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Farm visits

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Includes

  • Animals 
  • Handling Animals 
  • Petting Zoos
  • Zoo Visits

Description

Visits to commercial open farms, privately-run working farms or leisure attractions where animals are present (such as petting zoos).

 

Forms

If outside the normal meeting place, an Information and Consent for Event/Activity form is required to participate in this activity.

 

Who can participate?

Open to all.

 

Ratio of adults to girls

Normal ratios for activities away from the meeting place are required.   Guiding Manual ratios

 

Regulations

  • The Leader must ensure that all participants under the age of 18 have written permission to take part from an adult with parental responsibility.
  • The local Commissioner must be informed that the activity is taking place.
  • Carry out a risk assessment for the activity.
 

Instructor qualifications

Not applicable.

 

Useful information

  • There are many potential hazards on a farm, so brief the girls before the visit on how to stay safe.
  • The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has produced an excellent activity pack which younger girls can work through at a unit meeting. Click here to download the HSE pack
  • For further safety advice, see the HSE Farm safe campaign web page:  www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/farmsafe 
  • Ensure participants follow the Countryside Code.
  • On private farms, ensure participants follow the farmer’s instructions at all times.
  • On commercial farms, ensure participants follow the safety instructions provided and remain within the designated public areas.
  • Participants must wash their hands thoroughly after handling livestock to avoid infection from bacteria such as E. coli.  Carrying antibacterial hand gel is recommended in case hand-washing facilities are not available.
Page last updated: 5/18/2012