COVID-19 (coronavirus)
Now that Rhydd Barn is open for holiday bookings again we hope you will be reassured that we have spent the last few weeks making the barn as Covid-safe as possible. We have followed the relevant official guidelines — below is a summary of the changes we have made.
Rhydd Barn has introduced recommended protective measures against the spread of COVID-19. We are following the Professional Association of Self-Caterers (PASC) Self-catering COVID-19 Cleaning Guidelines — also recommended by VisitEngland (the former English Tourist Board).
Our cleaner and gardener are implementing the extra precautions needed to eradicate any possible traces of the SARS-CoV-2 virus thus minimising the risk of contracting COVID-19. We are sending extra instructions and terms and conditions to visitors before their stay.
We have a COVID-19 Risk Assessment in place which has been passed on to our staff. Our cleaner is using a comprehensive changeover cleaning checklist. Our rigorous cleaning and disinfecting procedures between each set of guests pays particular attention to sanitising high-touch points such as keys, door handles and light switches.
We have decluttered Rhydd Barn to ensure that there are a minimum of non-essential high contact items — for example we have removed many of the ornaments around the property and the attractive extra cushions on the bed.
We request that you bring your own bed linen and towels with you—if you would like us to provide them then we will have to charge you an extra £10. Please indicate your preference on our booking form.
We have installed a hand sanitising station in the barn by the main entrance door.
COVID-19 prescautions
COVID-19 prescautions
Rhydd Barn is applying for the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard mark a self-assessment scheme that has been designed by the four UK tourist organisations. This will be a signal to you, our guests and potential guests, that we have worked hard to follow Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, that we have a process in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing, and that we have read and implemented the Government’s and Public Health England’s (PHE) COVID-19 guidance.
UPDATE (8 September 2020): We have now obtained the ‘We’re Good to Go’ accreditation. See separate news item: Rhydd Barn is ‘Good to Go‘.
Here are some useful links:
- How to wash your hands (NHS)
- COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings (gov.uk)
- Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) (NHS)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for accommodation providers (gov.uk)
- What you need to do if you fall ill with COVID-19 symptoms whilst visiting (NHS, pdf file)
Recent improvements at Rhydd Barn
We have been busy maintaining the barn over last few months. Here are some of the things we have done:
- A new Accessibility Guide has been produced with photographs and measurements added to help visitors’ understanding of accommodation at Rhydd Barn.
- The white paint of the exterior walls has been touched up where necessary and also the paintwork inside the barn.
- The flower pots, baskets, and small garden at the entrance to Rhydd Barn have been refreshed with new plants. Also, new gravel added between the plants in the entrance garden.
- There are new attractive trays in the kitchen and on the shelf in the bathroom. Also a new pan holder in the kitchen.
- There is a new mattress and new duvet cover on the bed.
- We have purchased a new ‘smart’ television (see separate post for more details).
- Three new plug-in night lights have been provided.
- The exterior lighting had been adjusted so it stays on for a longer period when going outside the barn at night.
- Antibacterial hand-wash is now supplied as standard. This may prove to be necessary in the future when are able to welcome guests to Rhydd Barn once again.
New television for Rhydd Barn
We have finally got round to replacing the television in Rhydd Barn with a slightly larger smart television with all the ‘catch-up’ services. The tv is a Panasonic TX-32FS503B.
Four Star Gold Award for 2020
We are pleased to announce that Rhydd Barn has, yet again, been awarded a Four Star Gold Award rating by VisitEngland (the official tourist board for England).
Here is the summary from the report:
- A great location for exploring the Malvern Hills and surrounding area.
- The Proprietor is to be congratulated on the continued investment. This past year as well as ongoing redecoration, investment has included:
- The re staining of exterior woodwork helping to greatly “lift” overall initial impressions.
- Again, the re planting of planters and re planting/landscaping of the main drive entrance adding to the first impression and feel of the barn. New edging to the gravel drive “finishing off” the appearance. A real credit to the owners.
- A new Smart television along with USB chargers, a great benefit to potential guests. The re staining of exterior woodwork painting of the exterior metal work helping to greatly “lift” overall initial impressions.
- Other enhancements that help to further meet with market expectations include a new additional freezer, a great additional asset.
- The new toaster and kettle along with new omelette pan and compost caddy also very much to be commended.
- Again, the ongoing replacing and upgrading of kitchen utensils helps to further meet with market expectations.
- New night lights helping to enhance safety and guest access at night.
- Special mention should also once again be given for the very high standards of cleanliness noted on this visit, and for which Ms Boaz and the team are to be congratulated.
Sheep in field
My sister took this photograph recently of sheep grazing in the field below Rhydd Barn.
Wildlife at Rhydd Barn
We receive some lovely ‘thank you’ letters and emails from our visitors. Here, with their permission, is an extract from a recent email:
Dear Rosemary,
Thank you so much for letting us stay in The Barn over Christmas and for returning our tidiness deposit – received today.
[…]
We had a few treats courtesy of Mother Nature. We were visited by a pheasant who peered in through the arched window then minced round and had a further look through the door before marching off down the drive. We watched a muntjac deer come through the hedge by the water trough and walk along the cottage side of the hedge munching the grass periodically until he got to the gap at which point he dived through and bounced across the second field to the far hedge. We also saw a barn owl which dropped into the corner of the field immediately the other side of the fence from the arched window! The owl dropped a couple more times into the field before going into the garden of the house at the end of the drive. It was all lovely to see.
Gardening
Our wonderful gardener has been busy at Rhydd Barn refreshing our flower pots, tubs, and baskets around the barn patio—the cyclamen look good now. And the small flower bed at the entrance to the barn has been tidied up: some unsuitable shrubs were removed in favour of smaller flowering plants (eg small roses from the local nursery in Guarlford) with a backing of slate to keep it tidy. The edging along our entrance drive has been repaired or replaced where necessary so it all looks much neater, giving a positive first impression to our visitors.
New items for Rhydd Barn
During, on our own recent (August 2019) stay in Rhydd Barn, we took the opportunity to add or update some of the items in the Barn.
The current fridge is rather small so we purchased another, second, fridge for the Barn which is located in the pigsty next to the freezer.
We replaced some smaller kitchen items which were worn or not working so well. There is now a new kettle, toaster, omelette pan, tin opener, and a new set of downstairs drinks’ coasters.
We have ordered a small ‘compost caddy’ to place on the kitchen work surface for easier disposal of waste food for organic recycling. We hope to have this in place within a week or so.
We purchased a couple of USB charging plugs and recently replaced the carbon monoxide detectors.
We also now have two plug-in night lights which switch on automatically when it is dark.
Outside we modified the flower bed by the entrance gate to the Barn, replacing some plants and using Malvern stone to make it more like a small rockery.
