Make my 'dissy' into a video - Simon King

Posted 23 June 2011

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A final year student at Harper Adams University College is hoping to utilise research completed as part of his dissertation when he starts his graduate job as a Trainee Farm Manager next month.

Simon King from Dereham, Norfolk, recently completed a dissertation entitled: “Working on a care farm: what part of the experience do clients find most beneficial?”

Care farming is where commercial farms, woodlands and market gardens work with health and social care agencies to provide basic farming activities to improve participant’s physical and mental health and well-being.

22-year-old Simon, who is currently waiting for the results from his degree in Agriculture and Environmental Management, chose to research the subject following his placement year on the Sotterley Estate which had a care farm project in operation, where he found the experience rewarding for both himself and the people that use it.

He said: “My research looks at the benefits of care farming, whether it be working with other people, being outdoors or skills learnt from the tasks undertaken.

“I conducted a series of semi-structured interviews, meeting with clients to find out how they feel towards care farming.

“Although I thought that most people would enjoy working with the animals most, my results showed that many people thought that the social aspect was very important and that care farming should be seen as a whole experience, not just individual elements.”

Simon has received interest in his work from Essex University, who are known for their research into care farming, as well as care farmers themselves who hope the results will prove useful evidence for when comparing their service to traditional modes of therapy.

Simon added: “Next month I’ll be starting work as a Trainee Farm Manager at a 4500 acre farm in Lincolnshire, growing arable crops and looking after a small suckler herd.

“I believe that showing an understanding of people less able to express their views in society, being able to listen and approach an area previously untackled in dissertation work, is probably one of the main reasons why I got the job.

“I’d like to investigate care farming provisions in Lincolnshire, once I’ve started my job, as I believe it could be an area for development in the future.”