Visits by playschemes, nurseries and other groups

For everyone's safety and enjoyment unaccompanied children are not admitted to Almond Valley. We require that visiting groups contain sufficient responsible adults to maintain a normal level of parental supervision over the children in their charge at all times. The group leader is therefore required to sign a good conduct pledge before a booking is accepted.

We do everything possible to protect our visitors from the risk of animal bourn diseases and other potential dangers on the farm. The layout and operation of the farm is specifically designed to minimise the risk of cross infection and when coupled to a strict regime of hand washing should ensure that everyone stays healthy.

There are ample hand washing facilities around the site, and we impress the importance of proper hand washing procedures. It is also vital however that group leaders and helpers monitor and enforce effective hand washing after contact with animals and particularly before eating packed lunches.

Almond Valley produce a simple leaflet on the importance of hand washing which can be downloaded here.

The Health and Safety Executive's advice to teachers on school visits to open farms (AIS No.23 supplement (rev2)) can be downloaded here.

We produce a model risk assessment for school visits to the farm which can be downloaded here

Throughout the year we welcome many visits from nurseries, childcare organisations, out-of-school clubs and community groups. Almond Valley is well equipped to host such groups and provides the opportunity to book covered (although not necessarily heated) accommodation for eating packed lunches. In order to qualify for group discount

Your group must comprise of at least ten persons who pay admission charge
Your visit must be booked and confirmed at least a week in advance
Your group enters the site as a single group under the charge of a group leader and pay charges as a single sum
You accept responsibility for the safety and good conduct of the children in your care

Such group bookings qualify for a 10% discount on standard admission charges (adults £5.50, children 3-17, £4.00). Children two years old or less are admitted free of charge, however if trailer rides or soft play sessions are included in your booking these additional charges are payable for children of all ages.

We offer special services and a discount admission price to study visits by school groups.

This discount applies only to pre-booked groups of ten or more children, aged between 3 and 17 years old, who visit on a weekday during the school term to undertake studies associated with the Curriculum for Excellence.

Please see the schools visit page if your group satisfy these conditions.

When booking your visit, we suggest that you first phone us to check that the desired date of your visit is available before completing the booking form (download here) then sending or faxing it to us.

On the form, you should indicate whether you require covered accommodation for eating packed lunches, or wish to book optional soft play sessions (£1 per child up to 8 years old), or tractor rides (50p per child, 50p per adult). At least a week before the date of your visit we'll sent you a detailed timetable of your booked activities and facilities.