Essex Wildlife Trust Nature Park
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: July 2021
overall Rating Text
Good
This has recently re-opened after a major revamp. The car park has vastly increased but sadly the place has lost a lot of its charm. A much bigger cafe and outdoor seating area which may improve with time. The interior is now painted sludge grey/black and is just not welcoming. The sensory community garden however continues to be a delight.
disabled Access In AndAround Text
Good
The ground is fairly rough and you would not be able to access most of the site in a wheelchair. You can get to the visitor centre and the sensory garden but that's about it. Level access throughout the shop and cafe. Plenty of benches for those needing a rest.
parkingTransport Text
Good
You need a car to get here really as I am not aware of a bus stop nearby. The car park has been greatly expanded but is very rough for the most part. The disabled bays are tarmacked but you still need to cross the rough ground to get out of it.
accessibleToilets Text
Excellent
No changing place toilet which is surprising for a new building but a decent disabled toilet.
staff Text
Average
I think the cafe staff are very new. They didn't seem to know what they were doing and I had to ask for a saucer with my cup. The cafe and tables were filthy and all needed clearing and washing down. (staff shortages?) The sanitizer had stopped working . They had run out of serviettes. It was very dirty indoors and outside.
Additional Information
Because of the general grubbiness and the hand free sanitizer not working and people being told to hang around for their orders we did not feel very covid safe. There is no apparent queuing system in place so people were bunched together.
