Access Statement

Introduction

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.

Our Commitment to Exceptional Service at Wellington Country Park

At Wellington Country Park, we strive to provide exceptional service to all of our visitors and guests, so that they can fully enjoy their visit to the Country Park and to the Campsite. Our mission is to offer a high-quality experience, and we are dedicated to continuously monitoring and improving accessibility and inclusivity for all, including our staff.

To achieve this, we are collaborating closely with several external companies, schools and colleges, to continuously monitor and enhance our services, so that we can become an ideal accessible tourism destination for all. The following statement is a summary of our provisions.

Country Park Grounds

Wellington Country Park is one of the biggest outdoor play areas in Hampshire and Berkshire. The Park is almost totally an outdoor destination and aimed at families with young children aged up to 8 years old.

The Park is set within 350 acres of beautiful parkland. in the middle of which is our stunning 35-acre lake. Around the Lake there are numerous play areas suitable for children up to the age of eight years old and include sand pits, slides, swings, pirate ship, climbing frames and towers. In addition, there is a Dinosaur trail with over 30 models, a 12-hole mini golf course, miniature railway and an animal farm, with a range of domestic animals.

Within our grounds we have Waterloo Meadow, which is home to our herds of red and fallow deer, and it can be hired for private functions, events, and rallies. It is accessed via a gate (by walking) or over a cattle grid (by vehicle). The Antler Pen is found next to Waterloo Meadow, with access via a locked gate. This area is suitable for smaller functions, events and rallies.

To view all of our attractions, please visit our attractions page here.

Free disabled parking facilities are available at the front of the Reception building, approximately 50m from the entrance. Please follow the signage on arrival. There are 8 allocated disabled spaces available, please display your blue badge. The path from the disabled car park to the entrance is tarmac or block paving.

Access to all buildings, café’s, soft play, party room and Reception, is either flat or via a slight ramp with a minimum access of 900mm. Flooring is either of a vinyl or tiled surface.

Once in the building and into the Park, the majority of the Park now has tarmac paths. This allows for wheelchair access to all areas of the Park including access to, in and around the Animal Farm, the Dinosaur Trail and around the back of the small lake. Access to the back of the large lake is only partly accessible for wheelchair users, as the path becomes very narrow and is of a natural rough forest floor. This makes access to that part of the trail around the back of the large lake very difficult indeed, if not almost impossible.

Whilst there are level tarmac paths to all entrances to play areas and the areas are all visible from these points, all play areas are barked for safety reasons which makes unfortunately makes access for wheelchairs very difficult. All paths are approximately 2m wide with grass areas either side, which may be uneven underfoot. There are plenty of benches located throughout the Park to allow for rest.

Lighting in all buildings is a mix of natural daylight and overhead LED lighting.

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact a member of staff on 01189 326444 who will happily assist you.

Pre-Arrival

By Road…

Wellington Country Park has easy access from both the M4 (junction 11) and the M3 (junction 5).

From M4 take junction 11 and follow A33 south towards Basingstoke

From M3 take junction 5 and follow B3349 north towards Reading

Follow the signs for Wellington Country Park

By Sat Nav…

Please note: When entering the post code into your sat nav, the directions given will not take you to the entrance of the Country Park or Campsite, unless your sat nav has been updated very recently. The postcode will take you to the central point of that postcode, which is NOT the Park entrance.

Please enter Either Odiham Road, Riseley or B3349 and this will bring you to the main Wellington roundabout, from which you will be able to access the entrance to the Country Park and Campsite.

By Public Transport…

Public Transport: To visit the Park by bus, please take the Reading, No. 7 bus.
From Reading at Reading (Main) Train Station or coming from Fleet, Fleet Train Station.

Out and Return Route: Reading, Swallowfield, Riseley (Wellington Country Park), Hartley Wintney, Fleet Church Crookham and Aldershot.

For times of service and further details, please visit their website:

https://www.reading-buses.co.uk/services/RBUS/7

Please note, the bus stop itself is on a verge with no path and approx. 500m from the main entrance. There is no path from the main gate to the Reception building. Access is via the main road

Arrival

Car parking is free at Wellington Country Park. There are over 400 spaces for vehicles in the public car park as well as space for several coaches. The car park surface predominantly forest floor, with a mixture of gravel and tarmac. The path from the main public car park to the entrance is predominantly bark over a gravel surface.

Reception

Within Reception, you will find the Reception desk, main Cafe, Gift Shop and a small Camping Shop. Admission to the Park is through the reception building. This area is flat with easy and level access for wheelchairs

Our main Reception Building is open from 9:30am to 5:30pm (4:30pm in low season).

