BAS ALPACA FARM DAY
BAS members are set to open their farms to the public on 4 September 2020, for the UK’s first Alpaca Farm Day. > Visitors at Cary Alpacas
T
he event, which has attracted support from more than 100 owners, offers a fantastic opportunity to showcase alpacas and promote alpaca ownership as a lifestyle or business choice. Welcoming the public onto your farm allows you to promote your business, and provide an interesting outdoor experience for people, particularly families, who want to learn more about these endearing animals. Ensuring you are organised well ahead of the event is essential and to help you plan we have put together a farm day checklist.
Publicity
Get in touch with your local newspaper and/or radio station – there is a lot of press interest in alpacas and Farm Day is expected to generate local and national press interest and positive publicity for the alpaca community. BAS CEO Duncan Pullar will have a press release available that you can adapt to your farm. Leaflets and posters (including a design for social media) to print and use are available from BAS.
Type of event
The type of event is up to you but decide in advance if you are happy for visitors to wander around the farm. Would a guided tour work better? This could be either a walk and talk style presentation, or a self-guided tour with a farm trail leaflet and/or signs to direct people. Perhaps you could offer a spotters alpaca/nature quiz for children. Make sure paths are safe and there are no trip hazards. You will also need to complete a risk assessment – templates are available online – and have adequate public liability insurance (see separate article). Will you need extra help from family or friends – perhaps to direct people or answer questions?
Parking and traffic
Do you have adequate parking? This is essential – neighbours are not going to appreciate random parking and blocked driveways. The BAS will have direction signs available (three/four for each farm) Continued on the next page >>
30 Alpaca #87
