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 co-farmers, young people and adults alike, to help bring about a sense of well-being and self-worth that many have never experienced before’.

I watched a programme on the BBC recently, about a 23-yearold Hampshire girl, Natasha Lambert, who discovered a love of sailing which led her and her family to navigate 3,000 miles across the Atlantic.

That alone is to be admired, but when you consider that she has cerebral palsy and in the words of her sister, Rachel, ‘can’t cross a road on her own’, you get a real sense of just how capable and determined Natasha is.

High Mead founder Mark has also recently completed a sailing challenge, crewing a catamaran from Kalamata, in Greece, to Poole - coincidently, also a 3,000-mile journey. Mark found the month-long trip extremely life-affirming, but exceptionally hard at times.

When pressed about the constant setbacks she and her family faced during their crossing, Natasha stated they were nothing compared to the challenges she faces every day. It certainly puts into context the daily struggles most of us tend to experience, but much more importantly, demonstrates that

‘disability’ does not equate to lack of ability.

During a recent Visitor Tour of the Farm, I had the pleasure of tagging along to hear Mark waxing lyrical about High Mead’s function and all it achieves; his quiet, selfassured, understated narrative emphasising that the Farm is not an educational facility. Its purpose is not to teach, but simply to allow the Co-Farmers to discover their particular skills and enjoy doing so whilst forming important friendships. The Farm promotes the benefits of teamwork, establishing relationships, and experiencing the satisfaction of personal achievement.

These talents can’t be taught but can be demonstrated by exceptional role models who help our Co-Farmers to be the best they can be and to have faith in their own abilities.

Our Rachel, whose knowledge and enthusiasm are endless, helps her horticultural team to grow exceptional produce for the Farm Shop; Roger and Dickie from the wood bay encourage their team to work diligently and sing loudly! Lucie, who heads the Animal Team, ensures High Mead’s animals are loved and cared for. A day at the Farm may not seem as daring as an Atlantic crossing, but for some, simply getting up and getting themselves there is testing enough.

I constantly challenge myself to put my finger on what it is that makes High Mead feel so special; the people, the place..? But what I am beginning to realise is that it’s because so many, many good things happen at the Farm, every day.

So many wins, so many achievements, so many personal bests. It is impossible not to get caught up in the happy vibe that being good at something creates.

The happiness of being able to share that experience with friends, just as Natasha was able to share her achievements with her family, is the icing on the cake.

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