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ABOUT THE FARM

Dedham Therapy Farm enables people to achieve their goals through meaningful and purposeful activities.

The farm covers 14 acres of countryside and is home to farm animals which are used in a range of therapy programmes. It has dogs, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, donkeys, alpacas, rabbits and guinea pigs. All of which play their part in enabling you to achieve your goals.

Information Pack

MEET THE TEAM

Megan

Amy

Sara

Tom

Director/ Business Manager
Designated Safeguarding Lead
megan.dack@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Director/ Lead Occupational Therapist
Designated Safeguarding Lead
amy.boyce@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Director/ Animal Care & Finance Manager
sara.marshall@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Operations Manager
Deputy Safeguarding Lead
tom.clapson@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Penny

Occupational Therapist
penny.gibbons@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Fleur

Occupational Therapist
fleur.parks@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Savanna

Occupational Therapy Assistant
Learning Pathway Support
savanna.edwards@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Amy

Occupational Therapy Assistant
Social Media & Digital Communications Link
amy.series@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Max

Occupational Therapy Assistant
max.clapson@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Gaby

Occupational Therapy Assistant
gaby.jackson@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Aby

Occupational Therapy Assistant
abigail.booker@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Ruby

Occupational Therapy Assistant
ruby.bloom@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Kim

Therapy Support Staff
kim.clark@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Angela

Animal Care Assistant

ANIMAL-ASSISTED INTERVENTION

We provide Animal-Assisted Intervention, using a therapeutic approach, to support children and young people to develop their self-esteem, confidence, social skills, and to engage in meaningful activity.

MEET THE ANIMALS

The Therapy Dogs

Seamus

Ginny

Fern

Parker

Peggy

The Donkeys

Minstrel

Tiger

The Pigs

Dolly & Debs

Harriet

Peggy

Prudence

The Goats

Mabel

Roy, Ray, Rosie & Jim

The Alpacas

Colin

Les

Jeff

Iggy

The Sheep

The 10 Sheep

The Chickens

The 7 Silkie Chickens

The Tortoise

Turbo

The Guinea Pigs

Lemon, Sarah, Biscuit & Hattie

Popeye & Gizmo

Apricot & Pear

The Rabbit

Thor

🦙🐐 A little reminder that our Summer Alpaca & Goat Experiences are now available to book! 🐐🦙

If you’re looking for something fun to do over the summer holidays, why not come and meet our friendly alpacas and goats?

Enjoy a 1.5-hour hands-on experience where you may have the chance to:
🐾 Groom
🚶 Walk
🌾 Feed
🧠 Create enrichment for our animals
📸 Capture plenty of memorable photos!

💷 £47.50 per group (up to 6 people)

Whether you’re visiting with family, friends or simply love animals, we’d love to welcome you to the farm this summer.

💛 Every booking directly supports Dedham Therapy Farm and helps us continue our work with children and young people.

Book your experience using the link below ⬇️
https://bookwhen.com/dedhamtherapyfarm?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Keeping cool has been the name of the game this week! ☀️💦

Our alpacas have been loving a refreshing run through the sprinklers, the dogs have been splashing about in the shaded paddling pools and enjoying tasty frozen yoghurt treats, and our bunnies have been keeping comfortable with cooling ice bottles. 🦙🐶🐰

As the warmer weather continues, we’re making sure all of our animals stay happy, healthy and nice and cool with plenty of fun enrichment and ways to beat the heat. ❤️

Today was a great reminder that learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom.

Our Farm Assistants were lucky enough to witness some amazing wildlife on the farm, including a snake catching a toad, a fox running along the back of the farm, and a kingfisher hiding in the trees.

These real-life encounters help us learn about nature, habitats, and the world around us while enjoying all the benefits of being outdoors.

Every day on the farm brings new opportunities to learn, explore, and connect with nature. 🌿🦊🐍🐦

You never know what you’ll see on the farm! 😊

🦙🐐 Looking for a summer holiday activity that’s a little different?

Come and spend 1.5 hours getting to know our friendly alpacas and goats at Dedham Therapy Farm!

