ACCESS STATEMENT FOR THE EPPING FOREST GATEWAY

Welcome to Epping Forest

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to improve your visit.

Introduction
The Epping Forest Gateway is situated on the edge of Chingford on a slight hill
overlooking Chingford Plain and Epping Forest. The site comprises three buildings:

the Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge, a unique survival of a Tudor hunt

standing, built in 1542-43
The View, the main visitor centre for Epping Forest housed in a converted
coach house and stables
Butlers Retreat, the last remaining example in the Forest of a wooden
refreshment facility that once catered for large organised groups, renovated
into a comfortable restaurant and caf. It is leased to an external company.

The View is based on two floors with lift access to galleries on the first floor with its
external, covered wooden balcony offering a wonderful view of the Forest. The
visitor centre tells the story of the Forest and provides an insight into its flora and
fauna. It gives a taster of the many things you can go on to do. Our knowledgeable
staff are on hand to answer any questions or suggest areas of the Forest to visit, or
simply to help.
The Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge is an atmospheric Tudor building, built by order
of Henry VIII. It was intended as a grandstand from which the Kings guests could
view the Royal hunt and participate by shooting the deer with crossbows from the
upper floors. In Tudor times, it would have functioned as a venue for royal corporate
hospitality as a means of displaying the wealth and power of the King. There are
exhibits on each of its three floors. Only the ground floor is fully accessible but the
upper floors are reached by wide, shallow stairs.
Getting around
Parking for blue badge holders is provided directly in front of The View (two spaces),
at Barn Hoppit car park (two spaces) across the road and at Butlers Retreat (one
space). The car park at Barn Hoppit and the link paths are asphalt or resin bonded
to provide an even surface. The coach drop off point is on the road next to the
entrance.
The Epping Forest Gateway is a short uphill walk from Chingford train station and the
bus station alongside. It takes between 5 and 10 minutes using the roadside
footpath.
The Epping Forest shuttle bus stops here on Sundays and Bank Holidays during the
summer, linking High Beach with Chingford and Loughton via a hail and ride service.

Further Afield
Car parks further afield in Epping Forest, at Lower Forest, Connaught Water, Bury
Road and Knighton Wood have smooth, bonded surfaces.
There are over 20 miles (33 km) of shared use trails, which are surfaced with selfbinding material. Seven waymarked trails, ranging from 1.5 miles to 6.5 miles in
distance have been created to make navigation easier though paths are generally
not surfaced and may be very muddy, particularly during the winter.
Accessible trails suitable for wheels (chairs and buggies) are available at Connaught
Water, High Beach and Knighton Woods, all within a two mile radius, and at Jubilee
Pond in the south of the Forest. There is an obligation to maintain the natural aspect,
but seating and informal resting places are provided where possible.
The View
Foyer
The View is accessed through automatic glass doors with step-free, level access
throughout. The floor surface is tiled. The area is evenly and well lit with overhead
lighting from spotlights. There are two lowered sections of the welcome desk. A
magnifying glass, pen and paper are available.
There is a hearing loop system installed and one is also available in our Community
Room. This room at the far end of the external courtyard can be hired by external
groups as well as in use for City of London activities.
The exhibition displays
These are designed to appeal to everyone. The displays range from 20cm to 2m
above floor level, suitable for all ages and heights. Most are to be found on the first
floor which is accessed by stairs or by lift (space for one large wheelchair). This has a
wooden floor and is bright and evenly lit from overhead spot lights.
The display cabinets are tactile and can be explored for cut-outs of animals and
objects. Some artefacts can be touched. Manual and audio interactives are
provided.
Plain English guidance has been used for drafting text, and we have attempted to
explain all potentially unfamiliar terms. The font is Din with a 35 point size, a high
contrast between the text and background, and suitable levels of lighting.
Different levels of information are provided from broad headings, to simple
summaries, more detailed explanations and captions. A summary overview of the
exhibition, which can be read on screen or as a printout, will be available in April
2013. Tours of the exhibition are available on request.

Additional information on the history and ecology of Epping Forest is available on

the website and we will continue to add the results of research to the heritage and
conservation pages.
Public toilets
Public toilets are located on the ground floor off the old stable yard reached from
the main foyer by level access. The yard can also be accessed from a door (kept
open during opening hours) around the side of the building
There is a unisex accessible toilet straight ahead when entering the toilets, which are
well lit with fluorescent tube overhead lighting and low level light switches. There are
vertical rails either side of the toilet and a horizontal rail on the side wall adjacent.
The sink has a lever tap. The flooring throughout is non-slip.

Shop
There is a shop with a wide range of gifts. Epping Forest guidebooks, walking
guidebooks, the Epping Forest map and books relating to the heritage and ecology
of the Forest are available to purchase. Free walk sheets, leaflets and other
information are also available to take away.
The shop can be accessed directly from the main foyer or when exiting the
exhibition areas. The shop is level throughout and a low level desk and counter is
provided. There is ample room within the shop for a large wheelchair to manoeuvre
and turn. Nearly all of the stock is displayed at a height which is accessible from a
seated position. The counter has a hearing loop system installed and staff have
been trained in its use. Staff can offer assistance if required.

Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge

The ground floor is fully accessible. There are two rooms: an entrance hall and a
kitchen, where there is a Tudor fireplace and an attractive and sensory display of
Tudor food. Both rooms have flagstones and offer level access. On the walls are
panels setting the historical background to the building and what we know of the
Tudor hunt.
There are wide, shallow wooden stairs and a hand rail leading to the upper two
floors where there are costumes available to try on. Staff will be happy to bring some
of the items downstairs if you are unable to access the upper floors. A folder
explaining what can be seen upstairs is also available.
The building is fitted with a hearing loop.

Grounds
The Epping Forest Gateway overlooks the wide expanse of Chingford Plain. The
Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge is set in its own grassed area with benches and a
picnic table. A resin bonded path leads to Butlers Retreat where refreshments are
available; the caf has ample seating around the building and a ground floor
accessible toilet.
Events run by the City of London
Entrance to the View and to Queen Elizabeths Hunting Lodge is free. A charge is
made for group tours, which need to be booked in advance. These can include
handling sessions. Sensory days and events are listed in the Epping Forest Events
Diary. British Sign Language interpretation is provided for selected events listed in the
diary, or if booked in advance (the latter may be subject to a fee).
Information for teachers and worksheets for pupils are available from the Forest
Centres Officer (Lifelong Learning). School visits should be booked in advance.
Outreach events include introductory sessions to help communities experience
Epping Forest for the first time. If you know a group that may benefit, please let us
know.
Other Forest activities
Epping Forest Centenary Trust (EFCT) offers practical conservation-based experience
particularly aimed at people who would otherwise find it hard to access the Forest,
www.efct.info.
Learning opportunities are listed in the Events Diary and include courses about the
Forest environment for all ages at the Field Studies Centre in High Beach. Telephone
020 8502 8500, www.field-studies-council.org/centres/eppingforest.
Inclusion
Comments and feedback on the displays and exhibitions and all aspects of work at
Epping Forest are welcomed. A Visitors Book is one display on the front desk of the
Foyer and in the Hunting Lodge for you to add your comments.
The Access Forum at Epping Forest welcomes new participants. Please ask a
member of staff to pass on your contact details or email
epping.forest@cityoflondon.gov.uk. Please see the Statement of Community
Involvement for details of how we consult stakeholders on how the Forest is
managed.
Disability Awareness and Equality Training is available to all staff and volunteers at
the City of London.
We actively strive to improve the diversity of our staff and volunteers. Please ask us
how were doing.