About the farm
Welcome to
About the farm
Farm information
Contact details
Farm name: Old Farm
Farm address:
Dorn
Moreton in Marsh
Glos GL56 9NS
Cancellation
arrangements
If you are unable to carry out your
visit, please let us know as soon as
possible so that we can make
alternative arrangements.
How to get here
Contact person: Sarah Righton
Contact address: as above
Post code: GL56 9NS
Tel no: 01608 650394
Mobile no: 07711 306822
07814 750526
Fax: 01608 650394
Email: sarah@oldfarmdorn.co.uk
On arrival
Grid reference:SP1933
Car Parking is available via first
entance to farm (through double
gates opposite New Farm entrance)
Booking a visit
Follow signs from Car Park to
meeting place in front of Farm House
(by the Farm shop)
Web:www.oldfarmdorn.co.uk
In the first instance, please
telephone the farm to discuss your
visit.
Cost of visit: Free * but remember,
you will need to organise and pay for
transport.
* There will be no charge for school
visits/other groups as long as there are at
least 6 people for a minimum visit of 2
hours.
About the farm
What you can do on the farm
A typical visit includes:
…being welcomed in the farmyard with an introductory talk about the farm,
plan for the day and health and safety.
Then follows the farm walk which can be tailored to suit the needs of the
particular group but can include crops, sheep, cattle, pigs, collecting eggs,
roman site, environmental issues, farm shop, old buildings, tourism…
After the walk there will be an “Ask the Farmer “ session for any questions to
be answered.
Activities we can provide on the farm:
Farm Walk – tailored to suit needs of the group (see above)
Learning about where food comes from.
Crops -How they are grown and what they are used for
Animals – How we look after them
Machinery – Learn about the different uses of the farm machinery.
Roman Settlement –, see coins, brooches and column found in the area.
Attached to this portfolio is a full list of activities that we can
arrange/help with either on the farm or with resources from the farm,
linked into the National Curriculum for KS1 and 2. We can also cater for
pre-school children and secondary/college students, please contact us
to discuss individual requirements.
Areas available for your own fieldwork:
Roman Site – sketching what it may have looked like
Other views, including farmhouse – ideal for sketching
2 different soil types for investigation
Maths exercises:
Weights of crops produced in different fields (ie. different crops with different
tonnes/hectare – calculate totals)
Feed requirements eg. if sheep eats x kg/day and we have y sheep.
Calculate total area of oats to plant etc.
Please see list of activities attached for more detail.
About the farm
Facilities:
A covered area suitable as a meeting point:
Long shed at bottom of Farmyard plus we can put up our marquee in the
caravan field if necessary or for small groups we are happy to use the
farmhouse.
Picnic area:
Field next to caravan field
Toilets:
In farmhouse and in caravan field
Hand-washing facilities:
In farmhouse and caravan field. Instant hand sanitiser used around the farm as
necessary
Access for those with disabilities:
We can arrange farm tour in farm vehicle (standard 4x4) if required
Meeting point if children get lost:
Farmhouse
Place to go to if there is an emergency:
Farmhouse
About the farm
Farm profile
History:
The Righton family have been farming at Dorn for 3 generations (since 1935). The
tenanted farm is just to the north of Moreton-in-Marsh and forms part of the Batsford
Estate owned by Lord Dulverton.
Back then Simon’s Grandfather employed 4-5 full time staff and he grew wheat,
barley, oats, potatoes, sprouts and strawberries and made hay to feed the livestock
kept on the farm. Simons Grandmother also started doing B&B in the large
farmhouse as well as looking after their 5 children.
Over the years the potatoes, sprouts and strawberries were stopped due to
increased labour costs and the specialist machinery required. Simon’s father, John
took over the running of the farm in the 1970’s and continued to employ a couple of
farm labourers to help as well as family labour in the form of Sheila (Simon’s mother)
and Simon at weekends/holidays. Gradually as the machinery got bigger and more
of the jobs on the farm became mechanised the farm was eventually run just by John
and Simon who has worked full time on the farm since 1995. Sheila built up a busy
B&B business from March-October only as the farmhouse had no central heating and
John started up a small campsite on one of the fields close to the farm.
In 2002 we moved to the farm and now run the B&B all year round (due to the
welcome installation of central heating!) and have also opened a Farm Shop to sell
our home produced meat and other local produce.
Soil & Landscape:
Soil: Light – Medium Cotswold Brash, good for cereals and grass
Landscape: mainly flat
