Visitors are requested to abide by the Countryside Code at all times and to “leave no trace”. Kelston Roundhill is a working farm, partly open to walkers. It has a wild and unkempt quality you would not expect in a municipal park or the grounds of a hotel. This entails a broad range of possible risks about which visitors must exercise common sense, and inform themselves if they are responsible for others.
For example there are
Physical risks:
- falls from uneven ground
- falling branches
- trip hazards
- barbed wire, gates
The ground may have badger holes or ruts from vehicles. While experts undertake maintenance on the trees in Kelston clump, Abbots Copse and next to Roundhill Barn, trees elsewhere on the farm are left to grow and decay naturally. Note there are many ash trees and the risk that ash dieback can make ash trees brittle and unstable. Trip hazards might include fencing, farm equipment and materials, unauthorised litter and vegetation.
Allergic reactions:
- nettles, brambles, other plants
- ticks, wasps, other insect bites
As well as working farm Kelston Roundhill has wilding fields and woodland. Visitors need to inform themselves about hazardous, irritant or poisonous plants and funghi, and to supervise those they may be responsible for, notably children, accordingly. Visitors must make their own arrangements for avoiding or managing insect bites or stings. You are advised to check for deer ticks and other ticks which are increasingly common after your visit.
Animals
It is possible that animals will intrude on the site. This includes:
- farm livestock: cows, sheep
- wild animals
Visitors must be aware they may encounter farm animals including cows and sheep, and also wild animals such as badgers, fox, rabbit, hare, pheasant. They need to manage the situation calmly and react appropriately.
Off grid utilities; implications:
The barn is off grid.
Water: The private water borehole supply is regularly serviced and checked but there is the possibility of contamination or loss of supply. Council guidance specifies that the water should be used only when the electricity supply is switched on and electrically powered ultra-violet purification is active. If you are vulnerable or concerned about this you are advised to bring your own bottled drinking water to the site. In the event of a pump or system failure resulting in a water outage, emergency bottled drinking water is supplied.
Electricity: Power and hot water come from a solar thermal and power installation with batteries and thermal store. The solar generates up to 5kw and stores up to 20kwh which is ample for lights and music. It’s not suited to power-hungry plant and equipment.
We have a back-up 240V diesel generator. This consumes fossil fuels, makes noise and emits fumes so we request and recommend keeping use to the minimum necessary. The generator is regularly serviced but it is a machine of a certain age and Kelston Tump LLP is not in a position to guarantee that it will always work. In the event it fails there is a petrol generator and switchover arrangement for emergency short term use (eg up to 2-3 hours’ operation). Note it is dangerous to refuel the backup petrol generator while the engine is hot.
If event organisers absolutely depend on the availability of 240v electricity supply for the success of their event, or if they need more than 5kva at any time, they are advised to make their own additional supply arrangements (eg hire in a generator). We advise that perishable foods are kept refrigerated off site until needed, especially in hot weather, to avoid running the diesel generator overnight and for long periods simply to power refrigeration.
We cannot guarantee to restore a 240v electricity supply in the event of generator failure. This may take two working days.
Passing walkers, vehicles
While there is no right of way past the Roundhill Barn the possibility of people walking past without permission cannot be ruled out. Kelston Clump has permissive paths which are open to walkers. Dogs are discouraged but there is the risk of inadequately controlled dogs.
Farm workers and contractors may drive past in vehicles of all sizes as a normal part of their farm work.
Risk assessments
Link to Roundhill barn Fire risk assessment.
Link to Roundhill barn Emergency Action Plan
You are advised to prepare your own risk assessment. Please feel free to reuse and recycle these sample risk assessments.
Task risk assessment – ‘Kelston Round Hill 2016 (wildflower meadows day, by Avon Wildlife Trust)
Kelston Barn gig RA (Three Cane Whale gig with meal, by Jonny Barden)
Kelston Roundhill and Roundhill Barn 