Set within the beautiful Surrey Hills, Winkworth Arboretum is a National Trust property renowned for its spectacular seasonal landscapes, extensive collection of trees and plants, and miles of scenic paths and trails.
Welcoming visitors of all ages and abilities, the arboretum provides an opportunity to explore nature, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time with family and friends in a peaceful setting.
As part of its ongoing commitment to improving accessibility, Winkworth Arboretum has introduced a fully equipped Changing Places toilet, providing a safe, spacious and dignified facility for visitors with complex disabilities and their carers.
Supporting Accessible Visits
For visitors with complex disabilities, access to appropriate changing and personal care facilities can make a significant difference to whether they are able to enjoy a full day out.
The new Changing Places facility at Winkworth Arboretum helps remove one of the barriers that can prevent people from spending longer at outdoor attractions, giving visitors and their families greater confidence when planning a visit.
By providing a dedicated space with specialist equipment, Winkworth Arboretum has strengthened its accessibility provision and created a more inclusive visitor experience.
What’s Inside: Our Specification
The Changing Places toilet at Winkworth Arboretum has been equipped with a range of specialist products from Astor Bannerman, including:
- Astor Invincible Changing Table
- Astor OT200 Ceiling Track Hoist
- Astor ABW-CP Height Adjustable Wash Basin
- Privacy Screen
- Specialist grab rails and accessible bathroom accessories
- Emergency assistance alarm system
The Astor Invincible provides a safe and comfortable changing surface, while the OT200 ceiling track hoist supports assisted transfers and helps carers provide personal care safely.
Together, these elements provide a well-considered facility designed around the needs of people with complex disabilities and those supporting them.
Designed Around Dignity and Independence
A Changing Places toilet is about more than simply providing additional accessible space. The layout, equipment and circulation within the room all play an important role in creating an environment that supports dignity, comfort and safe assisted care.
At Winkworth Arboretum, the facility provides the space and specialist equipment needed for carers to assist visitors comfortably, helping families and support workers enjoy their time at the arboretum without having to cut visits short because suitable personal care facilities are unavailable.
The combination of a height adjustable changing table, ceiling track hoist, accessible wash basin and carefully considered accessories creates a flexible environment that can accommodate a wide range of individual needs.
Making Nature More Accessible
Outdoor attractions can present particular accessibility challenges. Uneven terrain, long walking routes and the need to spend extended periods away from home can all make access to suitable personal care facilities especially important.
For Winkworth Arboretum, the introduction of a Changing Places toilet forms part of creating a more welcoming and inclusive destination, helping more people enjoy the arboretum, its landscapes and its visitor experiences.
Accessible facilities can give visitors greater confidence to plan a longer day out, knowing that appropriate changing and personal care facilities are available when they need them.
Supporting Your Accessibility Project
If you’re planning a Changing Places facility for an outdoor attraction, visitor centre, leisure venue or community space, our team can support you from the early stages of planning through to installation.
We work with architects, contractors, councils, trusts, visitor attractions and organisations across the UK to provide specialist Changing Places equipment and practical guidance, helping create facilities designed around real user needs.
To discuss your project or find out more about our Changing Places solutions, get in touch with the Astor Bannerman team.
