**WE HAVE A CHANGING PLACES TOILET**
General Information
Matlock Farm Park welcomes everyone and aims to make the site accessible to all. Our staff are always happy to assist in any way they can to give an inclusive experience as possible – please let us know how we can help.
Visitors with disabilities are charged at the concession rate. Registered carers are admitted at a heavily discounted rate on general entry day tickets, but only when presenting relevant carer status (ID from a council/private care organisation OR DLA/PIP letter OR Access card) and only when the person being cared for pays full entry charge into the farm park. Tickets can be booked online or arranged ‘on the door’.
Guide dogs are welcome throughout Matlock Farm Park.
We are set within many acres of wide open space, ensuring peaceful areas can always be found. Our main paths around the farm park are smoothly tarmacked and are ideal for wheelchair and pushchair users. These paths allow access to see all of our outdoor animals. Most paths are level, some are on a slight slope. There are also lawned areas in the farm park.
We have wheelchairs which can be borrowed for the day whilst in the park – please call ahead to reserve: 01246 590200.
Parking is FREE for all visitors. The main car park is hard surfaced and our overflow parking area is grass with limestone paths. Parking for Blue Badge holders is in the main car park, immediately beside the farm park entrance.
There are disabled toilets on site, as well as our wonderful CHANGING PLACES TOILET. To use this facility, please ask for the key at our shop.
Handwashing facilities around the farm park are equipped with low level basins. Hand sanitiser dispensers are installed throughout the site at varying heights.
Cafés & shop
Our Garden Room Café and Rainforest coffee shop are ground floor based and are accessible to wheelchair users. Doors open manually and staff are happy to provide assistance if needed.
Tables are not fixed and can be arranged to accommodate wheelchair users. Food and drinks are ordered at the counter and staff carry purchases to customers at their table.
During some seasons, outdoor catering outlets will serve hot and cold food, drinks and ice-cream. These are based on tarmacked areas with dining benches close by.
Party/school rooms are on the ground floor of the Rainforest play centre building and are wheelchair accessible.
Our shop has electric sensor doors, with level entry and exit and good spacing between displays.
Outdoor picnic areas are located on both tarmacked surfaces and lawned areas around the farm park. Parasols are provided for shade when required at most tables.
Farm and play activities*
The small animal handling barn and the Ark animal house are wheelchair and pushchair accessible with concrete surfacing.
Smooth tarmacked paths allow everyone to wander the farm park and open wire fencing allows visitors to view, pet and feed our animals at different heights.
Our wallaby enclosure has a smooth tarmacked path to enjoy a wallaby encounter.
For visitors with additional needs who may find popular, and sometimes busy, guided public activities overwhelming, please speak to a member of staff and we will try to organise something separate, under quieter conditions at a more suitable pace.
Ferret racing is viewed from a grass area, close to a hardcore area. Sheep racing is viewed from a grassed area, but there is a tarmacked path immediately behind this where racing can also be seen.
Meerkats are in a separate walled enclosure, but there are viewing windows around the enclosure for anyone sitting to be able to view the meerkats.
At our guided public activities, staff will talk about the animals, their needs and behaviour, however there is also good written signage around the park to inform visitors with hearing impairments about our animals.
* some activities may be seasonal.
Wheelchair users can get close to the outdoor children’s go-karts. If assistance is needed, our staff are happy to help. Other outdoor play climbing equipment (including our Jumping Pillow) has bark, gravel or rubber loose based surfaces, which would not be accessible for wheelchair users. Tarmacked areas run beside all of our play areas for viewing purposes, including our Enchanted Hamlet.
Our Rainforest playcentre consists of a soft play low level area which is accessible for wheelchair users. Other play equipment in the building is mainly accessible by steps.
Birthday Parties
We can adapt our birthday party package to suit the needs of your loved one. Our party hosts are experienced in delivering a party at a slower, calmer pace for those who may feel overwhelmed at excitedness and too many activities.
Horse riding
Horse riding lessons and treks are available for all abilities and must be pre-booked. Short children’s pony rides (weekends and school holidays) do not need to be pre-booked.
If a rider is unable to climb onto the horse via the three steps provided, assistance will need to be provided by a Carer/person accompanying the rider. The rider must have sufficient core strength in order to sit up independently on the horse.
For riders with disabilities, an extra strap on the saddle is provided for the rider to hold and the rider is led by the instructor.
We recommend a private one to one lesson for the rider. Each lesson is tailored to the needs and aims of the rider.
Alpaca Trekking
We can tailor make our alpaca treks for those with additional needs, including autism and physical disabilities.
The trekking can be a private experience set at the pace you need, perhaps incorporating sensory activities in the calm woodland or for those who may use a wheelchair, the trek can take place around the park on firmer paths.
Our friendly, helpful staff aim to make everyone’s encounter rewarding and memorable and our alpacas are such a gentle bunch.
SPECIAL EVENTS
For events such as our popular Peak District Highland Games held in our arena, there is a Wheelchair viewing area which permits wheelchair users and one carer guest.
If you would like to discuss things further or do a pre-site check before you visit, please call us on 01246 590200 or email info@matlockfarmpark.co.uk. We hope to see you soon.