Claire Moore

High Farm Social Care Farm, Camphill Village Trust, Yorkshire

After a break from the industry following the dispersal of her family farm, Claire is now the agricultural lead across High Farm Social Care Farm.

Spanning four farms and residential houses which offer supporting living for adults with learning disabilities, Claire oversees 300 acres of the farmland working with a suckler herd, pigs and turkeys.

The bio-dynamic farm specialises in utlitisng the land and animals as a way to support adults to gain work experience and therapy from working in a supportive environment, and Claire is responsible for helping to facilitate this delivery.

“I teach adults how to care for and look after livestock ensuring the highest safety and welfare for both the staff and livestock,” says Claire, who has a background in social care. “I love my job and I pride myself in all that I do making changes when needed to make sure the farms run efficiently utilising the grazing to maximise productivity.”

Planning

Careful planning must be undertaken to ensure daily routines are carried out on farm and the correct amount of support is given to the adults.

Changes have been made to the farm system including improved staff management, raised beds put in place for those with limited mobility and improved safety in the working areas.

Teamwork is central and she also supports the dairy and sheep units running across the 600-acre site, relief milking when needed and helping during silage-making and other busy times.

The majority of the produce goes back into the community and is distributed to the houses and sold in the local area, with future plans including the attendance to more farmers’ markets.

This year, Claire organised a stall at the Great Yorkshire Show and take some of the people along the Trust supports to promote the good work they do and how it is benefitting others working with the land and environment. Their presence has created new networking opportunities and generate future placements and fundraising for the charity-based farm.