Farming & Environment

24 New Stour & Avon, December 31, 2021 Farming & Environment A Day at the Farm... with Tiffany Fleming

Tiffany Fleming is a volunteer at High Mead Farm in Longham, Ferndown. High Mead Farm is a working farm run to promote the benefits of engaging with animals, soil, and nature. They ‘create purposeful roles for our cofarmers, young people and adults alike, to help bring about a sense of well-being and self-worth that many have never experienced before’.

Here we go again, looking towards the new year, full of hope. January can be a contrary month – she offers all the promise of a fresh start, yet the challenges and expectations can weigh heavy. The fuss and nonsense of the run-up to Christmas can be overwhelming, so it’s little wonder we can be susceptible to a bout of ‘January Blues’. In many ways, we add to the pressure, by publicly announcing new year changes to our lifestyle (eat less, drink less, move more). Whilst this might be good for our long-term health and well-being, it might be more beneficial if delayed by a week or three, just to give ourselves a chance to acclimatise. If I had my way, I’d skip January and head straight to the month of hearts and roses; February, as it happens, is my birthday month. Birthdays are a big topic at the Farm, as High Mead is about to turn 10! I was chatting to one of the Farm’s longest-serving volunteers to find out what life was like in the early days. It turns out that Richie also celebrates his birthday in February. He described the farm as being much like he was years ago; smaller and less difficult to manage! Richie started volunteering at the farm to help him with his own personal battles. Back then, he would happily ride his bike from Southbourne to Ham Lane and back, five days a week. It’s a bit more of a challenge now, but Richie still visits the Farm pretty much daily, driving his mobility scooter the eightmile round trip in all weathers, radio blaring. Richie claims he is happier at the farm than he has been anywhere else in the world, adding: “When your body starts to let you down a bit, it affects your mental health”. Richie has seen many people

CHOICES: Produce and gifts galore at High Mead Farm

Pictures: TIFFANY FLEMING

visit the farm over the years and has witnessed their health and wellbeing improve, and that gives him a really good feeling and a huge sense of pride. I might not have learned many facts about the farm during our chat, but I did get a sense of how significant it has been in Richie’s life. He is adamant that, without the farm, he wouldn’t be here today. I suspect the same may be stated in reverse, the farm certainly wouldn’t be the

A very miserable post

This local social media post – about a post – caught our eye and made us chuckle. The photo, taken by Tony Wright from Mudeford on a beach walk heading to Highcliffe Castle, ratther wittily says: ‘Apologies for the miserable post...’ Nice one, Tony! same without him. Roll on those birthday celebrations! Farm Fact: It was reported that, in the UK, 1.7million people were alone on Christmas Day 2020. Please don’t forget, a friendly phone call, or a note through the door of a neighbour offering help with shopping - a letter or card to someone further away can really help make someone’s day. n highmeadfarm.org.uk

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