Access Statement – Deerhurst Flower Festival 2026
Date of the Flower Festival: Saturday 29th August to Monday 31st August
From 10.00am until 5pm each of the three days.
St. Mary’s (Deerhurst) is a historic rural church situated along a small dead-end lane. The post code is GL19 4BX
what3words: wept/tram/koala
Directions etc:
Once in Deerhurst the route to St. Mary’s/Deerhurst Flower Festival will have clear signs in place to give direction both to the church and the (temporary) car park. The lane will be one-way on the days of the festival and it essentially leads to the Car Park.
To exit from the car park, continue to follow a one-way direction, this time towards the south-east corner of the field and Apperley Rd. Take care when driving out of the car park exit onto the road as it likely there will be vehicular traffic approaching from the right.
Note: There will be Car Park attendants to guide drivers to the car park and ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
Pot-holes etc exist although relatively few in number compared to many rural lanes. The worst section is from the gate of the Church around to the entrance of the car park. Everyone using this, including pedestrians, wheel chair users, cyclists etc need to take care additional care.
Cyclists can leave their (locked) bikes inside the churchyard, near the church gate but, please away from the busy access paths.
Venue: Church/Churchyard/Priory Lawn & Car Park
The Car Park is a field normally used by cattle. The grass will be cut, but pleased be prepared for waking on slightly rough and uneven surfaces. There could be the odd divot. A significant effort is made to identify and fill these prior to our event.
Access from the car park field to the church gate & path is over the flood bank. A handrail is in place to assist walkers to get up and down the slight slope of the bank.
The path to the church has an even, gravelled surface with a slight slope on the initial section. The pea gravel can make it a small challenge to push a wheelchair up it. Assistance is normally available at the church gate from one of the parking attendants.
The church itself has a wide doorway and overall is suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs etc. However, there are a number of steps starting right from the entry porch and then throughout. These are typically low and where there are larger ones, ramps are provided. Nevertheless, care should be taken to avoid tripping. There will be clear ‘Take Care, trip hazard’ signs in place and individual steps will be marked with hazard tape or white paint.
The church is well lit.
Toilets, including a facility for Disabled users are located towards the end of the church path, temporary ones at the North West corner of the church, and a permanent (Disabled) loo at the North East corner (towards the ‘Angel’). These will be signposted.
The priory lawn where the tea tent, bar and stalls will be located, has smooth and fairly even surfaces to both the gravelled path, and the lawns. The gate to this lawn area is sufficiently wide to allow e.g. a wheel chair to pass through.
Dogs are fine to go onto the priory lawn area and into the church itself.
Odda’s Chapel & Art Display
The Saxon Chapel of Odda is just before the entrance to the car park. Pedestrian access can be along the road from the church or from the car park, going against the flow of cars. Clearly in both cases, care is required to avoid the cars.
The entrance from the road to the Chapel is via a gate and a gentle slope. The doorway of the chapel is wide but does have a step. However, there is a ramp in place. The chapel is well illuminated. There is a significant step at the mid-point of the chapel. This does not have a ramp as it would itself become a trip hazard.
Latest Update – 7th May 2026