This is an area we feel really benefits the young people because it teaches them about care, compassion and responsibility. We also see them develop in confidence and empathy, both with the animals and with other young people, staff and volunteers.

The young people are involved with all aspects of our animal's daily care, including grooming, feeding, watering, bathing and mucking out.

At present we have a Shetland pony, a horse, two donkeys, goats, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, sheep, Dotty the pig and our baby Tamworth gilt Frazzle.

Our free range chickens, ducks and geese provide us with eggs and our Poultry breeding allows the young people to see all the stages of life from egg to fully grown bird. We have various breeds, these are for sale all year round. Our cream legbar hens lay our blue eggs and we breed pekin poultry, jersey giants, buff orpingtons and silkies.

Our flock of free-range hens, along with our ducks and geese, provide us with free-range eggs which we sell to local businesses. We are able to produce enough to sell and generate an income for the Trust.

Not all our animals are large. We also have our small animal area which currently houses our guinea pigs and rabbits. Many of the young people enjoy the peace and quiet of sitting on a hay bale, stroking one of these friendly little beasts and having some 'time out'.

For further information on animal care activities, please contact info@laneendfarmtrust.co.uk