Access Statement for Green & Away

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.

Introduction

Situated down a single track country lane, that gently goes down hill, Green & Away is a campsite and conference venue in a meadow and is therefore uneven though flat. It is possible to drive a vehicle down this lane and park it in a small car park that holds about 10 vehicles. Alternatively, there is a larger car park at the top of the lane that holds 200 vehicles.

While it is true that an outdoor event based in a field may present difficulties for some people with accessibility issues we work hard to make it as accessible as possible.

Most of our structures are made of canvas and include a yurt, a large marquee and a straw bale house. Our site is laid out as a village circle, with a campfire in the middle and all the structures situated around it. No structure in the village circle area is more than 100 yards from the campfire in the centre.

We have bell tents that can be hired by guests (see bedrooms section for more information).

Our venue has a compost toilet (this looks like a normal toilet) with a flat entrance accessible to wheelchairs and those unable to use steps.

Access to the showers requires a step up and may be difficult for some, but we can make alternative arrangements so please contact us for more information.

We have limited mains electricity on site but may be able to help with electrical medical equipment. We can store medicines in our fridges.

We welcome Guide Dogs and Assistance dogs.

We are very happy to help and make your stay as comfortable as we can (within the confines of being in a field!) Please don’t hesitate to ask us if there’s something we haven’t covered.

We look forward to welcoming you. If you have any queries or require any assistance please phone 03000 110 165 or email info@greenandaway.org.

Pre-Arrival

  • The postcode of our site is WR6 5JB and signs marked ‘Green & Away” are prominent. Our site is 2 minutes drive from the Fold Cafe in Bransford.
  • The nearest railway station to our site is Worcester Foregate Street. This is in the centre of Worcester and has limited parking facilities. Most of our visitors coming by train arrive at Worcester Shrub Hill where it is easier for people collecting guests to park or get a taxi.
  • Our site is approximately 20 minutes drive from Worcester.
  • There is a direct, but infrequent bus service Monday-Saturday to Bransford, the 423 Worcester – Bromyard service. Tell the driver you need to get off at the Fold Cafe. (http://www.worcestershirebus.info/timetables/423-from-01-09-2014-temp.pdf)
  • The site is approximately 440 metres (0.27 miles) from the Fold Cafe. It may be possible to come and collect guests from the Fold there is a car driver on site when guests arrive.
  • You will need to bring a torch as although there is some (solar) lights provided when dark, a head torch is very useful when camping!

Car Parking and Arrival

  • There is a small car park that holds approximately 10 vehicles right next to our site. Further away, at the end of the lane (a 5-10 minute walk) there is a large, flat, gravel car park that can hold 200 cars. There is no charge for parking in either car park. There is no lighting in the car park, therefore it is strongly recommended that our guests arrive during daylight hours.
  • Access to the site is down a slight gravel slope (less than 10 metres) and leads directly onto our main field.
  • Wheelbarrows and volunteers to push them are available to help move your bags and tents. If you are likely to need help with this, please let us know when you arrive at the site and we will ensure you can bring your car to the carpark adjacent to the field.

Main Entrance / Reception / Welcome Area

  • From the small car park, a small, gravel slope leads to our site (the main field). There is a small tent on arriving on site which is where registration takes place. We are happy to carry out registration somewhere more comfortable if needed.
  • Currently, we don’t provide induction loops, partly because we haven’t been asked but if we have requests for one we will look at providing it.
  • An induction tour is provided for all new arrivals to explain our facilities.

Bedrooms

  • We have 12 bell tents for hire at Green & Away. Inside, each tent is equipped with either a raised camp bed, or an airbed, or other mattress on the floor (we can usually ensure your preferences are met in terms of choice of what you sleep on if you hire a tent from us).
  • Our single bell tents (3m round) sleep one adult (and a child at a squeeze) and our double bell tents (4m round) sleep 2 adults (and a child at a squeeze).
  • Each tent has a camp-bed, sheets, a duvet (with cover), a pillow (with pillow case), a blanket, a camping chair and a towel. The camp-beds are approximately 0.5 metres off the ground.
  • The height of the double bell tent doors is approximately 4.5 -5 feet so it is necessary for most people to bend down to access the tent. There is a 4-6 inch lip at the base of the door of the tent which needs to be stepped over. The door opens with a zip down the middle of a triangular section. With both doors tied back, the approximate width of the door is 1.5 m at the bottom which gets narrower nearer the top. Once inside, it is possible to stand up in both tent sizes.
  • Furniture can easily be removed or rearranged in the tent.
  • The tents we rent out to guests are approximately 100 yards from the car park.
  • If you choose to bring your own tent, there are flat areas available to pitch it.

