Social Farming Cultivates Community and Personal Development

A farm situated near Saintfield, County Down, provides a weekly agricultural experience for 10 young adults who have additional needs. This setting offers a distinct contrast to their urban home environments in east Belfast and north Down. Jonny Walker, representing the Four G Day Opportunities group based in Dundonald, described the experience at Primrose Cottage Farm as transformative. He stated, “We’ve come out here every Monday for the last year and a half,” adding, “The first time we came, we had our eyes opened. The young adults loved it, and I loved it too.” Their tasks include interacting with donkeys, managing paddocks, replenishing bird feeders outdoors, erecting and dismantling fences for the donkeys, and grooming them. Additionally, they engage in chopping and storing logs. Primrose Cottage Farm is among 18 establishments throughout Northern Ireland that participate in social farming initiatives. Elaine Conlon from Rural Support noted that farmers benefit equally from these programs as the participants do. She explained, “We work with ordinary family farms and are funded through Daera,” further stating, “It’s opening up your farm to people who maybe have a support need to get involved with farming and agriculture. Typically it would be one or two days a week for the farmer.” Anne Brown is the farmer operating Primrose Cottage. She commented, “Before, with farming, it’d just have been myself doing the day-to-day tasks,” adding, “But by opening the doors, we have the community. It has been a lonely job, but since social farming has come in here, I very much have a social life with it. I look forward to the days they come out because they bring so much energy and personality.” The group experiences considerable enjoyment in addition to their diligent work. A frequent highlight involves the goats, especially a mischievous one named Billy, who disrupted the team’s endeavor to create an edible Christmas tree for the donkeys by consuming it himself. Paul and Paige, members of the group, recounted the event. Paul stated, “We’d just done making decorations for the Christmas tree—carrots, apples and polo mints, and hay for the donkeys,” with Paige concluding, “And then the goat ate it.” For Paige, the donkeys distinguish the farm. She remarked, “They’re really good, and they’re kind. They’re my favourite.” Keeley concurred. Having completed the bird feeders, she expressed eagerness to return to grooming the donkeys. She commented, “I’ve just put up the birdfeeders; I enjoy it, but I don’t necessarily have a favourite [bird] as I’m more of a donkey person.” Jordan also agreed, stating that visiting the farm is the week’s highlight, and his preferred activity is cleaning the paddocks. He mentioned, “I like cleaning up. I’ve been coming here since 2023.” Jonny Walker observed that this engagement has benefited his team, many of whom live with autism or Down’s syndrome. He remarked, “It’s brilliant; they’re bonding, working together, and in the field in the fresh air,” adding, “I’ve seen them grow. And some of them are growing independently. You can say to them you do that paddock, and we can leave them. They know what to do and where to go. A few of them would definitely make farmers now.”