Home › Pumpkin Patch Risk Assessment
Pumpkin Patch & Pick-Your-Own Farm Event Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe your pumpkin patch, pick-your-own field or farm shop event — site layout, parking, trailer rides, straw displays. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering public safety, lost children, fire risk and vehicle movements in minutes.
Used by farms, farm shops, smallholdings and rural visitor attractions across the UK
🎃 Running tractor or trailer rides, or have straw bale displays near lighting or generators? Mention it — we'll include pedestrian-vehicle segregation, trailer loading limits and fire prevention controls specific to combustible straw.
Legal requirements for pumpkin patches and pick-your-own events
Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR), any farm business holding a public event — including seasonal pick-your-own and pumpkin picking — must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment covering everyone affected, including visiting members of the public and children. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places the overarching duty of care on the farm or landowner to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of visitors.
Farms are a high-risk environment: HSE figures consistently show agriculture as one of the sectors with the highest rate of fatal injuries per worker in Great Britain, with vehicle movements a leading cause. When members of the public — particularly children — are invited onto working or semi-working farmland, the risks from tractors, trailers and uneven terrain increase significantly, making a written risk assessment essential rather than optional.
The Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 also applies, requiring the occupier of the land to take reasonable care for the safety of lawful visitors. Where pedestrian areas and straw bale play features sit alongside vehicle routes, fire risk sources, or open fields where a child could wander unsupervised, this duty extends to clear signage, physical segregation, and a documented risk assessment that demonstrates these controls were properly considered.
How it works
1. Describe the event
Tell us your site layout, whether you run tractor or trailer rides, how the car park and field access work, and any straw bale or decorative features. Mention expected visitor numbers and whether children will be unsupervised in open picking areas.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment referencing the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the duties owed to visiting members of the public.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Display it on-site, hand it to your insurer, or keep it on file ahead of your event. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every pumpkin patch risk assessment is written in full — covering the specific hazards of public events on working farmland.
Slips, trips and falls on muddy or uneven field terrain
Lost or wandering children in open picking areas
Site boundaries, signage and controlled exit points
Car park layout and pedestrian-vehicle segregation
Tractor and trailer ride safety, including loading limits
Hay bale and prop climbing hazards
Fire risk from straw, hay bales and decorative displays
Electrical safety for lighting, generators and temporary wiring
Insect stings and allergic reaction first aid provision
Cuts from pumpkin stems, vines and picking tools
Manual handling when lifting and carrying large pumpkins
Weather contingency — mud, cold and waterlogged ground
First aid provision and emergency procedures
Supervision ratios for school and group visits
Works for
From small family pick-your-own fields to large farm shop pumpkin events, Anyrisks covers every scale of seasonal attraction.
What customers say
"We run a pick-your-own pumpkin field every October and the insurer wanted a written risk assessment before renewal. Anyrisks covered the trailer rides, the field layout and the lost child procedure in one go."
Diane R.
Farm shop owner, Kent
"School groups visit us during pumpkin season and I needed something that actually addressed supervision ratios and the hay bale climbing area, not a generic template. This did exactly that."
Tom B.
Smallholding owner, Yorkshire
"Our straw bale display sits right next to the car park lighting rig so fire risk was my main worry. The assessment flagged it properly and gave us clear controls to put in place before opening weekend."
Karen M.
Farm events coordinator, Devon
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| MHSWR 1999 duty to visiting public referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Lost child and site boundary controls included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tractor and trailer ride safety covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Straw and hay bale fire risk addressed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers car park and vehicle segregation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · AI Risk Assessment Generator
Do I need a risk assessment for a pumpkin patch or pick-your-own event?
Yes. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, any farm or farm shop inviting the public onto land for a paid or free event must assess and control the risks. With young children, uneven ground, vehicle movements and seasonal crowds, a written risk assessment is both a legal expectation and standard practice for insurers.
What are the main hazards at a pumpkin patch?
Typical hazards include slips and trips on muddy or uneven ground, children climbing on hay bales or props, lost children in open fields, car park and tractor/trailer movements, fire risk from straw and decorative displays, insect stings and allergic reactions, cuts from pumpkin stems and picking tools, and manual handling strain from lifting large pumpkins.
Does this cover car parking and tractor or trailer rides?
Yes. Describe your site layout, including car park arrangements and whether you run tractor and trailer rides, and the assessment will cover pedestrian-vehicle segregation, trailer loading limits, banksman use and safe stopping procedures.
How do I manage the risk of a lost or wandering child?
Open fields with no clear boundaries are a recognised risk at pick-your-own events. Mention your site size and layout and the assessment will include controls such as wristbands, clear site boundaries, staffed exit points and a lost child procedure.
Is straw and hay bale fire risk covered?
Yes. Straw, hay bales and decorative displays are highly combustible, especially near any naked flames, generators or electrical lighting. The assessment covers fire prevention measures, extinguisher provision and evacuation procedures specific to outdoor straw-based attractions.
Can I use this for a farm shop running a seasonal pumpkin event alongside normal trading?
Yes. Describe both the farm shop operation and the pumpkin event and the assessment will cover the additional seasonal hazards — footfall, parking pressure and temporary structures — on top of your normal retail risks.
Does it cover insect stings and allergic reactions?
Yes. Outdoor pick-your-own sites carry a higher risk of wasp and bee stings, particularly late in the season around overripe fruit. The assessment includes first aid provision and guidance for staff on recognising anaphylaxis.
How long does it take to generate the assessment?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your pumpkin patch or pick-your-own event, including site layout, activities and expected visitor numbers, and Anyrisks produces a complete, regulation-referenced risk assessment instantly.