For a printer friendly version of the access form click here

Access Assessment. One of the major aims of the DBA is to encourage universal access to facilities designed for birders. This page is devoted to a "template" for assessing your local reserve... please use this template so that we can compare like with like. When you have made your assessment please send the details to us (in a word document if you can) and we will include it in our reserves section.

National Accessibility Scheme. This is a new scheme run buy the British Tourist Authority grading accommodation according to 3 different categories of accessibility, all given an individual sign:

Category 1. Accessible to all wheelchair users including those travelling independently.

Category 2. Accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.

Category 3. Accessible to a wheelchair user able to walk short distances and up at least three steps.

Local tourist boards are now inspecting accommodation of all types according to these categories, This will provide user with a clear understanding of accessibility. Bear in mind that the criteria they use is their own and not necessarily that of the British Standards The web site also has a search facility for inspected accommodation throughout Britain. There is also details of an organisation "Holiday Care Service" that will help with travel enquiries for the disabled. Full details on their website.

Access Questionnaire. This questionnaire is based on the Accessibility Standards laid out in the BT Countryside for All Standards and Guidelines. We have simplified these for the purpose of this survey. This means that although your questionnaire may appear to give good access standards to the site you review, it does not mean that the site necessarily meets the BT standards. We are simply using this method to gain an initial idea about accessibility. Use the notes to help you fill in the questionnaire.

The BT Standards use lots of measurements to assess paths etc, you can of course use a tape measure (useful when assessing hides) but I use a lot of estimating (by measuring out before hand the set standards against my body I can get a good idea of the measurements without having to take out a tape every time). You can use average steps to work out distances. Without proper equipment it is very difficult to assess gradients, use your common sense and keep an eye out for areas you think may be difficult. Ideally mark up a map of the reserve/site as this will be extremely useful to give an overall picture of the sites accessibility. When you mark up your map make sure you explain the symbols you used! Of course if the site has an inaccessible area at the beginning of the "route" the whole site is out of bounds however good the rest is!

The questionnaire is designed in several distinct parts. This means you need only print off the sections that apply to your survey. You can leave out the Hide part if your reserve has no hides or print 3 copies of that part if the site has 3 hides. To make the questionnaire easy to fill in I've put explanations in the corresponding notes. They should be easy to find as the numbers in the notes correspond to the numbers in the survey.

If you need any help or have questions regarding this questionnaire please email the dba access officer - Fred Lawson. Before you survey a reserve try and contact the people who run it, particularly if it is a permit entry site. Hopefully we'll get positive feedback and start useful dialogue with those who run things. Please avoid any confrontation and always emphasise the positive aspects of our work and surveys. Please always consider your personal safety when visiting any site and always follow the Birdwatchers' Code of Conduct.