Farmers and crofters should take steps to protect children when visiting their holdings, NFU Scotland has said.
The plea comes during this week’s Farm Safety Week and the union says children should be encouraged to visit farms and crofts to find out where their food comes from, however planning and precautions are needed to ensure safety.
Carole Brunton, who organises farm visits for children throughout Fife through the Royal Highland Education Trust, said: “I would say common sense and supervision are the main things for any farm visit. We don’t want to make it all rules and regulations, so they can’t enjoy themselves. But there must be an element of control.
“We have a plan for every visit before we turn up, we have a plan of what we are going to do and where we’re going to take them.
“Before leaving, they wash their hands with antibacterial soap then walk through a foot dip.”