Your experience may include:
🐾 Grooming
🚶 Walking
🌾 Feeding
🧠 Enrichment activities
📸 Lots of photo opportunities

Perfect for families, friends and animal lovers of all ages.

💷 Just £47.50 for a group of up to 6 people.

💛 Best of all, every booking helps support Dedham Therapy Farm and the children and young people we work with.

Book your experience here ⬇️
https://bookwhen.com/dedhamtherapyfarm?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

🦙🐐 Summer Alpaca & Goat Experiences Are Back! 🐐🦙

Looking for a fun, feel-good activity this summer in the beautiful Dedham countryside? Come and spend time with our friendly alpacas or goats for a relaxed, hands-on animal experience the whole family can enjoy! ☀️

Our 1.5 hour experiences are perfect for groups of up to 6 people and may include:
🐾 Grooming
🚶‍♀️ Walking
🌾 Feeding time
🧠 Enrichment activities
📸 Plenty of photo opportunities!

💷 £47.50 per group (1–6 people)

Whether you’re visiting with family, friends, or looking for something a little different to do this summer, it’s a lovely way to connect with animals and enjoy the outdoors 💛

Even better, every booking helps support our ongoing work with children and young people through Dedham Therapy Farm.

📍 Dedham, Essex
📆 Booking essential
🔗 Book here: https://bookwhen.com/dedhamtherapyfarm

Happy World Donkey Day 🫏

A little appreciation post for these hardworking, cheeky, and surprisingly affectionate animals.

Our donkeys do more than just enjoy snacks and attention, they bring calm, comfort, and plenty of smiles to the farm!

We’re very lucky to have them 💛

National Therapy Animal Day 2026 💚

Today, we’re celebrating our incredible therapy animals who make such a difference in the lives of the young people we support every day.

Our animals are at the heart of everything we do, helping create a calm, safe space, where young people can grow, heal and thrive 🌱

Thank you to our amazing animals (and the team and farm assistants who care for them!) for all the joy and support they bring 🌿

Nature + creativity = magic 🌳

Our farm assistants have been busy making tree decorations, and they’ve turned the trees into something extra special and beautiful 💚

It’s been lovely seeing imagination and nature come together like this!

5 ways animals can support your mental health 🌿💚

✨ Reduce stress & anxiety - being around animals can help calm your mind, lower stress levels, and bring a sense of peace.

😊 Boost your mood - time with animals can increase your dopamine levels, helping lift your mood.

🤝 Feel supported - animals offer unconditional, non-judgemental support.

🌿 Stay present - whether you’re feeding, grooming or just watching them, animals help you slow down and focus on the moment.

🌱 Build confidence - caring for animals gives a sense of purpose, achievement, and helps grow self-belief.

At the farm, we see these benefits everyday 💛

If you would like to find out more about our Animal-Assisted Intervention sessions, please visit our website or get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re excited to introduce the newest member of our farm family… Jeff the alpaca 🦙💚

Thanks to a generous donation from ILECS Lift & Escalator Consultants, we were able to welcome Jeff to the farm, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support.

Jeff is settling in wonderfully and already showing his friendly personality. Our farm assistants have been loving spending time with him, walking, feeding, and getting to know him.

Thank you, ILECS, for making this possible 🌿

It’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week 💚

We see every day how powerful it can be when young people are given the right environment to thrive.

For many of those we work with, being around animals and nature helps reduce anxiety, build confidence, and create a sense of belonging.

There’s no “one way” to think, learn, or feel and that’s something worth celebrating.

We’re proud to be a place where differences are understood and valued 🌿🐐

#NeurodiversityWeek #InclusionMatters #therapythroughnature

Meet some of our wonderful animals ✨

Meet our Silkie chickens 🐔

With their soft, fluffy feathers and gentle nature, our Silkie chickens are some of the calmest animals on the farm. From helping collect eggs to simply spending time watching them scratch around, they give our young people a chance to slow down, connect with nature, and enjoy being outdoors.

They might be small, but they bring plenty of character to the farm! 🥚💛

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
2026! ❄️
Our first week back is almost complete and what a beautiful way to start the year, with snowy days on the farm. We’re excited for the year ahead!

