The Maypole Farm Environment
The Maypole Farm setting, with its animals, outdoor space, practical activity and natural rhythms, is central to how we support children and young people.
The setting
The farm is not a backdrop. The farm is the point!
Maypole Farm offers enriching opportunities that are impossible to replicate indoors: space; natural rhythms; animals, forest school; nature connections; practical work and a sense of calm that reaches children who have been unreachable elsewhere.
Research on outdoor learning and green environments consistently shows benefits for attention, wellbeing, and emotional regulation, and at Maypole Farm our children experience this first-hand.
What the farm offers
Six things that make the difference
Animal interaction
Animals present a powerful opportunity for connection, healing, empathy and responsibility. Animals respond to gentleness and do not judge or demand verbal communication. For many children, the animal connection at Maypole Farm is where trust begins.
Nature connection
A young person's connection with nature is essential to support wellbeing, a sense of identity and belonging in the world. Maypole Farm's Forest School, set in beautiful ancient woodland, fosters holistic growth through the seasons to build confidence, resilience and self-esteem.
Outdoor space
Room to breathe. Natural light. Movement. The sensory experience of being outdoors is calming and regulating for many children and young people. The farm is a magical classroom without walls.
Practical activities
Building, fixing and maintaining Maypole Farm is an important part of farm life. These activities give children a concrete sense of achievement and a visible contribution to the community around them. In addition, these experiences lead to qualifications, life skills and onward pathways.
Rhythms & routine
The farm has its own natural rhythms, seasons, feeding times and weather that provide a gentle structure without the rigidity of a timetable. For children who need routine but react badly to strict schedules, this is often a much better fit.
Quiet & calm
No corridors. No bells. No crowds. The gentle buzz of our working farm is genuinely beneficial for all children, especially those with sensory needs or anxiety.
Safety and risk management
Maypole Farm is managed to the highest safety standards
At Maypole Farm, we take health and safety very seriously. Comprehensive risk benefit assessments are conducted for all activities. All staff are trained in the specific requirements of working in a farm setting with children and young people with complex needs.
Children are always supervised appropriately and activities matched to each young person's needs, interests and risk profile. Our environment is reviewed regularly with clear procedures for any incidents, accidents or emergencies.
We communicate with parents/carers about activities and work collaboratively to understand any specific health, safety or access needs for each child.
Come and see the farm for yourself
We always welcome visits. Whether you are a family, a school or professional. Get in touch to book a visit - come and see what we do.