Care home residents enjoy visit from local farm animals

Residents at two care homes in Lymington recently received a visit from some farm animals in the comfort of their own gardens.

Colten Care arranged for residents to receive a visit from a selection of lambs, pigs and goats at Belmore Lodge and Linden House.

During the visit, residents had the opportunity to stroke and play with the animals. Resident at Belmore Lodge, Joan Connolly who grew up on a farm in Devon, had the chance to hold a five-week old lamb called Larry. She said: “I always used to do the lambing. It was a lovely time. I’m never happier than when I am with animals like this. There is something so peaceful about them.”

The animals were brought to the home by Alton-based company, ‘Mill Cottage Farm Experience’. Alongside the lambs, pigs and goats, the company brought turkeys, chickens, ducklings, guinea pigs, rabbits and a donkey to the home.

The Mill Cottage Farm Experience specialises in recreational and educational visits to schools and care homes enabling people to enjoy the farm experience without visiting a farm.

Resident Mary Malcolm grew up in Beaulieu and spent some time managing a herd of Guernsey cattle and riding New Forest ponies during her youth. Now she resides at Belmore Lodge and, during the recent animal visit, had the chance to stroke Sebastian the donkey. She said: “This brings back some happy memories although life on the farm can be very hard work too.”

Residents were treated to a performance by Romse- based folk bank, Innominata and the Sally Stompers Line Dancers, a group from Southampton. In addition plants that were grown by the residents’ gardening club were sold to visitors during the day, with proceeds going to the home’s charity of the year, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Colten Care activities organiser Jackie Fergusson said: “The residents loved interacting with the animals and it really was a case of meeting all creatures great and small. There were smiles all round.”

Other homes in the Colten Care group have recently enjoyed visits from the ‘Mill Cottage Farm Experience’, including homes in Salisbury, Winchester and Brockenhurst.