TRAVEL
The Room for All Seasons I was excited about visiting The Room for All Seasons on the Lane End Farm Trust in Derbyshire, as I had been talking to the manager Cath and her enthusiasm for the trust was infectious. I really wanted to get there and help her promote her amazing farm. My welcoming committee was brilliant. The farm has trained friendly sheep dogs and they came bounding happily to greet me. As I walked onto the farm on a very cold and frosty day the yard had a group of younger people from the local college, who were getting ready for their day’s adventure horse trekking in Derbyshire. The students all had a learning disability and I asked them about the farm and trust. I was told story after story about their farm adventures, the naughty goats, the sheepdogs they had trained and the horses they loved. I was moved to talk to these people and see what an impact coming to the farm had on them, One young man was telling me all about his time spent training the dogs and how he had been on a sheepdog course. He was so proud of himself and rightly so. I met the owner, who is an amazing woman, she shared her story with me and explained that she had a spinal injury and talked about the impact it had on her life. Due to her injury and her long and hard recovery she has set up Lane End Trust to support people mainly with spinal injuries to help build their confidence and enthusiasm. On the farm there is one accessible bedroom called The Room for All Seasons, which was designed for younger people with spinal injuries to help with their
PosAbility
Access Award
recovery and funded by Children In Need. The cottage can sleep three people plus one infant. The Room for All Seasons has one bedroom with a large single profiling bed, moving head and feet only, and a ceiling tracking hoist through to the large en-suite wet-room. The large wet-room is designed to a very high standard and has a wheel-in shower with pull down shower chair and a large wheeled shower chair with arms. The bathroom also has a raised toilet, a wheelchair accessible small sink and a large array of handrails. In the living room, in a purpose-designed cupboard, is a double pull down bed, which is easy to use and put away. The kitchen is fully fitted with everything you would need. Whilst on the farm you are welcome to join in with farm activities and the owner has very kindly given Can Do Holidays an amazing offer; anyone who stays at The Room for All Seasons can have a free half day activity and accommodation for the week for only ÂŁ400. You can take part in horse riding, horse care, looking after the goats, sheep, cows and dogs which have all been bred and hand reared on the farm. This ensures all the animals are very safe and used to being around all people. Lane End Farm Trust have big plans for an indoor riding school if they can get the funding, so fingers crossed for them. This is an ideal place for people who enjoy being outside. Please contact me for more information on the property and to check availability on 0800 298 3052. www.laneendfarmtrust.co.uk
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