You are no doubt aware that farm visits do carry a very small but real risk of infection to humans. Mead Open Farm urge all teachers and parents to following simple hygiene procedures (as you would with your own pet).

Throughout the farm, you’ll find frequent hand washing facilities with warm water, antibacterial soap, push button taps and hot air blowers at child height.

To help you plan your day out, we recommend the following health and safety procedures.

Shaggy's PlayWorld

Please note children need to be over 0.9 metres to use the giant red and blue slides in Shaggy's PlayWorld, and must have their arms and legs covered.

Smaller children can still use the yellow / orange wavy slide and the slides in the special Under 5's area. Socks must be worn at all times whilst playing in the play barn.

Inform children before you arrive to wash their hands after touching the animals and to avoid putting fingers in their mouths. Please also ensure all existing cuts and abrasions should be covered before the visit.

If you are bringing a group, we encourage youth group organisers to visit in advance to do a health and safety risk assessment.

• Please do not eat food within the animal enclosure areas. Food can only be eaten in designated picnic areas, the Tea Room or the Café within Shaggy’s PlayWorld.
• After contact with animals (and before children eat their lunch), please ensure that hands are washed with antibacterial soap and dried properly. Young children should have adult supervision to ensure that hands are washed properly.
• When children are petting or feeding the animals, please warn them not to place their face or mouth against the animal’s or put their hands in the animal’s mouth.
• Before you depart, please ensure all children wash their hands thoroughly one last time.

At Mead Open Farm, we have ample hand washing points in all the animal barns, the Tea Room and Shaggy’s PlayWorld. After each animal activity, children should wash their hands.

All the hand wash points at Mead Open Farm have warm water, disinfectant soap and hand towels. Please note that disinfectant creams and gels are not sufficient and cannot replace hand washing with with soap and running water.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at Mead Open Farm.