Noise

  • We are a licensed Organic farm and try to live with respect and harmony with our human and wild neighbours.

  • Electronic music and loud percussion instruments (drums etc) are not permitted in the woods and wood-field. Sound carries remarkably far in the valley. Thank you for respecting this. If you need to use a ceremonial drum for a short time please discuss this with Susanna first.

Photos

  • If you post photos of your event online, please do not say where the roundhouse is located, as we do not want the general public discovering it from the footpath. Please just say you are somewhere in the Chew Valley.  This is really important for future events to remain undisturbed. 

Neighbouring land 

  • We ask that you and your group remain only on the land owned by Strode Valley Organics, and do not venture onto neighbouring land except on designated public footpaths (please see map provided).

  • Please adhere to the country code - Close gates. Take all litter home. Leave no trace.

Dogs

  • Dogs are not permitted on site without prior permission.

Care for us and our neighbours

General

  • You are responsible for your group’s behaviour, health and safety, and first aid when on site. All accidents or near misses must be reported to us within 24 hours.

  • We have public liability insurance and risk assessments.

  • We recommend you have your own events insurance for your activities and do your own risk assessment on arrival.

Roundhouse

  • Please leave the roundhouse as you find it, with all wooden stools etc back under dry cover.

  • Ensure all fires and candles are not left unattended

  • Please do not climb on the turf roof under any circumstances

  • Please report any breakages to us before you leave.

Kitchen

  • Ensure all kitchen equipment is washed, dried and put away at the end of your event.

    • Please turn all pans upside down on the shelf after use.

    • Please take home your recycling and waste. We can compost your raw vegetable waste on site.

    • Please do not use soap on the cast iron pans. It makes them go rusty and loose their non-stickiness.

      • Wash with just hot water and the scourer provided in the sink.

      • Then wipe some oil round the inside of the pans (provided in the kitchen)

      • Then put back on the fire for 5 minutes to re-season the metal. Thank you!

Compost toilet

  • We provide 2 toilet rolls per day. If you have large numbers of participants please bring additional rolls, or you can purchase from us at £1/roll (they’re big rolls!)

  • Please ensure your participants read the ‘How to use this toilet” instructions in the loo. 

Water

  • The water in the sink tap is drinkable. We do not recommend drinking the river or winter spring stream water (even boiling it)

    as there are occasional agricultural pollution incidents upstream which the environment agency are working on. 

  • We do swim in it though, to no ill-effect - If it's clear, jump in!

Firewood

  • Firewood use will be deducted from your deposit after the event, @ £8/bag

  • If you’re bringing your own wood, please ensure no pallets or treated/painted wood, and no wood with nails/metal in please. 

  • Wood cannot be harvested onsite as it is intended for wildlife habitat. Please leave all dead wood in trees or on the ground. 

Roundhouse and facilities

Woodland care & safety

Flowers and foraging

  • Please do not pick wild flowers and plants in the woods unless you have talked to Susanna first - (except blackberries! There are loads, help yourselves.)

  • PLEASE LEAVE elderberries, rose-hips and crab-apples as we use all these ourselves. 

Riverbanks

  • The riverbanks are prone to soil erosion - please not access the river down the banks. Use the ford in the field, or stepping stones crossing by the steps in the wood. There are some wet/slippy areas in the woods in wet weather.

Trees, paths and your safety

  • All our Ash trees have Ash-dieback so we may have fenced off areas of the wood until they are removed for your safety. Please ensure your participants do not enter the roped off areas. Certain areas of the woods are also roped off for regeneration at different times of year.

  • Please ask participants to follow pre-walked paths in the woods, or tread very carefully.

Tree-houses

  • There may be some basic tree-houses in the woods built by the forest school team and children. They are hand made by children. Use at your own risk.

Risk Assessment

  • Please do your own risk assessment of the woods on arrival.

  • Please ensure participants familiarize themselves with the landscape in daylight!

Housekeeping

Care for you

Privacy

  • You have private use of the woods and the 3 acre field to the east of the wood. We will not disturb you during your stay (unless absolutely necessary), and will endeavour to ensure no-one enters the woods from the footpath. Should this happen and we do not see it, please politely ask them to return to the public footpath. Any problems call Susanna 07967 512161.

Organic Veg

  • We may have some of our delicious organic veg and salad for sale. If you’d like to purchase any, get in touch at least a week before your booking and we can let you know what we will have available.

Haymaking

  • We’re surrounded by hay meadows and in the summer months there is the possibility of machinery noise from hay-making in fields near the woods. We will do everything to ensure our own hay (and the waterfall fields next door) is dealt with outside of rental periods, but unfortunately cannot prevent possible noise in neighbouring fields. It's unusual, but has happened and we’re very sorry if it disturbs you, but it's currently the nature of pasture farming in the Chew Valley!