What You Need to Know
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Now that most restrictions relating to the spread of COVID-19 have officially ended in England, we have been able to reduce many of our social distancing measures. However, certain guidance remains in place that you should be aware of before your visit. Here's what you need to know.
Do not visit if you feel unwell
If you have a new, persistent cough, high temperature or recent loss of taste and smell, you should defer your visit for at least 10 days, or until you have received a negative COVID-19 PCR test result (provided your symptoms have improved.)
This also applies if anyone in your household or social bubble (including people you intend to visit with) develop symptoms of COVID-19 prior to your visit.
Face Coverings
There is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering in England.
Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre is largely an outdoor attraction. Evidence suggests that the risk of airborne transmission of the virus whilst outdoors is very low.
Although we have an indoor gift shop and admissions desk, all entrance doors will remain open at all times. Providing fresh air through proper ventilation is proven to further reduce the risk of transmission.
As a result, we feel it is safe for our staff, volunteers and visitors to remove their face coverings whilst within the attraction, should they choose to do so.
However, please note that Baytree Owl and Wildlife can only be accessed through Baytree Garden Centre. The garden centre comprises many large indoor departments that may be busy during peak times.
We therefore advise that all visitors continue to carry a face covering so that it may be worn whilst navigating busy areas of the garden centre. You may also wish to wear one should the flying demonstration be held indoors.
Currently, Baytree Garden Centre politely requests that any visitors that choose not to wear a face covering maintains a respectful distance from other shoppers and staff.
Bookings and e-Tickets
Social contact limits have been relaxed. This means that most venues are now able to run at full capacity.
Because of this change, visits will no longer have to be booked in advance using our online booking portal. You can arrive at any time between our usual opening hours and purchase your admission directly from the admissions desk. There is no limit on the number of people you can bring with you, although we advise phoning ahead if you intend to visit as part of a larger group.
Our online booking service has been temporarily paused now that visitor demand has lowered for the winter period. We intend to resume service to coincide with our 2022 flying demonstration season.
Note that booking is still required for experience sessions. You can book by calling 01406 258 228 or e-mailing info@BOWC.co.uk
Social Distancing and Safety Measures
Although social distancing requirements have formally come to an end, we will continue to implement a small number of practical safety measures to help keep the risk of transmission low.
Hand sanitising stations will remain positioned by the main entrance and admissions desk. These should be used both before and after you have visited us. Hand sanitising and washing facilities are also provided by Baytree Garden Centre.
We will also maintain the protective screen at our admissions desk to add an extra layer of safety for our visitors and staff, as well as continue to sanitise common contact points.
Visitor flow around the attraction will no longer be controlled using a one-way system. However, the advised route will still be indicated by footprint markings along pathways. Please follow this route and allow other visitors time and room.
Test and Trace
Some venues are no longer required by law to collect contact information from visitors or display the NHS Test and Trace QR code.
We will only collect contact details in relation to your visit if you choose to book in advance using our online booking portal (currently paused). This is so that you can be informed should any changes occur prior to your visit. (Note that this also applies to experience session bookings.)
If you decide to purchase your tickets directly from our admissions desk, you will not be required to leave any contact details for you or your group.
However, to help support the NHS Test and Trace initiative, we will continue to display our venue check-in poster at our entrance and admissions desk.
We encourage all guests to check-in by scanning this QR code to help NHS Test and Trace contact you in the event of a suspected outbreak.
Experience Sessions
There are no longer any restrictions on the number of people that can meet outdoors, or on activities that are deemed "close contact services". This means that our experience sessions are able to run as usual in small groups of up to four people (8 for family experiences).
Being outdoors is shown to drastically reduce the transmissibility of the virus, so we will endeavour to conduct as much as the session outdoors as possible. However, should weather conditions necessitate the use of the indoor flying weather, guests may wish to wear a face covering while indoors.
Note that we will also continue to disinfect equipment (i.e. falconry gloves) between sessions.
If you are not able to make your booking due to receiving a positive test result or having to self-isolate, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can make alternative arrangements.
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