Climate:
Main growing season March-Oct, although winter crops will grow unitl Dec.
Normal rainfall: approx. 600mm annaully. (But from Jan to Oct 2007 we have had
650mm in just 10 months)
Who lives and works here
Simon and Sarah Righton live in the farmhouse with their 2 children, Sam and Meg,
3 dogs, BB, Bluey and Maddie and a few cats.
Simon’s Dad still helps out on the farm and Tom and Kata help with the B&B, shop,
farm and campsite..
About the farm
Encouraging wildlife:
Part of the farm is managed under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. We
have field margins and hedge laying policies to encourage wildlife and keep
some land without crops over the winter and spring to encourage Lapwings to
nest.
Other enterprises:
In order to make the farm business profitable it has been necessary to make
changes to how things are run. This includes diversifying our activities to
make the most of our resources as well as running the existing farming
operation as efficiently as possible.
Farm Shop:
Opened in 2004 mainly to sell our home produced lamb, beef and pork. We
also stock other local produce and now cure and smoke our own bacon. We
are open on 4 days a week plus take stock to The Great Western pub in
Blockley once a month for a small market.
B&B:
We have installed central heating to the farmhouse so that we can run the
B&B business all year round.
Camping:
We now have electric hook ups in the camping field as well as a shower and
toilet to encourage campers to come to Old Farm.
Contracting:
Simon uses some our machinery to do contract work for other local farmers
including hedgecutting and combining. This helps us to pay for the machinery
that we need on the farm. Eg. Our Combine Harvester cost nearly £30,000
and as long as the weather is OK, we can harvest all our cereal crops in only
5 days -that’s a lot of money per day! If you have a contractor to harvest your
crops, you may have to wait until they have finished another farmers
combining and if it starts to rain, this might mean that your crops are not so
good and you may have to spend more money to get them dry. Because we
have our own combine we can harvest our crops at the best time and then
earn some extra income by helping another farmer.
Moreton Show:
We go to the Moreton Show which is held on the 1st Saturday in September
every year on some of our fields. This is a great chance for us to tell people
what we do but we also sell hot beef, pork, sausage and bacon rolls to the
public.
About the farm
Using the land
About the farm
Farm buildings
About the farm
A day in the life of the farmer
Get up at 6.30, quick cup of tea then out to feed and check animals.
In again at 8.30 for breakfast and do some telephone calls – order fuel, part for tractor
etc.
9.30 out again to take some straw and silage to the cattle. Muck out pigs and give new
straw.
In for lunch and more phone calls – speak to fertiliser rep and order lambing supplies.
After lunch, finish off hedgecutting for Batsford estate, back to farm to check round
ewes again before it gets dark.
In for tea and get children to bed then into farm office to do accounts and other
paperwork.
Lambing time – up at 5.00am for first check, bed at 12.00 or 1.00am after last check.
Rest of day spent sorting out ewes and lambs, foot trimming, moving lambs to field,
feeding small lambs, cleaning out lambing pens…. In between feed and check all other
animals.
Harvest time – up at 6.30am, check round animals. After breakfast grease and check
combine, 10.00am start combining, 11pm stop combining. Lunch eaten on the go – if
weather is right then it’s best to keep going…
The farming year
We do different things on the farm each season
October – planting new crops – wheat, oil seed rape, oats
November – Cows start calving (through to March)
December/Jan/Feb – catch up on maintenance and paperwork. Livestock to feed and
muck out
March/April – lambing time and time to put fertiliser on the grass and crops to help them
grow
May – Silage making
June – Haymaking
July/Aug – Harvest time
September – Cultivate ground ready for next years crops to be sown
Pigs farrow all year round! -
About the farm
Growing crops
Oilseed rape
Sown: August
Look for fields of bright yellow flowers in spring.
Harvested: July
Use: Seeds are crushed for oil, used in cooking oil, for fuel, animal
feed, cosmetics and medicines. The straw is used for bedding.
Winter wheat
Sown: October
Look for “ears” of wheat growing on the stem in the summer.
Harvested: August
Use: Grains in the “ears” are used for making flour and animal feed.
are used for straw.
Stalks
Winter oats
Sown: October
Look at how the grain grows higgledy-piggledy off the stalk.
Harvested: August
Use: Turned into food for us, such as porridge. The straw is baled
for feeding the sheep and cattle over the winter.
Grass
This is the most common crop grown by farmers.