This term runs from 05.01.26 – 13.02.26 🌿

Looking to join a friendly team? We’re hiring!

See our website for more details on how to apply.

Our 2026 Calendars are here! 📆

Grab yours for just £8.50, with every penny going straight back into supporting Dedham Therapy Farm.

This year’s calendar is extra special — all of the photos were taken by our amazing farm assistants! 📸💛

Your purchase helps us keep the farm running, our animals cared for, and our sessions accessible to those who need them most. 🐐💛

Thank you for supporting us — it truly makes a difference.

Strawberry plants for sale — 2 for £1! 🍓

Available out front of Dedham Therapy Farm. All proceeds help to keep the farm running and support our young people 🌿💚

One of our littlest farmers had a wonderful time at the pumpkin patch! 🎃

We’re so grateful to @farmerjohns_maze_pumpkinpatch for kindly offering to donate their leftover pumpkins to Dedham Therapy Farm again this year.

The pumpkins will be put to great use — from animal enrichment and feeding to fun craft and sensory sessions with our farm assistants. 🐷🧡

Our farm assistants are working hard on their ASDAN Animal Care course — and our goats are loving the extra attention! 💛 Every walk is a chance to build confidence, responsibility, and connection with our animals.

Interested in our ASDAN courses? 🌿 Visit our website for more details or get in touch to find out how you can get involved!

🐐✨ Our friendly goats have been busy over the summer learning to walk on their leads — and they’ve carried on doing an amazing job during sessions too! 🌿💚 Mabel, however, prefers to stay behind and enjoy the snacks before the others get back! 😄💛

🌿🔥 We’re excited to share our new bushcraft area, built over the summer! It’s a fantastic space for enjoying the outdoors, and we can’t wait to see our farm assistants making the most of it over the next term. 🪵

🌞🐑 What a wonderful summer it’s been here at the farm! We’ve loved welcoming everyone to take part in our activities, and it’s been amazing to see the positivity, confidence, and smiles grow week by week. 💚 We hope you’ve enjoyed being here as much as we’ve enjoyed having you! 🌿

A huge thank you to Dedham Vale Tree Surgery for generously providing us with the supplies we need to redo some of our fencing! 🪵 Your support means so much and will help us keep our animals safe and happy. We’re so grateful for your kindness and community spirit! 💚

🐐🦙 Alpaca & Goat Experiences – Just £35 per Group! 🦙🐐

Looking for something unique and heartwarming to do in the beautiful Dedham countryside? Come meet our friendly alpacas and goats!

Bring a group of up to 6 people (including kids and grown-ups) and enjoy a hands-on experience that could include:
🐾 Grooming
🚶‍♂️ Walking
🧠 Enrichment activities
🌾 Feeding time

💛 Even better? Your visit helps support our ongoing work with children and young people. Every booking helps us keep our services running for those who need them most.

📍 Dedham-based
📆 Booking essential – spaces are limited!

DM us to book or find out more!

Join us this summer at Dedham Therapy Farm! 🌿

We’re excited to offer Pilates sessions with our Occupational Therapist, Fleur – designed for teen girls aged 14+ and their mums, carers or guardians 🧘‍♀️

📅 Dates: 31st July, 7th & 14th August
🕙 Time: 10am – 12pm

🗒 Take a look at the poster below for full details, and get in touch to book your space – we’d love to see you there!

#PilatesAtTheFarm #SummerSessions #Mindfulness

Some of you may know we sadly lost our alpaca Diamond recently. Please help us raise money to purchase some friends for Mocha. He is missing his best buddy and we need your help!

Link to our crowdfunding in bio.

As we are a not for profit organisation we need your help to raise enough money to purchase some friends to keep Mocha company after losing his best bud! The alpacas are very much loved members of the therapy team. Farm Assistants attending sessions enjoy taking them for walks, proving enrichment activities and cleaning out their stable and field.

#alpaca #therapyfarm #crowdfunding

What a successful day for our therapy dogs! They have supported students to get on the school bus and to attend their therapy sessions at the farm. Well done to the students and dogs! 🐕🐶🐾

Twiggy didn’t get the memo, it the kids that do the reading at reading dog session 📖 🐶

If your setting would like our team of therapy dogs and OT’s to visit to offer a bespoke programme to support well being, improve attendance and engagement, then get in touch with our office on 01206 322070 or hello@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk.

