Introduction
Please read this Visitor Policy carefully. Members of the public wishing to visit the farm are agreeing to comply with this visitor policy, which may change from time to time, as set forth below.
Lower Sherwood is a nationally recognised llama farm dedicated to the preservation, health, and welfare of South American Camelids. As our farm is home to sensitive breeding stock, prize-winning show animals, and working animals, we maintain a strict biosecurity perimeter, and guard our intellectual property around raising these animals carefully.
This document establishes our mandatory protocols governing physical access to our facility. These guidelines are designed to protect our intellectual property, rigorously prevent the introduction of infectious diseases, parasites, and biological pathogens, while outlining the strict enforcement actions taken against unauthorized entrants.
Mandatory Appointment & Pre-Authorization
Lower Sherwood Farm is a private, operational agricultural facility and a strictly managed breeding environment. The farm is closed to the general public except for scheduled, ticketed events, or private tours.
- Prior Written Confirmation: Entry to the property for any purpose requires an explicit, verified appointment confirmed in writing by farm management at least 48 hours in advance.
- Unlawful Trespassing: Unscheduled arrivals, drop-ins, and uninvited visitors are strictly prohibited. Anyone attempting to access the property without a pre-authorized appointment will be treated as an unlawful trespasser.
Identity Verification & Check-In
To maintain a secure chain of custody and ensure total accountability for everyone entering the agricultural perimeter, we enforce strict identity verification upon arrival.
- Mandatory Government-Issued ID: All visitors, vendors, and contractors must present a valid, unexpired government-issued photo identification card (such as a driver’s license or passport) to farm staff immediately upon arrival.
- Matching Authorization Records: The names on the identification must exactly match the name provided during the written pre-authorization process. Entry will be denied to any individual whose identity cannot be conclusively verified.
- Record Retention: Lower Sherwood reserves the right to log visitor names, identification numbers, and vehicle license plates.
No Photography
Visitors to the property acknowledge that Lower Sherwood’s agricultural techniques, animals (including their living spaces and grazing areas), buildings, fence layouts, gates, pens, enclosures, machinery, software, and processing methods constitute valuable, confidential intellectual property and trade secrets.
The taking of photographs, video recordings, audio recordings, or drone footage of any kind across all areas of the farm is strictly prohibited without prior written authorization. All cameras, recording devices, and drones must remain packed away. Smart devices, such as mobile phones or smart glasses, may not be used for capturing images, video, audio, or other data at any time while on the property.
Lower Sherwood reserves the right to immediately escort any individual found to be violating this policy off the premises Lower Sherwood further reserves the right to require the immediate deletion of any unauthorized footage and pursue full legal remedies for unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets or intellectual property infringement.
Strict Biosecurity Protocols
To protect our herd from cross-contamination, external parasites, and infectious pathogens, all authorized visitors must comply with the following rules immediately upon entry:
- Footwear Disinfection: Visitors must arrive in clean, closed-toed footwear. Before crossing into any pasture, barn, handling facility or any location where animals may reasonably be found, footwear must either be aggressively scrubbed and completely submerged in an approved designated viral/bacterial footbath or protective boot covering.
- Prior Livestock Contact Disclosure: Anyone who has visited or worked on another livestock facility, farm, or other agricultural site, or who has had contact with any other animal within 14 days prior to their arrival must declare this context to management. Lower Sherwood reserves the right to deny entry based on localized disease risk assessments.
- Equipment Restrictions: No outside animal gear, lead ropes, halters, grooming tools, or apparel previously used around other livestock may be brought onto the premises.
Unauthorized Vehicles and Immediate Impoundment
The driveways, access roads, and perimeter pathways leading into the farm are private property and serve as agricultural biosecurity buffer zones.
- Registered Vehicles Only: Only pre-authorized vehicles belonging to scheduled guests, staff, or verified veterinary/delivery vendors are permitted past the primary entrance gate.
- Vehicle Towing & Impoundment: Any unauthorized vehicle found parked, idling, or abandoned anywhere on the farm grounds or private access lanes will be immediately towed, impounded, and safely removed from the property at the sole expense and risk of the vehicle owner.
Zero-Tolerance Enforcement
We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for biosecurity non-compliance. Anyone who bypasses locked gates, ignores posted biosecurity signage, or refuses to follow sterilization protocols will be immediately ordered off the premises, permanently barred from the farm, and reported to local law enforcement for criminal trespass.
Exposure to Criminal Liability
Bypassing biosecurity checkpoints, refusing to comply with this policy, or refusing to comply with sanitization protocols represents a reckless and malicious introduction of biological hazards to a vulnerable animal population.
- Criminal Property Damage & Eco-Terrorism: If a breach of this policy results in the infection, sickness, or depopulation of any animals on this farm, Lower Sherwood will pursue the maximum criminal charges available under state law for agricultural property destruction and veterinary interference.
- Animal Cruelty Referrals: Under Virginia Code ยง 3.2-6570, it is unlawful to willfully inflict inhumane injury, pain, or suffering upon any animal. If an individual introduces vectors of diseases, Lower Sherwood will aggressively press charges for animal cruelty.
- Civil Restitution: In addition to law enforcement action, any individual or entity found violating these protocols will be sued in civil court for the full economic value of any compromised breeding stock, lost revenue, farm-wide quarantine costs, and total veterinary intervention fees.
- Civil Actions for Trespass to Chattels: Any unauthorized individual who intermeddles with, contaminates, or impairs the health, condition, or value of our herd via will be sued civilly for the diminished value of the breeding stock, veterinary bills, and diagnostic testing.
- Statutory Property Damage: Pursuant to Virginia Code, entering our farm and interfering with our ability to maintain a disease-free environment constitutes a Class 1 misdemeanor. Violators will be prosecuted to the absolute limit of the law.
Contact Information
For questions regarding these biosecurity protocols, or to request authorization for an essential operational visit, please contact farm management directly.
Inquiries and appointment requests should be sent by email to hello@lowersherwood.com.