As lockdown and Coronavirus hit the UK one of our last tasks we did was to plant trees along a fence border of Dedham Therapy farm. Circumstances dictated that we could not come back and admire our work until now but it was worth the wait. The trees are doing well, and in a similar way to when we see the flowers around Colchester from Colchester in Bloom, there is a sense of pride and satisfaction.

We were met by Katie who gave Ian and Vanessa the list of jobs and ensured all of the COVID-19 precautions were known and adhered to.

Our tasks included weeding a delightful plot and spreading manure ready for a new crop or bloom to flourish...one of the residents commented “cockadoodle-do-do” which nicely summed up the efforts made.

Additionally, there were plenty of nettles in the paddocks which needed to be removed and the Shetland Pony seemed pleased about that when he discovered the fresh grass hidden underneath the clearings!

I was stationed with Detti and we were amused by the 3 billy goats gruff. The smallest one had the largest horns and a deep bleet and the tallest goat had a high pitched bleet not befitting her stature!

Although the animals were more interested in there brunch than us, I am sure they appreciated having a few less weeds and nettles. And the clients of the farm will hopefully be able to spend some quality time with them as a result.

Never have we had such fun shovelling and wheelbarrowing poop!

Big thanks to Megan and Katie and the other volunteers who helped us with our questions!

What a beautiful morning we had. Dedham Therapy Farm welcomed us to the gorgeous Area of Natural Beauty - sometimes known as Constable Country - on the Essex/Suffolk border.

Megan from the farm welcomed the Goodgym herd and alongside a few other volunteers we set about the physically demanding and fairly precise task of planting saplings. There were two types of bush with various root lengths and we alternated them so that they will grow together into a bushy hedge! We also wrapped them in plastic cylinders to protect them from farm and wild animals like deer and Mable, a charismatic and cheeky goat, showed exactly why with a naughty nibble! The ground was hard and a lot of power was needed.

The flock managed to plant 85 bushes, that spanned one of the paddocks, fueled by tea and biscuits that Jade and Vanessa heroically provided. Not to mention Ian's home made muffins!

It was such a pleasure to be out in the fresh air and to help a special charity. Dedham Therapy Farm is home of the Nurture dogs but they also have pigs, goats, chickens, geese, sheep, ponies and more - we loved meeting Mable the cheeky goat, Pepper the pig with her impressive tusks and Fred and Barney the donkeys. They bring the human-animal bond to as many people as possible in a person-centred way using Occupational Therapists to tailor what the farm can do in the most inclusive way.

Thank you Dedham Therapy Farm!

Despite a little horsing around, we did not make a pigs ear of the job and we have just goat to come back soon.