In the beautiful Surrey Hills, there’s a special project happening at Pondtail Farm that helps young people improve their mental health. This project, called the Care Farm initiative, lets participants take part in different farm activities like herding cows and building animal pens. Katie Daw, who coordinates the program for the Surrey Hills Society, explains that the goal is to boost the confidence and well-being of young people while helping to reduce their anxiety.

Many young people involved in the program have noticed big improvements in their mental health. For example, a 17-year-old named Ronnie said that working on the farm feels "like heaven on earth." Katie Daw mentioned that participants are sleeping better, eating more, and feeling more motivated to go outside, which can be tough for those dealing with mental health issues. The Care Farm project is open to anyone who is struggling, giving them a chance to do meaningful work on a farm.

The hands-on experience at the Care Farm has changed lives for many participants. Ronnie shared that being around nature and animals has really lifted her spirits. Similarly, 16-year-old Peter feels calm on the farm and says it helps him escape from daily stress. Nellie Budd, who works at Pondtail Farm, has seen noticeable changes in the young people, especially in how confident they are around animals. Some who were scared to approach animals at first have become comfortable and engaged.

The Care Farm project not only helps the young participants but also their families. The skills and experiences gained at the farm can inspire them to think about careers in agriculture. For instance, 14-year-old Thea got into an agricultural college to study horticulture, thanks to the confidence she gained from the Care Farm initiative. Another participant, 17-year-old Bethany, loves spending time with the farm animals, showing how the program encourages outdoor activities and a connection with nature. This project has received important support, including funding of £65,900, and it shows how engaging with nature can greatly benefit young people's mental health while building a sense of community.

Original news source: Helping on the farm reaps mental health benefits (BBC)

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will act out different farm activities mentioned in the article (e.g., herding cows, building animal pens) without speaking, while the rest of the class guesses what they are. This will help them practice vocabulary related to the article while having fun.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will be divided into small groups and will discuss the importance of mental health initiatives like the Care Farm project. Each group will present their thoughts to the class, highlighting the benefits of such programs for young people. This activity encourages speaking and sharing personal opinions.
– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Students will draw a scene depicting one of the activities from the Care Farm initiative, such as working with animals or gardening. Once finished, they will share their drawings with the class and explain why they chose that particular scene, reinforcing vocabulary and comprehension of the article.
– PASSTHE STORY
Instructions: In a circle, one student will start by summarizing a part of the article in one sentence. The next student will add another sentence to build on the story. This continues until everyone has contributed. This activity enhances summarizing skills and collaborative storytelling.
– MIND MAP
Instructions: Students will create a mind map on a large piece of paper, with "Care Farm Initiative" at the center. They will brainstorm and write down all the benefits and activities related to the project that they can remember from the article. This visual activity aids in comprehension and vocabulary retention.

In the beautiful Surrey Hills, there’s a special project happening at Pondtail Farm that helps young people improve their mental ?. This project, called the Care Farm initiative, lets ? take part in different farm activities like herding cows and building animal pens. Katie Daw, who coordinates the program for the Surrey Hills ?, explains that the goal is to boost the confidence and well-being of young people while helping to reduce their anxiety. Many young people involved in the program have ? big improvements in their mental health. For example, a 17-year-old named Ronnie said that working on the farm feels "like heaven on earth." Katie Daw mentioned that participants are sleeping better, ? more, and ? more ? to go outside, which can be tough for those dealing with mental health issues. The Care Farm project is open to anyone who is struggling, giving them a chance to do meaningful work on a farm. The hands-on ? at the Care Farm has changed lives for many participants. Ronnie shared that being around nature and animals has really lifted her spirits. Similarly, 16-year-old ? feels calm on the farm and says it helps him escape from daily stress. Nellie Budd, who works at Pondtail Farm, has seen noticeable changes in the young people, especially in how confident they are around animals. Some who were scared to approach animals at first have become comfortable and ?. The Care Farm ? not only helps the young participants but also their families. The skills and experiences ? at the farm can inspire them to think about careers in agriculture. For instance, 14-year-old Thea got into an agricultural college to study ?, thanks to the confidence she gained from the Care Farm initiative. Another participant, 17-year-old Bethany, ? spending time with the farm animals, showing how the program encourages outdoor activities and a connection with ?. This project has received important ?, including funding of £65,900, and it shows how engaging with nature can greatly benefit young people's mental health while building a sense of community.

1. What is your opinion about programs that connect young people with nature? Do you think they are helpful?
2. How would you feel if you had the chance to work on a farm for a week?
3. Do you like spending time outdoors? Why or why not?
4. What is a meaningful experience you’ve had that helped improve your mood or mental health?
5. Do you think animals can help people feel better when they're sad or anxious? Why?
6. How would you feel if you had to take care of animals every day?
7. What is a hobby you have that helps you relax or escape from stress?
8. Do you believe that working with your hands, like farming or gardening, can be good for mental health? Why or why not?
9. Have you ever tried any activities that made you feel more confident? What were they?
10. What is a way you think young people can support each other when dealing with mental health issues?
11. How would you feel if you had to face your fears, like being scared of animals, in order to improve your confidence?
12. Do you think schools should offer more programs that involve outdoor activities? Why or why not?
13. What is a job or career you would like to explore, and how do you think your experiences might help you get there?
14. How would you feel about participating in a community project that helps others?
15. Do you think it’s important for young people to connect with nature? Why or why not?

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