Membership Card’s and scanning!

Last week I was talking to an RSPB member at RSPB Saltholme from North Yorkshirewho was on holiday in North East England and we started talking about  wildlife and bird consevation. But to cut this short he informed me that at. RSPB reserves  Fairborn zings and St Aidans in North Yorkshire which has lots of public footpaths and so of couurse free admission for everyone, but has always had car park charging at both reserves for non-members. RSPB members who had to display there membership card on the inside of there from car windows. Now members have to scam there membership cards on the pay and display  ticket machines to get there free car parking ticket. Nothing  has been mentioned to me about this Has any other RSPB members been to either of those two RSPB reserve. I was there by coach in September 2023.  I don’”t know when that started. But I’m only taken that RSPB members word I believe him! Unless I hear otherwise!

Regards,

Ian.

  • Hi Thomo, at RSPB Sandy you now have to scan your card for a free members parking ticket to display in your car. It has been like this since earlier in the year.

  • Yes, you need to get a special ticket (for free) from the ticket machines at both reserves. This has been the case for several years.

  • Several National Trust "countrtyside" area's do the same, Badbury Rings for one. I don't know if anyone ever checks for tickets in windscreens though.

  • The National Trust att  most of the open countryside and coastline properties has pay and display for more than 5 years. Also where there are admission charge like Stately Homes, the staff/volunteers scan National Trust members, membership cards as well. The  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust have been scanning members, membership cards for at least 20 years, possibly more! The scanning of members. membership cards was announced by the RSPB in mid 2023.

    The National Trust are not that strict at most car parks. In  the Lake District some of the  National Trust car parks have cameras. If the pay and display ticket machines are not working because of a fault and no staff or volunteers around. National Trust recommend 
    iff possible that members put there membership number and date, day and time of parking on some paper if possible and the date and time of parking.

    Regards,

    Ian.

  • This is not new, and has been raised sometime ago in more than one thread. I mentioned it when it was first announced that South Stack were to charge for parking, and you might be interested to read the following thread:  Click  Point right HERE to read the post Adult RSPB Membership Cards from September 2023 will have to be scanned where an admission charge or at a RSPB Pay and Display Car Park!

  • And it was me that started that thead. But. No more information since then! Only even talking a member from North Yorkshire  I had that confirmed. I knew about this was a possibility 5 years ago! Certainly not available at Satholme or at Leighton Moss as of yet!

    Regards,

    Ian.

  • I'm not sure what more info you need, so long as you have your card and can scan the card, as far as I'm aware, most, if not all, members now have the card with the QR scan incorporated, and with most schemes like that roll out will be gradual depending on available resources ie power, connection to suitable communication sources, either via wired or wireless for each reserve and demand requirements, apart from money.

    Once the car park has the new card scanner operational, its straightforward, and todate, including my local reserve, which had a scanning device long before the original thread, and South Stack, it's been as easy as scanning a Nat Trust card in Nat Trust Car Parks.

    Like all large scale projects, they are often rolled out gradually. So long as members have the appropriate card, which they should have by now, no problem.

    For new members awaiting their membership card and packs, usually a chat to the right people, along with new membership purchase proof, the RSPB is accomodating, like all organisations, even the Nat Trust and Wildlife Trusts with the appropriate confirmation email, paperwork etc.