Bathrooms, Shower-rooms and Toilets (Ensuite or Shared)

  • All of our facilities are shared with other guests on site.
  • Our venue has a compost toilet (this looks like a normal toilet) with a flat entrance accessible to wheelchairs and those unable to use steps. We have 5 other toilets which are on raised platforms and have 4-5 steps. There are grab rails on all of these.
  • There are hand washing facilities outside each of our toilets.
  • Access to the showers requires a step up and may be difficult for some, but we can make alternative arrangements so please contact us for more information. We do not have a bath. Showers are lit (they are wood fired) twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening.

Public Areas – Halls, Stairs, Landings, Corridors

  • We don’t have any stairs on site and the only steps are the ones up to some of the compost toilets.

Restaurant/Dining Room, Bar & Bar area

  • The bar operates as a meeting space during the day and becomes a bar at 6pm. It has a snug with a wood burner in. Seating is on straw bales. You may wish to bring your own more comfortable camping chair. If you use a wheelchair, we suggest that you contact us in advance to discuss your requirements and any need for extra help. If you have any other special requirements then please ask us. This has electrical lighting.
  • Delicious vegetarian food is served 3 times a day for delegates at our conference venue. It is served from our kitchen and is eaten around the campfire, usually from a plate on your lap. We provide crockery and cutlery. If a table and chair is required, we can find one for you!
  • We may be able to provide food for our eco-campers too, please contact us to discuss.

Conference and Meeting Rooms

  • The main marquee (which has no doors) has wooden benches around the edge and the rest of the seating is largely on covered straw bales. You may wish to bring your own more comfortable camping chair. If you use a wheelchair, we suggest that you contact us in advance to discuss your requirements and any need for extra help. If you have any other special requirements then please ask us. This has electrical lighting. The nearest accessible toilet (with no steps) is less than 100 yards from the main marquee.
  • Our yurt has 2 wooden doors which both open to give a space of approximately 1.2 metres wide
  • Our straw bale house has straw bales for seating and no door but the entrance is about 5ft high so most people will need to bend down to access this structure.

Additional Information

  • We welcome trained assistance dogs.
  • The nearest General Hospital with an A&E unit and walk in NHS facility is 9 miles away. The nearest doctor’s surgery is 3.3 miles away. Ask in the office for details or see the map pinned up outside the office for further details.
  • Free Wi-Fi internet access is available on site.
  • We have a member of staff who specialises in website accessibility

Contact Information

Address (Inc postcode): The Fold New House Farm Bransford Worcester WR6 5JB

Telephone: 03000 110 165

Email: info@greenandaway.org

Website: www.greenandaway.org

Grid Reference: SO 79706 53001

Hours Of Operation: 6am – 10pm (with a duty officer available overnight if needed for emergencies)

Local Carers: Disability Information Advice Line (DIAL in Worcestershire) has published a useful document http://www.nwdial.org.uk/Guide_to_services/guide%20to%20services%20-%20internet.pdf

Local Equipment Hire: Mobility aids Worcester Bradbury Court, Berkeley Business Park Wainwright Road Worcester WR4 9GY 01905 450 400 Hereford 6 Harrow Road Plough Lane, Hereford HR4 0EH 01432 373 020 Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 10am-12 noon & 1pm-4pm Mobility Equipent direct. http://www.mobilityequipmenthiredirect.com/mobility-equipment-hire/c1801-Wheelchair-Hire-in-WORCESTERSHIRE-ENGLAND/

Local Accessible Taxi: Associated Bluestar Taxis – Worcester 01905 610022 B & H Cars – Worcester 01905 353333 BDR Cars – Worcester 01905 617799 Cathedral Cars – Worcester 01905 767400 Worcester Taxis – Worcester 01905 700777

Local Public Transport: By Train: Nearest stations are Worcester (4 miles) and Great Malvern (6 miles). By Bus: Worcester bus station is in the centre of the town a short walk from Foregate Street railway station on The Butts. Journey time to Bransford is approximately 10-15 minutes. Alight at Bransford. PLEASE CHECK TIMETABLES PRIOR TO TRAVELLING From Worcester Bus Station Mon – Sat: 417 stand K Astons/423 Stand Unknown LMS Travel- Departs, 8.25, 8.40, 9.40 (Fri and Sat only), 11.05, 13.45, 15.05 (14.55 on Sat), 16.40, 17.05, 17.50. No buses run on Sundays. From Ledbury, Town Centre, Memorial Mon – Sat: 417 operator as above – Departs 16.00 arrives 16.35 See http://www.worcestershirebus.info/timetables/Bus-service-417-from-03-09-2012.pdf for more information. Also From Worcester the 420 bus goes to Rushwick 1.5 Miles away. See http://www.worcestershirebus.info/timetables/Bus-service-420-from-03-09-2012.pdf more information Walking from Bransford bus stop (a quarter mile stroll from the bus stop to the conference site down a track). Walk into The Fold car park and through following signs for Green and Away. We can meet buses with a guide if you let us know in advance.