LONDON (UK) – For people suffering from mental health issues during the pandemic crisis, farms dotting the countryside are providing a lifeline, by allowing them to enjoy the fresh air, cuddling donkeys and mucking out cow sheds.
In the wake of public services for vulnerable people either shut down or just reduced to video calls as social distancing curbs are in place, care farms play a vital role as they are open and activities have been allowed as they take place in wide open spaces.
At Future Roots in Dorset, Liam Holt, 14, spends time outdoors in the company of animals and it has had a transformational effect on his state of mind.
“It’s made a huge impact for me,” he said.
“I had a lot of stress issues, high stress levels, quickfire snaps, anger, just a lot of anger and that, and lockdown did not help me … I had no control over it. The person that was helping me, I couldn’t see her face-to-face.”
When reporters visited the farm on a sunny day, children wearing muddy boots were seen cleaning a cow shed, feeding fowls, guinea pigs and rabbits and petting cows and donkeys. They were ever driving tractors.
The establishment has been functioning as a care farm since 2006 and children and youngsters are referred there by schools for animal-assisted therapy and getting trained in agriculture and cookery.
“I’d even be dead or in prison if it wasn’t for this place, because in no way I would have been able to cope in society if I hadn’t come here,” said Abi Edmed, 25, who used to visit the farm as a child and is now a trainee nurse. She still visits the farm as a volunteer to help out.
She said she had to undergo a lot of trauma as a child and that made her aggressive, adding that the care farm helped her tide over her worries.
“It was actually just being able to wander off, go chat to a cow, (I’m) very known for doing that,” she said, smiling. “The cow can’t tell my secrets.”
According to Julie Plumley, the daughter of a Dorset farmer and professional social worker who founded the farm, Future Roots has helped young people devastated by the social distancing norms.
“The young people here can’t take it. They couldn’t take Zoom therapy sessions because they need a relationship with people, and that’s really hard on a computer,” she said.
The care farm has been a haven from struggles at home and school for Emily Trice, 15. “The best bit is seeing how everybody is enjoying it and having fun with all the animals,” she said.
Pathways is yet another care farm in Suffolk and its founder Geoff Stevens was on a crusade against loneliness.
“Isolation is gripping people. They’re stuck away in their house,” he said. “You bring them out here and they start mixing with 5, 10, 12 people, they’ve got relationships going, they’ve got conversations going, they’re using their grey matter.”
Sally Payne, 31, was seen filling troughs with feed for llamas, grooming donkeys and clearing pens along with her mother, Susan. They smiled and laughed as they went about their farm chores.
“I have autism and anxiety and depression, so I like coming here because it gives me structure, which is good for the autism, and fresh air and exercise that is good for the mental health,” said Payne.
Susan said the care farm has been a fortress against loneliness for her.
“It has given me a sort of back-up team, you know. You can feel very alone when you’re dealing with a child with difficulties.”