Amerton Farm Ltd

 

Re-opening Strategy for Amerton Farm

following Covid 19 which will be on 14^th July 2020

 

The following strategy plan has been prepared by the directors of Amerton Farm Ltd to re-open Amerton Farm following the forced closure due to Covid 19. The farm closed to customers on Wednesday 18^th March 2020, although some tenants continued to trade after 18th for a short time. The only operations continuing to trade throughout this time has been the Food Hall with the farm shop and fish mongers. Of course the farm and animals have been cared for as usual. Thankfully the site was able to claim the government grant, as were tenants. Furlough funding was achieved to support Amerton Farm Ltd staff during these unprecedented times, which ensure staff received 80% of their salary. The re-opening strategy has needed to be carefully considered, as to what point we re-open to ensure it is cost effective, to open with all the new regulations, which we have to meet as part of all the government guidelines and laws which now exist following the pandemic. It’s clear that Billy’s, our indoor play facility will not be open unfortunately yet and this could take some time to get this go ahead.

 

“We’re Good To Go” is a kite mark which has been launched by Visit Britain for all tourist attraction working on sites like Amerton Farm, we applied and were awarded the certificate within 48 hours.

 

Any re-opening plans must be carried out with careful planning to ensure that risk of infection to public, staff and tenants is reduced as far as is practically possible.

 

Tenants opening:

• We expect tenants will be able to open before the farm. Each tenant will make their own arrangements to re-open, providing risk assessment to support their re-opening plans and ensuring the appropriate PPE is in place. We urge all tenants to make contact with their insurance company prior to opening. All tenants should also ensure the relevant social distancing guidelines set out by the government, is observed in their units.
• The directors of Amerton Farm Ltd, ask all tenants to liaise with Eunice by phone or email regarding their re-opening date and plans, so the website can be updated.
• As directors of Amerton Farm Ltd, we wish to ensure the safety of all tenants and their customers, when we re-open.
• All tenants can apply for the “We’re Good To Go” Kite mark and have had a letter giving information about the award. You will then be able to download a certificate and display it in your unit and use the logo on your website, share on face book as a kite mark or on leaflets.

 

 

Re-opening of the Billy’s Farm, Ice Cream Parlour and Billy’s Farm Barn.

The rest of this paper relates only to staff working for Amerton Farm Ltd, some parts will be but shared with tenants for reference. As a business we are adamant that we must:

• Ensure the safety and security of all staff, at all times
• We will provide the appropriate training prior to re-opening and all staff must attend training on Monday 13^th July 2020, at 9.30 am until 12 noon, which staff will be paid to attend and it will be held in Billy’s and will be carried out by Amy Flint and Emma Gregory. Some staff may be asked to work in the afternoon to help finish getting the site to re-open on 14^th
• We will provide PPE for staff, if required.
• As directors we feel that now social distancing was reduced to 1 metre, the prospect for being able to welcome more customers will help ensure, that it would be far more cost effective .
• As from the 1^st July we can use flexible furlough and employ staff.
• As directors we are aim as a business to work hard to safe guard jobs, but we live very uncertain times.

 

Thankfully petting and feeding of animals is now being allowed and outdoor play, but no indoor play and no tractor and trailer rides. We will offer a walk around the track which is not double fenced on the track side, as it was never designed to allow customers to walk around, it was created for staff use and a tractor and trailer track. These opening guidelines have been written taking into account what we can deliver and hopefully indoor play soon.

 

New Entrance through to the farm:

Put in double doors in the Ice Cream Parlour by the counter to enter the farmyard

The advantage of this work means:

• We have an entrance to the farmyard without entering through to Billy’s Farm Barn via the Ice Cream Parlour
• We can ensure those wanting only to see animals in the future without going through a children’s play area, using a single colour wrist band only, which would assist several adults who wish to just see animals and have a tractor and trailer ride.
• On very busy days, the ice cream parlour can act as the admission point or there could be 2 admission points, which will cut queues or just one admission point if that suits the number of customers.

 

Proposed date to re-open:

 

Opening Day: 14^th July 2020.

 

Opening Time:

Proposed session

• Morning 9.30am to 12.00 noon
• Cleaning and lunch 12 .00 noon to 1.30pm
• Afternoon 2.00pm to 4. 30pm
• Cleaning for 4.30pm to 5pm
• Evening/Twilight Session Early if required 5pm to 7pm (if and when we offer this option)

Cleaning after this session is important or first thing the next morning, if we have had an evening session.

