Today we’re talking about our relationship with the land, communities and nature on our farms. We all know that farms are a place of food production, but they have so many other purposes and potential to meet the varied challenges we face as farmers and as a general population. Host Peter is joined by two farmers who alongside keeping livestock have a particular interest in wellbeing and fostering strong and positive mindsets.
Eddie Rixon farms sheep and beef on 81 hectares at Lopemede Farm in Buckinghamshire. In 2017 he experienced a series of events on the farm that led to him transforming the way he managed it, with an ambitious plan focused on restoration and leveraging natural capital to bring people onto the land for nature connection, to help address both the biodiversity and mental health crises. From December 2023 to May 2024 the Roots and Rhythms Project, funded by Innovate UK, worked with Eddie to explore farm futures through nature recovery and connection. Today we’ll hear Eddie’s story.
Peter is also joined by Ellie Sturrock who is a sheep farmer from Dorset and wellbeing coach specialising in resilience and mindfulness. She is also the West Dorset Area Lead for Steps2Wellbeing, a free NHS talking therapies service for anxiety and depression.
Useful signposting for anyone impacted by this episode.
Support for farmers - mental health | AHDB
Farm Safety Foundation / Yellow Wellies - YellowWellies.org
farmwell.org.uk/personal-resilience/
Social prescribers at GP surgeries are excellent at signposting to agencies that can help.
Farming Community Network: 03000 111 999 or [email protected]
RABI. Particularly good for financial support but also an emphasis on mental health. 0800 188 4444,
MIND 0300 123 3393
Steps 2Wellbeing/S2W: 0800 484 0500, NHS Talking Therapies FREE
Samaritans: 116123 or [email protected]
Connections 24/7 crisis line: 0800 652 0190
NHS direct: 111
SHOUT. Text service 85258 for mental health crisis
Kooth (kids and young adults, online support. www.kooth.com)
See a GP especially for pain, poor sleep, depression, or long term conditions. GPs now have teams of people called social prescribers who are well networked with local initiatives. They are good signposters. REACH Addiction services 0800 043 4656 www.edp.org.uk
GP for symptoms of trauma, low mood, anxiety or anything that may be indicative of illness. The GP is a good doorway to HELP.
Ellie Sturrock/S2W link person: 07980 089470, [email protected] general advice on where to signpost.
NHS Talking Therapies (NHS TT) are a FREE short term psychological therapies service. Find an NHS talking therapies services - NHS
Typically people can self refer or be referred b any health professional including GPs.
At referral they are offered a comprehensive assessment with a trained psychological therapist which can be face to face, by phone or by video call. It is around a 45 minute session at the end of which most people will be offered a talking treatment that is based on NICE guidelined therapies.
Our treatments usually last for 4-max 20 sessions and if a person is not anxious, stressed or depressed or does not want to receive an offered treatment then we signpost to other agencies best suited to need.
Therapists are trained, supervised and registered with recognised professional groups such as the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapist (BABCP) or British Association of Counselling Psychotherapists (BACP).
Treatments are offered for depression, anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, post traumatic stress disorder, difficult grief reactions, mental distress connected with long term health conditions such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, fatigue, long covid, pain etc
NHS TT are largely counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy based but also use mindfulness, interpersonal therapy, EMDR (a strategy for treating trauma). Most teams have developed course based treatments in order to maximise efficiencies and move into a range of more contemporary ways of delivering recovery based treatments at scale. This is a move away from couches to courses reflecting the benefits of a more modern and efficient yet efficacious way to treat people psychologically. Feedback from courses is excellent and some courses offer better recovery than 1:1 delivery. Some work is done individually especially trauma focused treatment.
NHS TT services do not treat everyone and do not offer fully comprehensive therapy for more severe, enduring or acute mental illness. For more information look here NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression - NHS and each geographical area will have its own ways of delivering that may vary from above. Find your local service using this link Find an NHS talking therapies services - NHS
Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming.
For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk
For our podcast disclaimer click here.
If you'd like to send us an email you can contact us at [email protected]
Timestamps
00:14 Peter introduces the episode.
02:07 Ellie introduces herself.
02:57 Eddie Rixon introduces his farm and himself.
04:54 In 2017 Eddie experienced a series of events that led to Eddie making changes.
06:28 Two weeks after the breakdown other things happened.
07:56 Ellie comes in.
10:20 What resources are available for farmers to speak to?
12:05 Eddie explains how his farm changed after the incidents.
16:14 How can nature help our wellbeing?
18:30 Forest bathing.
19:00 Eddie's learning points from his projects.
21:05 Pocket guide - search for it on the Rots to Rhythms substack.
21:24 What else can support our mental health?
26:00 Connection with nature.
28:19 'Get on our land'
29:03 Final thoughts from Ellie.
30:55 Showstoppers.
33:36 Peter rounds up.