Sown: March to September, but can then be left for more than one year. All our
fields are permanent pasture.
Look for the many different types of grass growing in the field.
Harvested: Summer, or grazed by animals all year round
Uses: For animals grazing, or cut and stored as hay or silage for animal
About the farm
feed
Keeping animals
Sheep
Numbers kept:. 250 ewes (female) and 7 rams (male)
Breed(s):. Welsh Mule ewes and Charollais rams
What they eat:. fresh grass in the fields for most of the year. Over the winter and before
lambing they receive extra food such as hay, oats and wheat.
How they are kept: in the fields most of the year but kept in covered yards before
lambing
Why they are kept e.g: most sheep are kept for meat rather than their wool
Lifecycle:most sheep mate in the autumn to produce lambs in the spring. As the
weather gets warmer, the sheep are sheared for their wool.
Pigs
Numbers kept:. 9 sows (female) and 2 boars (male)
Breeds: Gloucestershire Old Spot and Large White
What they eat: they are fed a concentrated pig ration
How they are kept: The sows and boars live in a field and have a big tent for shelter,
The younger pigs live in a big barn near the farmyard.
Why they are kept:pigs are kept for pork and bacon
Lifecycle:female pigs, called sows, have about ten piglets in the average litter. Each
sow can produce 2 litters a year
About the farm
Hens
Numbers kept:100 laying hens (female)
Breed: hybrid
What they eat: they are fed grain, but also find food for themselves such as seeds and
worms
How they are kept: hens kept outside are called free-range. They sleep in henhouses
at night, safe from foxes.
Why they are kept: they are kept for egg production
Lifecycle: hens normally lay eggs that are unfertilised, which means that no chicks will
grow in them. If a farmer wants to produce chicks, rather than eggs to eat, he has to
mate his hens with a cockerel. The fertile eggs then hatch into chicks
Beef cattle
Numbers kept: 17 cows (female) and 1 bull (male)
Breed: Charolais
What they eat: fresh grass in the fields in summer, and in winter preserved grass as hay
or silage and some wheat and oats grown on the farm.
How they are kept: in covered yards in winter and in the fields the rest of the year
Why they are kept: beef cattle are kept for meat
Lifecycle: a cow can have calves after she is two years old. Forty weeks after mating
she gives birth to one or sometimes two calves. They stay with their mother and feed
on her milk until old enough to graze for themselves. She will normally have 1 calf per
year
About the farm
Farm Processes
Preparing the soil
This plough has blades that makes narrow trenches called furrows. As the blades cut
through the soil, they bury the weeds and any remains of last year’s crop. Ploughing
also helps the air to circulate and the water to drain. When the tractor reaches the end
of the field, the plough blades are turned over so that the next set of furrows will lie in
the same direction. This makes it easier when sowing the seeds.
However, there is a lot less ploughing done nowadays and other ways of looking after
the soil structure are used instead. We use discs to break the soil down instead of
ploughing on some fields.
Sowing
The machines used for sowing have drills (tubes) that sow the seeds neatly in rows in
the prepared ground. Sometimes the harrow and seed drills are combined so that both
processes take place at the same time. Gaps for the tractor wheels are left unplanted so
that the crops are not damaged by the machinery working in the field. These gaps are
called ‘tramlines’.
Rolling
About the farm
Rolling makes the ground firm around the seeds so that the moist soil is next to the
seeds. This helps them to germinate and reduces damage from pests such as slugs.
Helping the crops to grow
The crops need to be protected from weeds and diseases if they are to grow well.
Fertiliser gives the plants extra nutrients so that they grow larger and stronger. Some
crops, such as potatoes, need extra water.
Harvesting
About the farm
The crops are cut with different machines.
The combine harvester cuts the wheat and
barley, separates grain from the ears and
then throws out the stalks. The stalks are
either baled as straw by another machine
or chopped up and left on the soil. When
the grain tank is full, a tractor drives up
alongside and the grain is poured into its
trailer.
Fresh grass that is to be preserved as
silage is cut and allowed to wilt for a few
hours in the field. It is then collected in
bales, which are polythene wrapped to
keep the air out, or picked up, chopped and
put into polythene covered stores called
clamps. Silage is used to feed the animals
in the winter.
Grass that is to be preserved as hay is cut
and allowed to dry before being baled. Hay
is also used as animal feed in the winter
About the farm
About the farm
About the farm
Evaluation Process

