Motivating young minds for over 20 years

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TST-Transferable Skills Training
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TST-Transferable Skills Training
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Meet The Animals

At Merryhue Farm the animals play a crucial part in helping people to overcome the difficulties they are experiencing in life, whether that’s learning difficulties and disabilities, mental health issues, anger, trauma, bereavement, special educational needs, or any other challenges. 

Animals provide a non-judgemental listening ear and often appear to sense what someone needs from them – a donkey stands perfectly still while a physically disabled person clings to their neck; a little dog snuggles into the lap of a young person who is feeling sad; an alpaca hums gently next to an anxious veteran. 

The effect of stroking soft fur or hugging a warm body, particularly where physical contact has been a negative experience for someone in the past, can be as life changing as the most specialist of talking therapies. We have seen this profound connection between people and animals make a difference again and again over the years, changing lives and bringing hope and joy.

To learn more about our Land based and Animal care courses click here.

Poitou Donkeys

Pointou Donkeys are and endangered species from France, one of the largest breeds of donkey with an adult standing over 15hh. They have a distinctive coat of dreadlocks and can look rather unkempt! These donkeys are gentle giants, loved by all the students and staff. They enjoy being cuddled and groomed or just having their noses stroked over the gate and when it's feeding time, they let us know with their loud and distinctive braying.

Miniature Donkeys

The Miniature Donkeys (Tinkerbell and George) are very playful and can often be seen chasing each other around the paddock or taking shelter from the rain by standing underneath their giant donkey friends. They enjoy being led around the field by students and are happy to be groomed or petted, particularly if there's a food reward involved!

Wallabies

Living alongside the reindeer we have 3 wallabies. They have spent their first winter at Merryhue in a warm cosy stable while a new paddock with a high fence is being prepared for them for the summer. The wallabies are shy and quiet and have a wonderful calming influence omn anyone willing to spend half an hour sitting peacefully in their stable.

Valais Blacknose sheep

Our Valais blacknose sheep are a rare breed from Switzerland. They are the cuddly toy of the sheep world with a thick white fleece, black nose, knees and feet, and a super friendly personality. We have successfully bred several lambs with the aim of both expanding our own flock and increasing the gene pool for the breed. They will always come to the sound of food rattling in a bucket and love to be fussed and groomed.

Angora & Pygmy goats

The Angora coast have been at Merryhue for several years. When they arrived they were in a very poor condition after being rescued from neglect, but happily they are now in top condition and even have kids! Alongside the pygmy goats they like nothing better than climbing around on the wood piles in their paddock, or being fussed over by students and staff.

Alpacas

Our Alpaca herd is well established and a firm favourite with everyone at Merryhue. In 2018 we were fortunate enough to have two babies born (a baby Alpaca is called a Cria) who are now the teenagers of the herd! Alpacas sometimes make a low humming noise, which has a calming effect on the herd and this helps to reduce stress and anxiety in people. Friendly and inquisitive animals they are happy to be halter led, groomed and petted.

Ponies

The ponies have been living at Merryhue for years and have helped countless individuals to overcome difficulties in their lives. They are always happy to be groomed, cuddled, and stroked, and it's often while this basic animal care is taking place that the students will talk to the ponies about their issues, allowing their thoughts to be voiced without fear of judgement or reprisal.

Poultry

The Poultry are an integral part of the family at Merryhue with chickens, ducks, geese and peacocks all wandering free range around the site. The therapeutic effect of being with poultry is particularly noticeable with are less physically able groups, such as the dementia group, where simply sitting outside with chickens clucking and foraging has a calming effect and evokes childhood memories,

Pigs

We've always had pigs at Merryhue, unfortunately our two lovely pot bellied pigs, Cilla and Pumba recently passed away. We certainly plan on having pigs on the farm again very soon.

Small Animals

Our small furry animals - Rabbits and Guinea pigs, bring out the inner child in all of us, requiring gentle handling and stroking their soft of their soft fur. They are handled every day which ensures they are very tame and are able to sit happily in the lap of anyone who wants to spend times with them.

Cats & Dogs

We have a wonderful gang of little cats and dogs living at Merryhue, many of them rescue dogs, each with their own personality. Some prefer to sleep in a sunny spot, while others can be seen pottering about the site. Milo is the youngest and liveliest of the pack spends all day out and about with the students, pestering them to throw a stick for him and always ready for a cuddle with anyone who's feeling down.