Lorna and Ian Adamson have recently had planning permission approved to develop Haystax Inclusive Farm Experience and Accessible Holiday Lodges at Woodlands Park Farm in Knitsley, Consett.

This project is extra special as it is catered around Children/young people/adults who have a diverse range of complex needs and disabilities. The project puts the person with the disability first, but also takes the whole families’ needs into consideration, ensuring all members of the families can enjoy spending time at this amazing and peaceful location.


The Haystax project includes a farm experience center with lots of animal therapy opportunities. Indoors will be a café, three sensory rooms, some art and crafts facilities, Outside will be some outdoor classrooms for educational sessions, woodland walks, insect hotels, beehives and so many more exciting ideas to be added in the future.
The first two accessible holiday lodges will be available to rent from Easter 2022 and the Indoor facilities from September 2022. This project is very special because so many vulnerable young people/adults and their families will benefit from it, both now and in the future.

Learning for Life, a charity based in Consett that provides a stimulating and effective learning environment for all young people, including those experiencing more profound and multiple learning and physical difficulties, have teamed up with Lorna and Ian who are developing the project and are going to be working closely with them moving forward to provide work experience opportunities for their learners at Haystax. www.learninglife.org.uk

As part of the planning consent, 8.5K trees will be planted onsite; many individuals at Learning for Life are benefitting from this project, as they have been onsite over the last few weeks helping to plant trees. There have been over 3K planted so far! There are so many opportunities for these inspirational young people/adults to be involved with this project and it will be an asset to our community for many years to come, offering a safe haven for so many people.

CMYK a local business technology company that offers digital solutions became involved in the project as they wanted to be able to give something back to their customers in the North East, helping with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and environmental strategies, they have committed to planting a tree for every one of their new customers. They also plan to make a financial donation to the project each time a tree is planted for their customers who will receive a certificate for their planted tree. CMYK have had such a positive response from customers involved so far, they can see the real benefit to the local community and environment; it also helps them with their own CSR objectives.

Craig and Sarah from CMYK have been working onsite planting trees alongside the learners, Learning for Life staff and Ian and Lorna. Sarah stated, ‘I have really experienced what a positive impact this is having on these amazing individuals and as you can imagine in the current pandemic, a welcome break from being indoors is undoubtedly good for everyone.’ CMYK have also sponsored the Hi Viz vests for the learners and staff who are working on site!

Anyone interested in making a donation or thinking of doing some fundraising for Learning for Life can donate or contact us via our website www.learninglife.org.uk


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