Evaluation Forms to be filled in by teacher/supervisor after each visit

Forms reviewed within 24 hours of visit and any urgent remedial action carried
out as soon as possible (and at least before next school visit)

Contact school for further information if appropriate

Review all evaluation forms at 6 month and 12 month intervals to see any
common factors

Use the information given by the forms to improve future visits

Check that any improvements have been effective my monitoring evaluation
forms
About the farm
Old Farm visit evaluation
By completing this form you will help our farm to improve future visits. Thank you for your help.
Name of school:
Date of visit:
Key Stage ?
What was the purpose of your
visit?
How did you find out about the
farm?
In questions 1 – 3, A – good B – satisfactory C – unsatisfactory N/A – not applicable
How would you rate: (please circle)
1. The management and organisation?
A B C N/A
2. The pupils’ enjoyment of the programme?
3. Pupil progress?
A B C N/A
A B C N/A
4. Please tick areas of pupil progress.
Knowledge and understanding
Increased knowledge
Improved understanding
Developing skills
Practical skills
Observation skills
Deduction skills
Ability to make comparisons
Application of previous knowledge
Social aspects
Increased interest
Increased confidence
Increased interpersonal skills
Other
A B C N/A
Increased vocabulary
Developing concepts
Questioning skills
Listening skills
Recording skills
Ability to follow instructions
Increased enthusiasm
Increased concentration
5. If given the chance, would you repeat the visit? Y / N
Please add other comments below.
Completed by: ________________________________
About the farm
Old Farm, Dorn
Moreton in Marsh
Glos GL56 9NS
Tel:01608 650394
Dear
Confirmation of visit booking
Thank you for booking a visit to our farm. Please check that the following details are
correct:
Name of school:
Date of visit:
Time of arrival:
Time of departure:
Number of children:
Age range of children:
Any special needs:
Number of adults:
Outline programme:
We look forward to your visit. Please contact me if you have any further questions.
Yours sincerely
Sarah Righton
About the farm
Risk Assessment for activities at Old Farm
About the farm
SITE NAME: Old Farm
GRID REF:SP1933
OWNER: Simon & Sarah Righton
TEL. NO: 01608 650 394
ASSESSORS: Sarah & Simon Righton
DATE OF ASSESSMENT: 20/03/07
NEAREST HOSPITAL: Moreton in Marsh. Telephone: 01608 650 456
SITE ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES: 1 mile from Moreton-in-Marsh on A429, Turn left for Dorn.
Old Farm is ¼ mile on left-hand side.
HAZARD
ACTIVITY
THE SITE
OR
ON
AGGRESSIVE
VISITORS
ANIMALS:
Cow/Sheep/Pig/
Dog/Chicken/Ca
t Cow pats etc
RISKS
ASSOCIATED
WITH
THE
HAZARDS
Injury
Infection,
Biting
Crushing
Kicking
Bacteral infection
Germs and diseases
Avian Influenza
Potential
to cause
harm
CONTROLS ALREADY IN PLACE
ACTION REQUIRED BY VISITORS
Low

