WHILE therapy for some might be talking to a counsellor, for people who visit a farm near Colchester it comes in the form of going back to nature.

Gazette reporter Katherine Palmer joined a team session to understand why it has become such a success.

WHILST watching a team building session at Butterfly Lodge Care Farm, I couldn’t help but notice one of the participants was acting mischievously.

He stood back from everyone else with his head down, observing the others shyly - and then he attempted to eat my notepad.

Merlin the pony was in fact a vital member of the team which took part in their first ever Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning exercise.

The farm in Abberton, which is now a company named Wellies-On, provides therapeutic learning for people of all ages with different needs.

These can range from social exclusion, to Autism, to mental ill-health, but the animals and trained teachers on the farm are always there to lend support.

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The group of six members created an obstacle course for Merlin, working together and listening to each other, under the supervision of mental health professional Peter Pyke and managing director and equine specialist, Ellie Goff.

The whole team was quick to figure out what Merlin was capable of doing, and even created a head collar out of strings of wool for him.

The farm has developed dramatically since it opened in 2005.

“I used to deliver sessions on my own, but now we have a team of nine staff and volunteers and we are open up to five days a week,” Ellie said, keeping an eye on her cheeky pony.

“But meaningful and purposeful activity has always been the key ethos here.”

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Overall the farm sees about 50 service users per week, which is home to Merlin and his two pony friends Toto and Zebedee, chickens, sheep, pigs, goats and dogs.

Celebrating 10 years in the business, Ellie told me a few of the highlights, including a visit to royalty.

“Prince Charles is a key supporter of care farming and as a way of thanking us he invited us for afternoon tea at Highgrove Gardens.

“It was really rewarding to be acknowledged and have our work validated.”

Ellie has also filmed on the farm with foodies Jimmy Doherty and Jamie Oliver, although she said the constant highlight is seeing the service users change their own lives.

“I get a sense of pride but it’s not for my own achievements, it is about watching the service users grow and evolve along their own journeys.

“They get more confident as they see real life here, they learn to nurture whilst being supported as well as offer support to others, it’s their chance to escape.”

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Some of the activities available include milking, harvesting, and experiencing the running of the new cafe which uses milk and produce from the site.

Clare Marshall, facilitator on the farm, has seen the benefits of learning.

“They can see themselves changing and it’s a personal exploration of who they are.

“They come here thinking they are mixing with people who are above them, but they go away thinking they are all equal. They gain empathy for each other.”

The company is a member of and meets the code of practice for Care Farming UK (see carefarminguk.org) and the team includes qualified teachers, mental health practioners, alternative therapists and occupational therapists.

Becky Thurbon, 15, is extremely grateful for their support.

“I like coming here because it is a really relaxing environment, I was very shy and wouldn’t really speak much but now I am more outgoing,” she said.

The service users can also gain accreditation such as the City and Guilds vocational qualifications and the learning they undertake is appreciated by the two Lucys in the group.

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Lucy Palmer, 15, said: “I like being with the chickens as they are easy to look after, I get a lot of support during all the jobs.”

Lucy Barcus, 14, added how it helped her understand production, saying: “I enjoy spending time milking as you get to watch where the milk comes from and how it ends up in the cafe.”

As they celebrate their 10th anniversary and the transition from Butterfly Lodge Education to the Wellies-On Community Interest Company, ten fun activities have been organised.

These include a quiz and curry night at The Crafty Goat farm cafe, Carols on the Farm, Wellie Wanging, a sky dive and a bungee jump, with a Black Tie and Wellies Night as the finale in July 2016.

For further information and details of the work of Wellies-On, email admin@wellieson.com or visit www.wellieson.com