 

 

Booking System: On-line booking via Digi tickets, will be the main form of bookings and government regulations will ensure numbers are limited.

 

What will be offered:

Animal feeding

Animal Petting

Jumping Pillows (limited numbers and timed play)

Outdoor Play

An enhanced outdoor walk around the tractor track will be available with an interactive family quiz to complete.

A free bag of animal food will be given to each family group on entry. Extra animal food and carrots can be purchased on entry.

 

Admission Price:

£4.99 per adult and child, under 2 years £2.99, Under 6 months free, carers free. The price has been suggested as we are offering the same for children as adults and we need to try and achieve this price to ensure we make opening cost effective. Annual pass holders will be free as usual but they will have to book in so we don’t go over capacity.

Capacity per session:

The capacity of 200 per session will be observed, being made up of adult, children and annual pass holders. Calculations were made working on the following: for 1 m social distancing you might calculate 4 square metres per person or for a family group from the same household, they can occupy the same 4 square metres, but there must be at least a metre separation between different parties.

 

Type of opening:

Launched with another film, Facebook boosted posts, press releases, radio interviews, Stoke, Signal and any other media.

 

Good PR Event:

As a business I would like to do a free Evening/Twilight Session for NHS staff and ask them to apply for tickets to the event something to be considered after we have opened. Could be used in our opening  as a good PR story in a press releases.

 

Guideline issued to customers:

Things have changed for us all, in these very unprecedented times so we are going to explain how we are planning to re-open Amerton Farm. We hope the information below will help you to plan your visit to Amerton Farm. The directors of Amerton Farm Ltd wish to ensure the safety and security of all our customers and staff.

 

How to book tickets

You will need to book your admission tickets online in order to guarantee your admission to Amerton Farm. As we are operating at a reduced visitor capacity, we cannot therefore guarantee entry for anyone wishing to purchase tickets on the door, so online booking is strongly advised. If you wish to book for all day, we are sorry but you will have to purchase two sets of tickets for morning and afternoon. Unfortunately, you will have to leave Billy’s Farm to allow staff to clean and sanitise the area. You may stay on site, but please note Finney Tearoom will not be open until 17^th July 2020, however take away food may be purchased before you leave the farm. Amerton Bakery will not re-open.

 

Please note

• Your booking will need to include children under the age of 2 and carers. Even though carers will have free admission.
• If your 2 year old child or your baby looks older than their age, please do not be offended if our staff, ask for proof of age. Please bring photo proof of your child’s Date of Birth, (their birth certificate, passport or red medical book) which will then, enables us to clarify the situation immediately.  If you are coming as a carer you will also need to book your ticket, which will be free of charge as normal and you will have to provide proof of your status as a carer. We are always happy to receive proof stored as a scanned document on your mobile phone.
• Amerton Farm need every ones Name, Address and Telephone contact details when you are booking your visit as per government guidelines, in case you need to be contacted with regards to the Track & Trace system.
• The major change in booking is unfortunately, there cannot be re-admission if you leave the farm, during a session. This is because as explained above we need to ensure the site is cleared to allow cleaning and sanitise before our afternoon visitors arrive.
• Please don’t visit if you are self-isolating or if you or anyone you’ve been in contact with is displaying symptoms of Covid-19.
• If you are not well, we’ll look forward to seeing you very soon, when you feel well, please stay at home and stay safe.

 

 

Annual Pass Holders

Unfortunately we also need you to pre-book (without charge) so that we can safely plan our visitor numbers for the day. For members, we know this is frustrating, however, it is for the safety of everyone both customers and staff, we hope this will only be a temporary measure. All Annual Passes have been frozen during our closure, so everyone will receive a 5 month extension on their annual pass to cover the time we have been closed.

 

Payments

We will be accepting card payments on site only and on-line booking for tickets. If this is a problem for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us on office@amertonfarm.co.uk or call 01889 270294 and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs. Please note a 50p booking fee has been added to each ticket purchased to cover our extra booking cost.

 

Vouchers or Pre booked ticket prior to closures

If you have any vouchers or pre-booked tickets purchase before we closed please contact office@amertonfarm.co.uk or call 01889 270294

 

New Entrance

There a new entrance into the farm which will be via the Ice Cream Parlour, which has new PPE screens, these have been installed to ensure a safe distance between customers and our staff.

