 deposit.
Further details about the reserve and what you can see and do can
be found on our website http://www.rspb.org.uk/dungeness
We look forward to welcoming you. If you have any queries or require
any assistance please phone 01797 320588 or email
dungeness@rspb.org.uk.
Pre-Arrival
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For a map and directions on how to reach us please see the
'How to get here' section on our website, which has a link for
sat navs. Alternatively you can plan your journey by public
transport or car using www.transportdirect.info - simply enter
your postcode and ours, which is TN29 9PN to get directions.
The nearest railway station is Rye, which is 10miles/16km
away. Taxis are usually available at the station.
Although buses do stop at the reserve entrance this is over a
mile from the visitor centre and main nature trail, along a hardpacked
shingle track.
The Visitor Centre is open from 10am - 5pm (4pm November -
February) daily, except December 25 and 26. The nature trail is
open from 9am to 9pm or sunset if earlier.
We welcome registered assistance dogs.
Car Parking Facilities and Arrival
There are two clearly signed accessible parking spaces
situated 10m from the Visitor Centre entrance. A cement path
and paved patio leads from the parking bays to the Visitor
Centre entrance.
The car park (accommodating approximately 60 cars) is
adjacent to the Visitor Centre.
The car park surface is hard-packed shingle but can be loose in
places and may contain the occasional pot-hole especially after
rain.
There is step-free, level access to the Visitor Centre.
The outer door to the centre is operated by a push-button
Visitor Centre
The whole of the Visitor Centre is situated at ground level.
There is step free level access throughout.
The floor surface is carpet throughout.
There is a lowered section of counter at reception and at the
shop till point.
The area is evenly and well-lit.
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There are several seating areas throughout the Centre. There
are at least four seats with arms available.
A magnifying glass, pen and pad of paper are available at the
reception desk.
Staff can give assistance and read out any literature if required.
Binoculars can be hired at £1.50 or £2.50.
There are a variety of events and activities throughout the year.
Please ask staff for details, including accessibility.
Nature Trails
The reserve has a mix of different types of path that are
generally flat with one or two minor undulations. There is one
significant undulation on the return trail, length 1.15m and
gradient 1:4.
All trails are clearly signposted.
Three trails can be followed
o
o
o
The main trail is two miles long, beginning and ending at
the Visitor Centre. It is mostly flat with a variety of
surfaces: from hard-packed shingle, short turf, wooden
boardwalks (46m and 40m in length and 1500mm wide)
and occasional small stretches of more loose shingle. The
path width varies from 4000mm to 900mm.
The trail to the Hanson-ARC hide is 380m long with a
202m loop (the Willow trail) branching off it near the hide.
The Willow trail consists of 102m of wooden boardwalk
(1200mm wide) and 100m of hard-packed earth path with
a slightly undulating and rough surface (900mm -
1000mm wide). There is a passing place 65m along the
boardwalk.
Also at the Hanson-ARC site there is a 380m trail leading
to the viewing screen. This path is level, the surface is of
packed earth and gravel and the width varies from 700m
to 1200m. The surface is uneven in places with some
stones of 15 - 20mm.
Seating is available along the main trail either in the hides or
alongside the trail. A variety of seats are available including
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high perching seats, wooden benches with and without backs
and arm rests.
Viewing Facilities
There are five hides along the main trail, situated 210m, 330m,
710m, 1180m and 1560m from the Visitor Centre. There is a
sixth hide in the corner of the car park, 120m from the Visitor
Centre.
There are a hide and viewing screen at the Hanson-ARC site,
each 300m from the car park.
Dennis’s hide is 210m from the Visitor Centre along a hard
packed gravel path, 1500mm wide. The last 25m of the path
has a cement surface, has a gradient of 1:33 and is 1200mm
wide. The door handle is at a height of 1m. There is a 38mm
step into the hide and a 12mm lip in the doorway. The door
width is 950mm. The windows are easy to reach and secure.
There is a lowered window for wheelchair access.
Firth hide is 210m from the Visitor Centre along a broad hardpacked
shingle path, but with some loose stones. The door
width is 800mm and the door handle at a height of 1m. There is
a 10mm lip at the entrance. The windows are easy to reach and
secure. There is a lowered window and a moveable bench to
enable wheelchair access. There is a parking bay adjacent to
the hide.
Makepeace hide is 330m from the Visitor Centre along a broad
hard-packed shingle path, but with some loose stones. The last
2m to the hide has a gradient of 1:13. The door width is 780mm
and the door handle at a height of 1m. The windows are easy to
reach and secure. There is a lowered window and a moveable
bench to enable wheelchair access. There is a parking bay
adjacent to the hide.