The main Reception counter is 920mm high, though a wheelchair friendly access point of 740mm high is available. The café serves hot food from 9:30am until 2:30pm, with afternoon teas and coffees served until 15 minutes before the building closes. The Reception building also has public toilets, baby change and disabled facilities. The surface is level and easily accessible.

The retail shop and main catering operation is located within the Reception building

Wheelchair

We have one wheelchair available which can be pre-booked with main Reception either by email [email protected] or by phone on 01189 326444. In case of late arrival, the wheelchair will remain reserved for 30 mins after the booked time. However, after that period of time, it will be available to other visitors if required. If not pre-booked, use of the wheelchair is done on a first come first served basis. Pease note, a refundable £50 deposit will be required.

Catering

The main catering facility is within the Reception building. This is on level ground Predominantly self-service, hot food is served from a counter 900mm high. Catering till counters are 930mm high. There are free standing tables with loose seating. Tables are high 780mm high. Assistance is available on request

The Lakeside café also provides catering snacks and drinks. This is partly self and counter service. Counters are 930mm high

Toilets & Handwashing

There are 4 main areas in the Park where you have access to toilets and handwashing stations.

These are in the Main Reception building, Middle Block by the Party & Education Room, at the Animal Farm and the Splash Zone.

The Main Reception and Middle Block have a unisex disabled toilet facility with access of 900mm. Please note there are no lifting facilities available in either facility. Whilst the Reception facility is accessed from level ground, the Middle Block has a slight ramp to enter.

Both the gents and ladies’ public facilities in the Reception building have an additional disabled unit. Access is on level ground but whilst access to the gents’ access is 900mm wide, the ladies is slightly less at 850mm.

Campsite

Access

The campsite is located within the grounds of the Country Park. Access to the campsite by car can be gained via the locked Campsite Gate. Visitors to the campsite will have their own key for access.

The campsite can be also accessed by foot via the same road or from the main Reception, walking through the Park and accessing the campsite via a set of forest steps, which takes you to a path through the bracken to the main site. Under foot is predominantly forest floor, with a mixture of gravel.

The road to the Campsite and in and around the campsite is that of a rough, loose gravel surface similar to a ‘dirt road’ so can be slightly un-even so care should be taken driving this road and speed limited to 5 mph. The road has sloped edges to a small storm water brook that runs along each side of the road. There is a one-way driving system in place and speed is limited to 5mph.

Pathways

All the paths around the campsite are similar being predominantly forest floor, with a mixture of gravel, bark and tarmac. The accessibility around the campsite is not particularly suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters or any mobility facility.

The campsite is located within the woods, with nearly all areas protected by the canopy of trees above. Consequently, there is very little grass growth.

Pitches

There are designated areas for each pitch and campers cannot extend out with the area allocated to their pitch. Pitches are pre-allocated on booking as some pitches can only accommodate certain camping requirements. Specific pitches can be requested on booking. One vehicle can be parked on each pitch.

Toilets & Showers

The toilet/shower block, wash-up area and laundry are all accessible from a flat surface or with a slight ramp for access. Doorways are 900mm wide but there are no disabled shower or toilet facilities on site.

Lighting

Whilst there is some internal lighting within the buildings, it is a mixture of this and daylight. Some external lighting is available around the b block and some pitch lighting, during the hours of darkness, lighting is quite poor. Personal lighting such as torches, headlamps etc should be brought to assist

Warden

A warden lives on-site an is available during out of hours for emergencies and emergency assistance. They are First Aid at Work trained

Additional Information

First Aid

If you require First Aid at any point during your visit, please contact any member of our staff or come into the Main Reception where one of our First Aiders will be able to assist. There is a first aider also available on the Campsite

Clothing

All of our attractions are outside, so please ensure you wear appropriate clothing for your visit. Please note, there is very little cover once you have entered into the main Park grounds

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed in any of our building, toilets, animal farm, train or in the children’s play areas.

Please Note:

Only bikes fitted with stabilisers or ‘balance bikes’ are allowed in the Country Park during the day. Scooters are permitted. No electric scooters, boards or bikes are permitted
Wheelchair access is available on our Miniature Railway
Mobile telephone coverage is poor in the Park, although there is a public telephone in the laundrette on the campsite
Trains to and from London can be caught from Hook, Fleet, Winchfield, Basingstoke or Reading Station

Contact Information

Address: Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road, Riseley RG7 1SP
Telephone: 01189 326444
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk