RSPB Ham Wall Reviews Summary

Accessibility

Pros:

• "There are accessible paths for wheelchairs or buggies and plenty of hides where you can sit and watch the wildlife."
• "It’s a beautiful place and really accessible for everyone."
• "Flat paths, easy walking."
• "It's mostly flat so great accessibility for those less able."
• "Wheelchair accessible on the main trails."
• "Well maintained paths, accessible to wheelchair users."
• "Has basic facilities, disabled parking is good (much closer to the wetlands and hide)."

Cons:

• "Very muddy under foot in places, flooded in others and some paths more than overgrown."
• "Site is mostly accessible via laid paths, there is some rough terrain and one of the paths was flooded."
• "There are quite a few paths but some were quite boggy."
• "No working toilets, the far bridge out of service so paths are linear."
• "Walking along the old railway line, Sharpham crossing to Ashcroft corner, I feel is dangerous due to cyclists, some don't slow down or move over much, I feel bullied by them."

Staff and Volunteers

Pros:

• "Helpful Friendly Staff...Best wishes to Staff at a VERY SPECIAL PLACE."
• "Staff & volunteers were friendly and helpful."
• "Excellent and beautiful location with knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions."
• "Very helpful and knowledgeable volunteer staff."
• "The guides were friendly and knowledgeable and it was a delightful experience."
• "Staff/volunteers on site are always friendly and helpful."
• "Really friendly staff though."

Cons:

• "RUDE woman pushing memberships in a very used car salesman way."
• "Overall the site is lovely but the worker/volunteers pushiness really put me off and bothered me."
• "And who had the bright idea of having a play area in the middle of the reserve (children also throwing stones at swans)."
• "Poor! Paths unkempt, nettles in the way everywhere and the most over the top membership pusher I’ve ever encountered."
• "However, there are the odd (expert) Bird snobs! which can be somewhat off-putting."
• "Was told by the rather self righteous and pompous RSPB staff that we were too late in the year to see the starlings and that they had dispersed."
• "Our visit was sadly tainted by a female employee at the carparking booth who was trying to push a really hard sale about joining the RSPB with very aggressive sales tactics."

Facilities

Pros:

• "Toilets clean."
• "Car park is good and free if you're a member of the RSPB, otherwise inexpensive."
• "Large car park, which is cheap to use."
• "Big car park, cabin with info and hot drinks."
• "Large car park with toilets, free for RSPB members."
• "Coffee cabin and toilets open, free parking for RSPB."
• "Free toilets in the car park."

Cons:

• "I was disappointed that there were no bins to dispose of rubbish and dog poo bags."
• "The new £3 parking fee is a bit steep and only one paying point across an ugly and poorly kept parking area."
• "There are no shops or bars and very little facilities at all."
• "Facilities at the car park were minimal."
• "No eating facilities."
• "No working toilets, the far bridge out of service so paths are linear."
• "The road to get here is pretty awful though, so be aware that you will meet subsidence along the narrow road."

Natural Beauty and Wildlife

Pros:

• "My favourite RSPB reserve, totally tranquil and beautiful."
• "Absolutely stunning, so glad we stopped here."
• "Stunning natural nature reserve, well maintained and helping the wetlands grow. The birds and animals are flourishing beautiful to see!"
• "Fantastic sight of starlings in their murmurations."
• "Excellent wildlife (birds/dragonflies etc) in the wetlands of Somerset."
• "A great escape into the natural world."
• "This time we saw hundreds of dragonflies and damoiselles, all different sizes and colours, they were fantastic."