Rylands farm is a 30 acre high welfare farm with a variety of animals from cows, sheep and pigs to chickens, ducks and goats. We use this for outdoor social farming and animal-assisted therapy.
We have two broad groups of young people (aged 8-18 years) who come to us: Future Farmers are young people who may be struggling to find their way in mainstream education and may have been told they have behavioural, social or emotional challenges. During their time here we explore how they can move forward and make positive choices.
Field to Fork groups or 1:1 sessions are for young people who may have more complex needs including learning disabilities.
We also run Country Club sessions from this site. We value the experience and input of these older people, many of whom have a lifetime of experience working in the countryside, especially when making our farming decisions.
At the farm, some animals are here for as long as they live and are for relationship building, others produce really high quality meat. Everyone knows what the animals’ purpose will be, there is an understanding from the first visit and strong bonds can be formed with some of the animals.