Scott hide is 710m from the Visitor Centre along a broad hardpacked
shingle path, but with some loose stones. The hide is
reached via a concrete ramp and wooden landing width
1450mm and gradient 1:24. There is a handrail to the righthand
side. The door width is 755mm and the door handle at a
height of 1m. The windows are easy to reach and secure.
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There is a lowered window and a moveable bench to enable
wheelchair access. There is a parking bay adjacent to the hide.
Christmas Dell hide is 1180m from the Visitor Centre along a
narrower path with a short grass surface and occasional
patches of loose shingle. There is a 100mm step up into the
hide. The door width is 870mm and the door handle at a height
of 1m. The windows are easy to reach and secure. There is a
lowered window and a moveable bench to enable wheelchair
access.
Denge Marsh hide is 1560m from the Visitor Centre along a
path of variable width (but no less than 900mm) with a short
grass surface and occasional patches of loose shingle. Access
to the hide is via a ramp (1200mm wide) with a handrail on
each side. The door width is 920mm and the door handle at a
height of 1m. The windows are easy to reach and secure.
There is a lowered window and a moveable bench to enable
wheelchair access.
The Hanson-ARC hide is 380m from the Hanson-ARC car park
along a hard-packed gravel track 2000mm wide. The hide is
reached via a 6m long ramp, width 1300mm, with 1:15 gradient.
There is a handrail on either side for the final 4.2m. The door
width is 910mm and the handle is at a height of 1m. The
windows are easy to reach and secure. There is a lowered
window and a moveable bench to enable wheelchair access.
The track to the Hanson-ARC hide can be accessed by RADAR
key holders or a key can be borrowed from the Visitor Centre
for a £20 deposit. There is a parking bay 20.5m from the hide.
The viewing screen is 380m from the Hanson-ARC car park.
There is open access to the back of the screen and there is a
lowered window for wheelchair access.
Public Toilets
The toilets are situated on the opposite side of the car park to
the Visitor Centre.
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Catering
A cement path, 1750mm wide, runs around the outside of the
building.
These toilets include a unisex accessible toilet, open to all and
described below:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
An outer door, which is always open with entrance
840mm width and an inner, outward opening door also
with 840mm width.
The light cord is within reach 900mm above floor level.
1000mm transfer space to the left of the toilet, when
facing the toilet.
Toilet height is 470mm, the centre line is 635mm from the
side wall and the front 800mm from the back wall.
The flush handle is at a height of 1200mm.
There is a vertical support rail (35mm diameter and
600mm long) on the back wall (300mm from the side of
the WC and height 800mm from bottom of rail).
There is a vertical support rail (35mm diameter and
600mm long) on the side wall (1065mm from the back
wall and height 800mm from bottom of rail).
The wash basin is on the side wall but not within reach of
the toilet
There is a hinged support rail next to the toilet (transfer
side), the top rail being 70mm high.
There are lever taps on the sink, but not within reach of
the toilet.
There is a baby changing table that folds down for use.
Hot and cold drinks and confectionery (crisps, flapjacks,
chocolate etc) are available in the Visitor Centre.
Shop
There is a shop selling bird food, feeders, nestboxes and
wildlife products, as well as books, outdoor clothing, home and
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garden gifts, cards and stationery. We also offer a range of
binoculars and telescopes.
There is level entry and no doors to enter the shop apart from
those at the main entrance (described previously).
Education Centre / Classrooms
There is an 11.8m x 6.2m classroom/meeting room, which can
be extended to 17.7m x 6.2m. There is level access to the room
from the Visitor Centre reception.
There is step free, level access throughout.
The area is evenly and well lit with fluorescent tube overhead
lighting.
The floor surface is carpet throughout.
Picnic Area
There are three picnic tables along the western side of the car
park, all with two wheelchair accessible spaces.
There are three picnic tables (with two wheelchair accessible
spaces each) near Dennis's hide, which provide an elevated
view across the northern part of the reserve. There is a cement
path from the car park to this picnic area, 1500mm wide with a
gradient of 1:33.
There is a wheelchair accessible picnic table 45m from the
Visitor Centre with a view over the pond-dipping area. There is
a cement parking space above the picnic bench from which a
1200mm wide, 14m path (with 1:45 gradient) slopes down to
the bench.
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Contact Information
Address (Inc postcode): RSPB Dungeness nature reserve
Boulderwall Farm, Dungeness Rd, Lydd,
Kent. TN29 9PN.
Telephone: 01797 320588
Email:
Website:
dungeness@rspb.org.uk
www.rspb.org.uk/dungeness
Grid Reference: TR 062197
Hours Of Operation:
Reserve open 9am to 9pm (or sunset if
earlier). Visitor Centre open 10am to 5pm
(4pm November to February). Reserve and
Visitor Centre closed December 25 and 26.
Local Public Transport: www.stagecoachbus.com/eastkent
08456 002299
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