{"id":56814,"date":"2025-05-14T05:43:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T05:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/helping-on-the-farm-in-surrey-is-reaping-mental-health-rewards\/"},"modified":"2025-05-14T05:43:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T05:43:00","slug":"helping-on-the-farm-in-surrey-is-reaping-mental-health-rewards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=56814","title":{"rendered":"Helping on the farm in Surrey is reaping mental health rewards"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Julia Gregory<\/span><\/p>\n

Reporter BBC Surrey<\/span><\/p>\n

Reporting from<\/svg>Surrey Hills<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"JuliaJulia Gregory\/BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Young people have a chance to meet farm animals<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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On a farm nestled in the Surrey Hills, young people are helping herd cows and build pens so they can be wormed.<\/p>\n

They are spending time on Pondtail Farm in Brockham, near Box Hill, to help boost their mental health as part of the Care Farm project.<\/p>\n

Katie Daw, the Surrey Hills Society Care Farm co-ordinator, said the scheme was boosting young people’s confidence and wellbeing, and reducing anxiety.<\/p>\n

Ronnie, aged 17, said helping out on the farm was “like heaven on earth to me”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“People are sleeping better, eating better, wanting to actually get up and get out of the house, which a lot of them really can’t because their mental health is so bad,” said Ms Daw.<\/p>\n

“We take anybody that’s suffering from mental health or needs a boost with their health and wellbeing and we take them out to working farms.”<\/p>\n

She said that sessions involve farm jobs such as “collecting eggs or tagging cattle”, depending on “what they need for their mental health”.<\/p>\n

“It’s been really impactful, there has been a couple of participants that have looked into doing agriculture as a career,” she added.<\/p>\n

She said it also had a knock-on effect for families and carers and could make a “massive difference”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"JuliaJulia Gregory\/ BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Getting outdoors can boost wellbeing said Ronnie, who has helped out on the farm<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Ronnie, 17, has found solace on the farm and learnt new skills.<\/p>\n

She said: “Just being around nature makes me quite a lot happier and just being here is like heaven on earth to me.<\/p>\n

“It means quite a lot to me just being around the animals.”<\/p>\n

Peter, who is 16, said he enjoyed “just getting away from everything” and found the farm peaceful.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"JuliaJulia Gregory\/BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Peter helped herd the cows and recommended the Farm Care project<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Nellie Budd, from Pondtail Farm, said: “There’s always something different to do and for them to come and have a look at.<\/p>\n

“I’ve definitely seen quite a few of them change and feel more confident with and around the animals.”<\/p>\n

One young person would not go near the animals on their first day but “they won’t even hesitate” now, she said.<\/p>\n

“It’s given them the confidence they need to realise that they can achieve things.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"JuliaJulia Gregory\/ BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The project opened Thea’s eyes to a range of outdoors careers<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Thea, 14, has now gained a place at agricultural college to study horticulture.<\/p>\n

She said Care Farm had given her “a lot more confidence with people and animals”.<\/p>\n

Bethany, who is 17, added: “I really enjoy spending time with the cows and all the different animals around.<\/p>\n

“It’s just a good way to get out to the house and spend time in the countryside.” <\/p>\n

The pilot scheme is backed by a \u00a365,900 award from the Mental Health Investment Fund and the Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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