Safety Information & Rules

Farm visits and risks

Visiting a farm carries a small risk of catching germs (zoonosis) from animals or the environment. Farm animals can be the source of several bugs that can be passed from animals to humans and cause illness. Some can be particularly serious for children or pregnant women.

These bugs may not cause animals to be visibly ill so it’s difficult to tell whether an animal is infected, especially when they look clean and healthy. Infection can be picked up from the animal’s body, its poo or from areas where animals have recently been.

If the bugs are on your hands, you could accidentally pass them to your mouth. You can’t see the germs, so your hands may appear clean. Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and hot running water immediately after you have had contact with animals will reduce the risk of infection.

Hand gels or wipes are not a substitute for washing your hands.

What to do when visiting a farm

Following the simple rules listed below will help to keep you and your children safe from infections that may be found on open farms. Pregnant women need to take particular care as infections acquired from animals can be harmful to them and their unborn baby.

  • Do wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you have touched animals, fences or other surfaces in animal areas.
  • Do wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating or drinking.
  • Do not put hands on faces or fingers in mouths while petting animals or walking round the farm
  • Do not kiss farm animals or allow children to put their faces close to animals
  • Do not eat or drink in any animal contact areas
  • Do not eat anything that has fallen on the floor
  • Pregnant women must avoid contact with sheep and goats

What should I do if I feel unwell after a farm visit? If you or anyone in your group feels unwell or has any symptoms, for example is sick or has diarrhoea within 2 weeks of visiting a farm, contact your GP or call NHS 111 as soon as possible. If you or anyone in your group, particularly a young child, has bloody diarrhoea, seek immediate emergency medical attention.

Farm Rules:

• Children must be supervised at all times
• Please be kind to animals and follow their feeding instructions on the pen
• No eating or drinking in the barn or animal contact areas
• Monk Park Farm is a NO SMOKING site. Smoking is only permitted in the designated area in the car park

Hand Washing Procedure