Nothing’s Changed … But Everything Has

Here at Crag House Farm, the home of Caring For Life, so much has changed, just as it has across the UK, and the world, due to the pandemic. But in a way, nothing has changed, because Spring has arrived, lots of wild and garden flowers are coming into bloom and there are lambs in the fields. 

The horses and ponies are still being cared for and exercised, the hens are laying and eggs are being graded.  The Farm Shop is open and busy with customers calling to collect food. The phones are ringing and some things need to carry on “as normal”. 

But everything has changed, because the Farm is such a quiet place without all the many ladies and gentlemen who would normally attend therapeutic projects here, right through each weekday.

There is no noisy chatter, or sudden outburst of laughter and there are very few cars around. The other social enterprises are closed and there is hardly any aircraft noise either. So the sounds of Spring can be very clearly heard, as skylarks sing over the farm and curlews call. We would far rather have a noisy farm, and we very much look forward to the day when people will be able to return to their activity projects. In the meantime, a small team continue to care for the livestock and the farm, and key workers are kept extremely busy ringing each person, staying in touch, dealing with issues and sorting the delivery of essential food, medication and so forth for those who cannot leave home at all and have no other help in place.

We pray for each of those supported by Caring For Life, that they will be assured we are still here for them, but that they will put their faith in God and His unchanging love.

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#CFL #CaringForLife #Coronavirus #FoodParcels #AroundTheFarm #CragHouseFarm

It Must Be Nearly Spring

Although the official start of Spring is still a week or so away, here at Caring For Life, we are gearing up! We all look forward to the weather being a little warmer, but it’s also the signs of Spring that can perk us all up a bit!

One of the gentlemen on the agriculture project recently saw two juvenile mute swans on the lower pond here at Crag House Farm and took a photo. Not a sign of Spring, but the first time we have seen swans on our ponds, so it was well spotted.

For some time, people in ArtShop, our therapeutic art project, have been busy creating a “Springwatch” display. Every year, people attending the daytime therapeutic projects at Caring For Life race to be the first to spot various signs of Spring. ArtShop produces some beautiful creations to advertise the competition and to help everyone know what to look out for. The display went up this week, so the competition is officially open! The wild daffodils are already putting on a lovely display of their own, and the first frogspawn has been sighted here on the Farm, with its location kept top secret, so that someone can be the first to spot this early sign of Spring.

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#CFL #CragHouseFarm #AroundTheFarm #SpringWatch #SignsOfSpring #ArtProject

Settling in Well

A new recruit to the Equestrian Project, Pabi, is settling in well. She is a four-legged recruit, a little pony, chosen for her size and temperament.  Easy to handle and groom, she is a very friendly pony and has quickly become a favourite for some of those attending the project. 

One lady said, “I really enjoy working with Pabi, because she’s my size, and she listens to me.”

One young man commented, “Pabi is fluffy and she’s kind.”

Pabi is clearly winning hearts already, as the other horses and ponies have done. The Equestrian Project is a wonderful opportunity for people, some of whom may be very socially isolated, to make friends, whether they be two-legged or four-legged friends!

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#CragHouseFarm #CaringForLife #CFL #PabiThePony #EquestrianProject #TherapeuticDaytimeActivities #AnimalTherapy