High











About the farm
AND
Farm staff are instructed to ensure that
any aggressive visitor is removed from
the site
No access to cattle/pigs, supervised
access to sheep (no tups)
All animals on the site are properly
controlled and any contact supervised.
Discuss with children prior to the visit
the possibility of farm animals in the
area.
Stress they are not to approach them or
make sudden movements at them.
Children need to walk quietly past.
Visitors should not touch the animals
unless encouraged by Supervisor.
Supervisors should ensure children wash
their hands after handling any animal and
carry Wet-wipes for interim use.
Children will also be made aware of the
dangers of placing their faces against the
animals or putting their hands in their
mouths afterwards (e.g. sucking thumbs &
biting nails). Before any contact with
animals adults will ensure that children do
not have uncovered cuts or grazes.
Wash hands before eating or drinking.
Eat lunch in areas away from animals
No food will be eaten whilst touring the
farm.
A general warning to all female adults will
be given re: the possibility of diseases
being transmitted to pregnant women at
lambing time & any woman who is pregnant
will not be allowed into the lambing sheds.
Outcome
Low
Low




Animals
continued:




BEES, WASPS
AND INSECTS
Stings
Low


BUILDINGS
CHEMICALS &
SUBSTANCES
Unstable
floors/walls/falling
debris
Inhalation,
skin
contact,
eye
contact
Low

High




About the farm
No visitors will be allowed to come into
contact with afterbirth or aborted foetal
material
If any clothing from a visitor in a high
risk group (ie/ family member pregnant)
were to be contaminated with any
afterbirth etc. then these clothes to be
removed and spare clothes given before
going home.
Any farm staff involved in lambing to
wear clean overalls on the day of visit and
change if necessary
On farm walk, keep away from any ewes
giving birth or afterbirth that may have
been left in the field.
Footdips will be available for visitors to
clean boots both coming onto and leaving
the farm
Visitors not allowed to touch any new
born lambs, contact will only be allowed
with lambs over 2 days of age
Collecting Eggs – eggs to be collected by
children will be washed first then
replaced into clean straw in the nest
boxes. Hens will be kept out of nest
boxes when the clean eggs have been
introduced to prevent contamination.
Hand wash/disinfection after any contact
with animals/eggs
Bees & wasps pose no risk unless
provoked.
Warn children to keep away and keep
calm.
The farm makes all attempts to ensure
the structural integrity of all buildings
that children are allowed to enter.
All substances in use on the site are safe
and free from risk when used in a proper
manner.
Visitors will not be exposed to risks from
substances used on the site.
Visitors must not touch. Chemicals must
be stored and handled according to
guidelines
At least one set of doors to remain open
Low
Low
Low


CHILDREN
GETTING LOST
High


CHILDREN
GETTING LOST
continued



CLIMBING ON
OBJECTS
Slipping,
falling
tripping,
High

COACHES
Slipping,
tripping,
falling, injury from
other vehicles
High


ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT
Fire, electrocution
High


FIRE
inhalation,
skin
burns, panic, loss of
control
High



About the farm
when groups are in grain store
Health and safety talk – children asked
about allergies and told about dust in
grain store
Children reminded that air may be dusty
and to stand outside if necessary.
Regular counting of pupils, particularly
before leaving any venue
All supervisors (helping adults), to carry a
list of all pupils and adults involved in the
visit
Pupils to be easily identified wearing
school t-shirts or sweatshirts
Group leader to establish rendezvous
points and tell pupils what to do if they
become separated from the group
Regular head counts will ensure all
children are accounted for.
Children must be adequately supervised
and great care taken if climbing is
involved
Supervisors should adhere to instructions
provided by event organisers to use
designated coach alighting points in the
coach park and on any access roads
On alighting children should be
adequately supervised
Electrical installations and appliances are
tested and inspected at the required
intervals by the Contractor supplying
them.
Visitors should not touch or interfere
with electrical equipment
Fire risk Assessments have been carried
out for all areas and adequate controls
are in place.
In case of fire, Supervisors should
ensure that they and children in their
care leave the building by the nearest
exit and go to a safe place.
Supervisors should ensure that a roll call
is taken of their charges.
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
FIRST AID –
Injuries not
High
dealt with
immediately
may result in
further health
problems.
Medical aid for
specific children
with
medical/special
needs.