 

Temperature checks  

We reserve the right to carry out non-invasive infrared temperature check and any guest displaying a high temperature associated with a fever will not be permitted on site. Any temperature of 38C or above will be deemed too high and the entire group/household will not be permitted on site.

 

 

What is on offer at Amerton Farm

Animal feeding and petting; all animals will be in their paddocks to ensure social distancing.

Jumping Pillows (limited numbers and timed play)

Sand Pit you need to bring your own buckets and spades, as we cannot unfortunately supply any play equipment and then don’t forget to take them home with you.

Outdoor Play; An enhanced outdoor walk around the tractor track which is approximately half a mile long, will be available with an interactive family quiz .

A free bag of animal food will be given to each family group on entry. Extra animal food and carrots can be purchased on entry.

 

 

Take Away Food Outlet

You can purchase food from a take away area in the party room which is in Billy’s Farm Barn and can be entered via the fire door from the farmyard and we are operating a 1 way distanced queuing system. We will be using an electronic ordering system.

 

What will not be open on 14^th July?

Billy’s Farm Barn Indoor play will not be opened on 14^th July 2020. Amerton Bakery will not re-opening.

 

Hand Washing Facilities and Sanitising Stations:

Hand washing facilities are at the end of the Farm Barn, please always wash your hands after feeding and petting animals. Sanitising stations are situated on site. Regular hand washing for 20 seconds with warm water and soap remains the most effective way to reduce the spread of infection.

 

Good Practise

Carry tissues and cough or sneeze into them before safely disposing of tissues in a bin, then wash your hands. Avoid touching your face or eyes and touching surfaces unnecessarily.

 

Toilets

Toilets and hand washing facilities will be open inside Billy’s Farm Barn, entered via the fires door from the farmyard.

 

Face Coverings

Customers are encouraged to wear face covering, if they wish but it is not essential.

 

Social distancing

We ask all customers to social distance as per government guidelines .We have set clear markings down and signs within queues to allow for social distancing, including at the entrance, our toilets and food outlets.

.

Car Park

Please can you park sensibly, with sufficient space between cars and respect the space of other visitors.

 

Our staff

All staff will be wearing face coverings, gloves where necessary, they will all have their temperature taken when they arrive at work.  They will all carry personal radios so if you need help please ask a member of staff to call the Duty Manager.

 

Deep cleaning

We have introduced new deep cleaning measures in line with government and industry advice. This is why we close for an hour and half at lunch time to carry out this work and in the event that a person reports symptoms consistent with Covid-19.

 

 

Outside Picnic areas

Tables are available to eat food purchased  on site, please do not move tables they have been set out so customers can social distancing between tables. Picnics will be permitted on the main court yard only, please put any litter in the bins or take it home with you.

 

If you are taken ill after your visit

Please contact track and trace if you are taken ill after your visit and inform them when you visited Amerton Farm.

 

Let’s Stay Safe Together

As with our staff, we ask all customers to uphold the highest possible hygiene standards. Please remember, this is just the first stage of reopening and we’re all doing our best to adapt to the new ‘normal’. If we all do our bit, we’re hoping that things will get back to normal as soon as possible. Please accept we don’t have all the answers but we are doing all we can to re-open for our customers.

Amerton Farm Safety Measures

A list of all additional safety measures which have been put into place for your reference

Chick here  http://www.amertonfarm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Visitor-Guidelines.pdf to read our Visiting Guidelines which will be displayed once you arrive at Amerton Farm.

• Cleaning regimes have been increased with a focus on ‘touch points’.
• The toilet facilities will be cleaned according to use and demand.
• Screens have been added at all till points in use.
• One-way systems have been added certain areas.
• Signage and social distancing measures have been added.
• Staff have attended a full safety training for themselves and customers prior to opening.
• We have added ‘Sanitising stations’
• Masks will be provided for all staff
• Staff are all working to risk assessment and daily audit measures

 

All this above to be viewed when customers book tickets and then, sent a copy by email to all customers after they have booked, so they have seen it once and received as well.

 

What we need to do to achieve the opening?