#occupationaltherapy #animalfacilitatedtherapy #therapydogs #wellbeing #essex

Happy National Dog Day to our pawsome dog team 🐾

They have been working so hard this year to support many peoples well-being at the farm and in the community.

If you are interested in some of our Therapy dogs visiting you, please get in contact to discuss how our OT’s and dogs can help.

You can support the great work our dogs do by visiting our website and clicking donate 🐶

#nationaldogday #therapydogs #essex #suffolk #spaniels #bostonterrier #imperialshihtzu #cockapoo #goldendoodle #therapyfarm

With Spring in full swing, we are beginning to transform our garden with the help of our wonderful volunteers, and Luna of course! Our aim is to develop it into a calming, thriving space for people to get in touch with their love for gardening. Any tips from fellow green thumbed people would be amazing!

#gardening #theraputicgardening #luna #therapydog #essex #dedhamvale

Seamus and Twiggy had the best time meeting everyone at the united in diversity event with @the_multischools_council at @braxtedparkestate @braxted_park today.

Thanks to everyone that came to see the dogs and to @the_multischools_council for inviting us.

#therapydog #unitedindiversity #multischoolscouncil #essex #education

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Follow us on Instagram

@dedhamtherapyfarm

ABOUT THE FARM

Dedham Therapy Farm enables people to achieve their goals through meaningful and purposeful activities.

MEET THE TEAM

Megan

Amy

Sara

Tom

Director/ Business Manager Designated Safeguarding Lead megan.dack@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Director/ Lead Occupational Therapist Designated Safeguarding Lead amy.boyce@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Director/ Animal Care & Finance Manager sara.marshall@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Operations Manager Deputy Safeguarding Lead tom.clapson@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Penny

Occupational Therapist penny.gibbons@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk​​

Fleur

Occupational Therapist fleur.parks@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Savanna

Occupational Therapy Assistant Learning Pathway Support savanna.edwards@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Amy

Occupational Therapy Assistant Social Media & Digital Communications Link amy.series@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Max

Occupational Therapy Assistant max.clapson@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Gaby

Occupational Therapy Assistant gaby.jackson@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Aby

Occupational Therapy Assistant abigail.booker@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Ruby

Occupational Therapy Assistant ruby.bloom@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Kim

Therapy Support Staff kim.clark@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Angela

Animal Care Assistant

ANIMAL-ASSISTED INTERVENTION

MEET THE ANIMALS

The Therapy Dogs

Seamus

Ginny

Fern

Parker

Peggy

The Donkeys

Minstrel

Tiger

The Pigs

Dolly & Debs

Harriet

Peggy

Prudence

The Goats

Mabel

Roy, Ray, Rosie & Jim

The Alpacas

Colin

Les

Jeff

Iggy

The Sheep

The 10 Sheep

The Chickens

The 7 Silkie Chickens

The Tortoise

Turbo

The Guinea Pigs

Lemon, Sarah, Biscuit & Hattie

Popeye & Gizmo

Apricot & Pear

The Rabbit

Thor

​

Follow us on Instagram

Contact Us

Find us

Director/ Business Manager
Designated Safeguarding Lead
megan.dack@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Director/ Lead Occupational Therapist
Designated Safeguarding Lead
amy.boyce@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Director/ Animal Care & Finance Manager
sara.marshall@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Operations Manager
Deputy Safeguarding Lead
tom.clapson@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Occupational Therapist
penny.gibbons@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Occupational Therapist
fleur.parks@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Occupational Therapy Assistant
Learning Pathway Support
savanna.edwards@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Occupational Therapy Assistant
Social Media & Digital Communications Link
amy.series@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Occupational Therapy Assistant
max.clapson@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Occupational Therapy Assistant
gaby.jackson@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Occupational Therapy Assistant
abigail.booker@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Occupational Therapy Assistant
ruby.bloom@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk

Therapy Support Staff
kim.clark@dedhamtherapyfarm.org.uk