Travel First Aid kit to accompany all
trips.

Position of First Aid post at site to
be known by leader and identified
on plan for all accompanying
adults to see.

In the event of a serious injury or illness
requiring hospitalisation a competent
member of staff accompanies
injured/sick pupil to hospital and school
will be contacted.
Adult in charge of group with named
children to hold relevant medication.

LPG/PETROL
Fire, explosion
High

MACHINERY
Trapping, abrasion,
injury
High












MACHINERY
DEMO’S
Climbing
combine
About the farm
into
harvester
Low

The use of LPG and petrol driven
equipment is monitored and controlled by
the farm.
Do not touch.
The children will be warned about
vehicles on the farm and will not be
unaccompanied at any time.
Supervisors should ensure that they and
children in their care do not touch any
machinery, comply with any safety notices
and observe the restriction of any
barriers that may be in place.
Farm staff informed that visitors are
present
Keep machinery in store when not in use
Lock store rooms whenever possible
Place “No Entry” signs on appropriate
doors/gates
Lock vehicles
Never leave keys in vehicles/motorised
machines
Make sure relevant guards are in place
where necessary Speed restriction signs
to be put up at entrance to yard
Farm staff to be made aware when there
are groups in the yard
Ensure all machinery is flat on the ground
or roped off
JST leader to enter cab first, teacher to
assist children at bottom of ladder
Low
Low
Low
Low
(occasional)
cab
OTHER
HAZARDOUS
AREAS
Bales,
chemical
store, slurry pits,
medicine cupboard,
walk-in
chiller/freezer
Low
ROADSIDE
HAZARDS
Collision
passing
slipping,
falling,
with
vehicles,
tripping,
High
RUNNING
Slipping,
falling
tripping,
Low
STINGING
NETTLES/
BRAMBLES/
THISTLES
SUPERVISION
–
Maintaining
correct
ratio
number
Stinging, scratching
Low
UNEVEN
SURFACES,
ROADS
AND
Slipping,
falling
Only three children allowed in cab at any
one time
 Children instructed to climb down ladder
backwards Children instructed to stand
together in a place visible to the driver
and to keep a safe distance from the
vehicle in operation
 Use temp. signs to keep away and keep
group together
 Supervisors should ensure that children
are instructed not to go beyond the
designated areas
 Keep chemical store/medicine cupboard
locked
 Walk-in chiller/freezers kept locked
during any visits
 Staff to ensure adult at front and back
of group
 Warn children to stay on verge where
possible
 Supervisors to wear high visibility
clothing
Children must be adequately supervised and
instructed not to run on the site



Lack of supervision
causes accidents or
loss of child
About the farm
tripping,
Low
Low
Low
Low
On arrival point out these potentially
hazardous plants.
First Aid kit will be available.

Always ensure that there is one more
adult than the required ratios:
 1 adult for every 8 children (5-8 yrs).
If only 8 children then 2 adults are
required.
 For every 30 children 1 adult must be a
teacher.



Warn of slippy/uneven surfaces
Ensure route is free from obstruction
Supervisors and children should take care
Low
PATH EDGINGS


WATER
Falling in the water.
Worst outcome –
drowning, panic, loss
of control
High



WEATHER
Children being too
hot
or
getting
sunburned
or
Children being wet
and cold




WET GRASS
Slipping,
sprains
About the farm
falling,
Low

walking on the paths and grass and wear
sensible footwear
Keep to verges where possible,
designated staff to wear high visibility
clothing
Staff to ensure adult at front and back
of group
Natural hazards such as streams and
ponds are present in the countryside.
Children should be adequately supervised
and made aware of water features.
Supervisors and children should take
adequate precautions against slipping and
falling when close to water features
Children will be able to take off coats and
sweatshirts leaving on their school Tshirts from which they can be easily
identified.
There is plenty of drinking water
available at designated sites
All children to wear old trousers, a warm
waterproof and wellington boots to the
farm.
First aiders will carry changes of
clothing.
Supervisors and children should be aware
of the possibility of wet grass and take
adequate precautions against slipping and
falling
Low
Low