This includes all the tasks we need to achieve before we can re-open in no particular order:

 

Prior to opening

 

Training:

All staff to carry out the following training on-line via Timely Intervention, via the Staff IntraNet and can be started with immediate effect. Staff can also be encouraged to do any other training they wish from the Timely Intervention.

 

All staff have been asked and agreed to attend the training on 13^th July at 9.30 pm until 12 noon, in the  Party Room in Billy’s Farm Barn. The training session starting at 9.30am until 12 noon delivered by Amy Flint and Emma Gregory to all staff before they return to work.

Courses to complete by 14^th July during furlough

• Essentials of Coronavirus
• Covid 19
• Essentials of Hygiene
• Food Hazards
• Manual Handling
• Zoonosis (available in July)
• First Aid – suggested optional
• Customer Care- suggested optional (available in July not yet issued)

 

Rota

Breakdown of rota to be put on RotaCloud

 

Week 1   Team 1 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Team 1 includes: Emma (office based) Codi 8am until 6pm Eloise Charlotte Phillip Laila   Team 2 Thursday and Friday Team 2 includes: Alex 8am until 6pm Lesley Leah Izzy Josh   Team 3 Saturday and Sunday -Emily Team 3 includes: Laura 8am until 6pm Angela Calum Rachel Wendy   Wendy cleaner everyday

Week  2   Team 2  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Team 2 includes: Alex 8am until 6pm Lesley Leah Izzy Josh   Team 3 Thursday and Friday Team 3 includes: Laura 8am until 6pm Angela Calum Rachel Wendy   Team 1 Saturday and Sunday – Emily Team 1 includes: Emma (office based) Codi 8am until 6pm Eloise Charlotte Phillip Laila   Wendy cleaner everyday

Week  3   Team 3  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Team 3 includes: Laura 8am until 6pm Angela Calum Rachel Wendy   Team 1 Thursday and Friday Team 1 includes: Emma (office based) Codi 8am until 6pm Eloise Charlotte Phillip Laila   Team 2 Saturday and Sunday – Emily Team 2 includes: Alex 8am until 6pm Lesley Leah Izzy Josh   Wendy cleaner everyday

All rotas are subject to change and according to on-line bookings, particularly starting and finishing times after the first week and will be a trail initially and subject to change. All staff will be working on flexible furlough on a 3 week rolling rota, with 3 days on and 2 week and 2 days, but this is subject to change, which we will discuss at the training day on 13^th July 2020. 

 

 

Risk assessment and audit:

Carry out a thorough survey of your entire site. Update all Risk Assessments done by Peninsular and update for Covid 19, to include disease, for all areas and aspects of operations and develop new operational procedures to align with the above. Produce a site-specific phased reopening strategy, considering the points within this guidance.

 

Risk Assessments, to include disease, for all areas and aspects of operations and develop new operational procedures to align with the above.  Businesses could be held liable for employees or a member of the public who contract COVID-19 on their premises.  Whilst this would be difficult to prove it, it is important you have documentation to prove you have followed government guidelines and have risk assessments in place.

 

The following risk assessments need to be prepared to allow us to re-open using the new Timely Interventions.

Risk assessment supplied to Emma.

We need as a hard copy and electronically:

1. All your risk assessments
2. All risk assessments written by Peninsular
3. All open and closing procedures and daily checks/audits:
4. a) Billys Farm Barn
5. b) Ice Cream Parlour
6. c) Farmyard

 

Insurance:

Contact to be made Stafford NFU to inform of our re-opening an increase our insurance again.

 

Stafford Borough Council – Environmental Health Officer:

Advices received and Risk Assessments completed.

 

Signage:

Information boards for the paddocks, which need to design in house style and printed, prior to opening

 

PPE:

Vinyl fitted Screens in the Ice Cream Parlour and Billy’s ordered and fitted by a Hixon Company.

Face Coverings, staff have been issued with 2 face coverings per member of staff member. Gloves and face shields used as required.

 

In conclusion

As directors we all understand that we could end up finding ourselves with a spike in the Covid 19 virus and we may have to close again, if this happens. Re-open the farm is a massive gamble but one we have to try, but if our costs outweigh our customers, then we have to consider our options, as it has  cost us over £10,000 just to re-open the doors, before we start to earn any money. Customers are not booking fast at the moment and we believe they need an increased level of confidence.

 

 

 

Prepared by the Eunice E Finney ARAgS, Managing Director of Amerton Farm Ltd   9^th July 2020