by Rebecca Hannant
A Goxhill charity that supports people’s mental health through animal and nature therapy has held a presentation in memory of a popular farmer.
On Monday, March 4, at the latest meeting of the Patrington Agricultural Discussion Society held at Hollym Village Hall, Goxhill Meadows Hearts and Minds, which is at Goxhill, near Hornsea, presented a cheque to Macmillan Cancer Support in honour of the society’s former chairman, Peter Clappison.
Jayne Haigh, director of Goxhill Meadows Hearts and Minds, said: “Peter used to have a farm in Holderness which was his father’s farm. He moved his farm in Goxhill, opposite us, approximately seven years ago.
“Peter was a farmer, a fantastic human being and a wonderful friend and neighbour to us. He had many close friends and was one of the kindest, honest, down to earth, and generous people I have ever known.”
Peter was diagnosed with a brain tumour and died on July 23, 2020. He was supported by the Macmillan team and left a sizeable financial legacy to them in his will.
Jayne added: “Even when Peter was very ill in hospital, he would ask us to go and ‘break him out’ and bring him back home so that he could walk around his land even for just half an hour.
“The evening before Peter died, he asked us to take an iPad out and show him his fields of barley swaying in the evening sun so that he could imagine he was there.
“Peter called his and our wonderful environment ‘My Paradise’, and it is this paradise which I now share with young people who are struggling with their mental health.”
In Peter’s memory, Jayne set up Goxhill Meadows Hearts and Minds. The aim of the charity is to help people with additional and mental health needs to enjoy the rural space.
Over the past three years, the charity has primarily worked with young people who have SEMH needs and mental health issues. They also work with children who have suffered trauma from adverse childhood experiences.
During the presentation, titled Animals Helping Humans, Jayne spoke about the work the charity does to support mental health and general wellbeing.
She said: “We pride ourselves in the work we do in our unique environment, the way that young people engage with our animals and us and in the outcomes and progress young people achieve.
“Many young people have been with us for over an academic year, and several have now been with us for over two years; the holistic therapeutic sessions here are now an integral part of their week and a fundamental piece of their wider education and experience.”
The charity presented a cheque for £200 to be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support. The Patrington Agricultural Discussion Society also made its own donation to the charity.
Goxhill Meadows Hearts and Minds has also secured £2,500 of additional funding through Claire Walker, Macmillan associate practitioner at Castle Hill Hospital, which will go towards providing cancer patients and beyond with emotional and support through animal-assisted and equine therapy.
For more information about the charity, visit goxhillheartsandminds.co.uk.
