MEL Stride, the MP for Central Devon, enjoyed a recent visit to Lindfield Farm at Morchard Road.

Lindfield is a working farm, established in 2004, which provides a person centred enabling service as a resource for people who have learning, physical or mental disabilities.

It is a forward thinking organisation. Its small farm, gardens, woodland and indoor workshops provide a progressive work style environment for stimulating personal and social development.

Lindfield Day Opportunities is run by Kevin Cozens, assisted by deputy manager Becky and other staff, catering for up to 70 service users a week.

Lindfield provides quality care, skills for work and living and a wide range of activities for people with disabilities, whose needs are best met by an active approach to life and learning and who require a safe environment in which to receive care and support. Individual, flexible support programmes can be arranged.

Kevin said: “Our main focus is on providing opportunities to gain life building skills and experiences through practical tasks, teamwork and through working alone.

“We feel that supported learning through success and failure is a key part of learning and that failure heightens the feeling of success and the fulfilment of a goal once achieved.

“Passing on information of achievements and of what went wrong gives a great sense of self-importance and self-worth. “Feeling that you have achieved something is only possible if you have had to work for it.”

Users also enjoy time to relax in the beautiful settings of the six-acre farm, also selling produce and items from a lay-by stall.

Mel Stride said following his visit: "It was fantastic to spend time with Kevin and Becky and the team at the farm.

“What a great resource for those with special educational needs and disabilities to have fun, pick up new skills and valuable life experiences."