From left, Holly Davis, aged nine, the owner of Brambles Julie Edwards, and Cameron Catto, also nine.

Animal-assisted therapy at Brambles Farm

BRAMBLES is a small farm in an idyllic country setting on Castlemorton Common but it is a farm with a difference. At Brambles the animals have names and they are not destined to end up on anyone’s dinner plate.

Brambles is a care farm, an unusual concept where the animals are kept to provide animal assisted therapy and education for people with various difficulties. At Brambles there’s a pig called Dave, a lop-eared rabbit called Peter, and Milly, Molly, Mandy and Maisy the pygmy goats. There is even a turkey called Mr T.

The animals are friendly and seem to enjoy human contact as much as any domestic pet cat or dog but that doesn’t mean Brambles isn’t a real farm. It is a genuine working small holding, specialising in rare breed pigs, goats and poultry, combined with horticultural activities.

The care farm is run by Julie and Alan Edwards, whose backgrounds are in business not farming. Julie had always valued the peaceful, rural location of her home on the common and felt that it was a place where people with special needs could benefit with being in the countryside and spend time enjoying being around farm animals.

The idea for a care farm became reality when the farm next to their home was put up for sale and the couple bought it. Despite neither of them having any farming experience they began to buy animals and learn to care for them. Gradually the former battery hen sheds were transformed and the farm became home to a range of rare breed animals and poultry. Brambles is now a fully fledged care farm offering schools, charities, individuals and family groups the opportunity to experience hands-on what it is like to feed and care for animals, from egg collecting and cleaning pens to simply watching, stroking and as Julie puts it “just being” with the animals.”

“People get so much out of just sitting with the animals, holding baby piglets and chicks and grooming and cuddling the rabbits,” said Julie. The farm welcomes vulnerable people such as those with autism, acquired brain injury and even dementia, disaffected and excluded young people and those with mental health issues and depression.

“Being with the animals is theraputic for all kinds of people and people learn a great deal from helping to care for them,” added Julie. Animal Assisted Therapy or AAT is a recognised way to facilitate healing and rehabilitiaion and the gentle farm animals make a difference to the Brambles visitors who meet them. Blood pressure, tension and anxiety can be reduced while at the same time visitors gain self confidence and learn empathy.

Worcestershire County Council’s Aiming High for Disabled Children programme now subsidise a number of activity places for children and young people at Brambles at weekends and school holidays.

The farm’s work continues to grow and expand. There is a polytunnel where their visitors can grow fruit, flowers and vegetables and plans for a sensory garden. Practical farming skills are learned too and Brambles hopes to get the training it offers accredited.

Julie is keen to share what she has learned about animal husbandry and running a small holding and Brambles now acts as a country college with one-day courses introducing people to the skills of being a smallholder and a range of educational and countryside skills training. “There are a lot of people who, like me, like the idea of keeping a few animals but don’t really know where to start,” said Julie, admitting one of their early mistakes was buying the wrong kind of ducks. “We brought them home and they just flew away and we never saw them again”.

As part of its educational activities Brambles hires incubators to schools so that children can watch chicks hatch and look after them for a week. Schools can also visit the farm to develop pupils’ knowledge of the needs of animals and our responsibilities towards living creatures. Its Brambles Buddies programme offers regular work-based activities to all ages and abilities. At their own pace Buddies can learn to feed and groom animals, practise basic horticultural skills, learn about animal medical care and training and learn teamwork skills and record keeping.

The farm raises and sells pedigree animals including Kune Kune pigs, Angora and Pygmy goats and a wide range of speciality breed chickens including Welsummers, Silkies, Buff Orpingtons and Lavender Pekins. The animals are sold to enthusiasts, petting farms and as pets with Brambles offering customers advice and hands-on training on proper animal care.

Due to the increasing number of people with special needs attending during the week and at weekends Brambles is looking to build their team of volunteers to help supervise activities and support the working of the farm.

If you have experience of looking after people with special needs, special country skills such as spinning, artwork or woodwork or if you simply like the idea of being involved and helping out Brambles would love to hear from you.

Contact Julie Edwards on 01684 833336, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit livingfarm.co.uk.