Accessibility at Ferny Crofts
At Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to challenge themselves and undertake adventurous outdoor activities.
We are constantly making changes to try and improve the accessibility across our site and activities. Although we have not yet managed to achieve this, it is something that we are focused on and aim to keep improving.
We have put together this page for groups who are looking to make a booking at Ferny Crofts, to try and provide as much information as possible, regarding the accessibility across the site, including the limitations that we face.
Staff Training
Diversity training
In house disability training
training on specialist equipment for activities
Experience/close partnership with SEN groups
Chameleon Camp?
Campsite and Tented Village
Campsite
Access to Campsite - We are very fortunate to be located within the New Forest National Park. However, this does come with its limitations in terms of accessibility. From the main road, we are located at the end of a long gravel driveway which can be extremely bumpy and uneven for vehicles and people coming into site. Our entire site is made up of uneven ground ranging from our field and woodland sites, to our gravel pathways which lead to the majority of our activities.
Tented Village
Access to Tented Village - Located within one of our woodland campsites. The ground is very uneven and can become very sodden when we have experienced a fair amount of rainfall.
Each of the bell tents has a small wooden decked porchway which is raised from the ground. The majority of the site is surrounded by fence and it is a short walk to the main amenities block.
Facilities and Buildings
The Mountbatten Lodge
Access to Building - The building is located next to the carpark, so is accessible by vehicle. There are two entranceways into the building. One single doorway on the carpark side, measures..... The second is a double doorway which measures.... and leads out onto a patio area which can be accessed via the carpark. Both doorways have small lips at the bottom of the door frame. A sloped pathway leads onto the campsite.
Amenities - There is one accessible wet room which includes a shower, toilet and lowered sink with handrails.
Bedrooms - The majority of bedrooms consist of bunkbeds. Two of the bedrooms contain single beds with one being more spacious than the other, making it more suitable for wheelchair users.
The Croft Centre
Access to Building - The building is located next to reception and vehicles can pull up outside the building to unload. The main entranceway is located at the end of a short concrete path that is a little uneven. This is a double doorway which measures..... There is a concrete ramp leading to an emergency exit at the side of the building, as well as an emergency exit between the Croft Centre and Sky High Conservatory which has a sloped path leading out to a gravel pathway. All of the external doors have lips at the base of the frames.
Amenities - There is one accessible wet room which includes a shower, toilet and lowered sink with handrails.
Bedrooms - All the bedrooms consist of bunkbeds. Three of the larger rooms have a good amount of floor space between the beds.
Sky High Conservatory
Access to Building - If this space is hired separately from the Croft Centre, there are two double doors leading into the building. Both have concrete steps measuring ..... high.
If you hire the Conservatory alongside the Croft Centre, you can access this space through double doors leading from the Croft Centre main hall.
Amenities - If this space
The Inca Suite
Amenities Block
Field Kitchen
Activites
All our activities have varying degrees of physical and mental challenges to them. All our instructors hold first aid qualifications but are not always qualified to assess the capacity of participants who may require additional support in order to partake in the activities. It remains the responsibility of your group leaders to undertake an assessment of the risks involved prior to and during participation.
If you think that either yourself or someone within your group will need additional support during activities with us, it is important that you inform us prior to making a booking. This will ensure that we can make any relevant/possible adjustments for you and your group which will result in a more enjoyable experience overall. This may include additional equipment or different levels of supervision during a session.
Safety Briefings
At the start of all our instructed sessions our instructors will provide a briefing on how to undertake that specific activity safely. All participants will be required to listen to this briefing and will be asked that they understand the consequences of not following the strict safety rules prior the session starting. Instructors will be present throughout the duration of the session and participants will have to follow their instructions. If our instructors feel that anyone is not following the safety instructions, or putting either their own or others safety at risk, they will stop the session. If participants continue to exhibit these behaviours the session will end.
Climbing, Abseiling & Zip Wire
High Ropes
Target Sports
Water Sports
On Ground Activities
Self-Led Activities
If you have any questions about any specific needs you or your group's participants may have, please contact us via fernycrofts@fernycrofts.org.uk or call us on 023 8084 5092.