International Centre for Birds of Prey

Accessibility Rating 

Physical 

Three out of five 

Sensory 

Four out of five 

Location: International Centre for Birds of Prey
Boulsdon House
Newent
GL18 1JJ

Parking

There are 4 accessible bays just outside the entrance to the International Centre for Birds of Prey (ICBP). These are clearly marked and are very close to the entrance. There is shelter over the entrance so a wheelchair accessible vehicle can easily be reversed to the door so a wheelchair user can be sheltered from rain when entering the vehicle.

Entrance, reception and gift shop.

There is a singular push door with a slight ramp upwards. A wheelchair user will need some assistance to open this door.
The gift shop is very spacious and tidy with plenty of room to manoeuvre. The shelves are at a good height and the open plan layout makes it very easy to navigate.
The reception area is also in the gift shop. There is no lowered counter at reception.
Carers get half price entry to the centre.

The centre

The signage around the centre is in a large clear font and is not too high meaning it is easy to read for people with a sight impairment.
The pathways around the centre are mostly firm apart from some areas that may be slippery when wet. We were informed on our visit that this is something that is being looked into to ensure visitors safety during bad weather. There are also always staff on hand to help anybody who may require it. There are areas that have quite a steep incline however there are alternative routes that make it easier for a wheelchair user or person with limited mobility.

There are 4 wheelchairs that can be borrowed during visiting free of charge, however it is recommended that visitors wishing to borrow these call the centre and let them know in advance.
There are six dogs that live at the centre. If an individual or group have a fear of dogs then they can be kept inside during the visit, however the centre must be informed of this in advance as it is important that they are not kept inside all day.
There benches all over the centre meaning people with limited mobility can rest at points all around the centre. 

There are experience days available at ICBP for groups of up to 6 people. These are suitable for people with disabilities. These begin at 10am and include having 2 or 3 birds flying to an individual’s fist, a cup of tea and biscuits, visit the hall and handling the birds, and back outside to do a circuit with the birds following.
There are also Owl Evenings that take place over the festive period, there is no price reduction for anyone for these. These include lots of activities, mulled wine and a hot meal. For more information on experience days visit www.icbp.org.

It is recommended to inform ICBP of any specific requirements or wheelchair users that will be attending so that they can be suitably accommodated. There are experiences such as holding the birds, this is suitable for anybody that is able to hold their arm up for a period of time. For people who may struggle with larger birds the staff will make sure that the demonstration is with a lightweight bird.
There are guided tours available for large groups of around 14, if there are significantly less people then this it is requested that a donation is made. These tours can last between 20 and 40 minutes depending on the requirements of the group.
It is important that visitors are very quiet during flying demonstrations so to not startle the birds.
The outside flying area has a specific space for wheelchair users with clear signage stating that area is for wheelchair users and pushchairs. There is also space for wheelchair users in the indoor flying area, however if there are numerous wheelchair users this may obstruct the exit.
It is possible to rebook any visits if the weather is particularly bad. During bad weather the flying demonstrations can take place indoors along with a PowerPoint.

Accessible toilets near owl sanctuary

There are two accessible toilets near the owl sanctuary, one in the ladies and one in the men’s. There is a slight ramp into the toilets. The men’s toilet is immediately on the left as you enter, and the ladies is directly in front.
There is no drop-down grab rail in the men’s toilet which would make it very difficult for a wheelchair user to transfer. The ladies accessible toilet has a fixed grab-rail and drop-down grabrail making it more suitable for wheelchair users. There are no emergency pull cords in any of the toilets and there are no handrails near the sinks. The sinks aren’t reachable from a seated position on the toilet. The door locks in both accessible toilets are both quite small and may be difficult to use for somebody with limited dexterity.

Café

The café has a single push door. This may be difficult for somebody in a wheelchair to open alone. The café serves hot and cold food and the tables are suitable for a wheelchair user to sit under comfortably. There is also a section of the café that is behind a gate that must be kept shut – this is a dog free zone. There are no large print menus in the café.

Accessible toilet in cafe

The doorway to the toilet is a suitable width for an accessible toilet, however there is a baby change unit behind the door which causes an obstruction and may cause a wheelchair user difficulty when entering. This baby change unit is moveable so could be removed upon request. All the amenities in the toilet are at a lowered height and there is a sanitary bin in the toilet. There is a fixed grab rail on the wall next to the toilet and a drop-down rail and fixed rail on the transfer side. There is also a vertical grab rail on the left of the sink.