Farm visits

There are increasing numbers of farms offering schools and other groups the opportunity to learn about their industry. The Health and Safety Executive has taken an interest in the safety of visits to farms and has given guidance on the activities that it considers to be safe.

It is therefore essential to investigate the extent to which any farm a group plans to visit is compliant with this guidance. We have provided a list of recommended sites and popular local providers in the right hand column.

Where a visit to a local farm is considered it is important to compare the provision with others that have a recognised accreditation. It would not rule out an arrangement with a local farmer but there is certainly a fair bit of work required by both the group and the farmer to ensure safety before the visit can go ahead.

Some links are established with other agricultural activities including schools adopting local allotments to produce their own food. Again many associations have educational provision and these are generally set up to an approved standard.

In the city some allotment associations have taken precautions to ensure that they are safe places for children and young

There are many other organisers whose contacts and brief details can be found through the learning out of the classroom newsletter for schools and teachers publications from the teachernet website.