Clearing years of accumulated rubbish and litter from derelict farmland off Mays Lane, Barnet, is another step towards establishing a new equine therapy centre for troubled youngsters.
Once the 30-acre site has been declared safe for use it will become the home for a team of ten horses specially trained to interact with young people facing mental health challenges.
As from the New Year, the Mays Lane site will become the new base of the charity Strength and Learning Through Horses which is having to move out of its current premises in Edgwarebury Lane.
Barnet Council has granted SLTH a 25-year lease of what was formerly Green Gate Stables and Reeds Farm.
New secure fences have been installed around the fields and farmland.
Tracks have been laid out around the perimeter where the charity’s horses will be kept, together with paddocks and an area that will become the training and activity arena.
Clare Russell, the charity’s acting site manager – seen above with Omar and Revazi who have working on clearing the land – said the Mays Lane site in the middle of the Green Belt was an ideal site for an equine therapy centre and their work with young people.
Currently SLTH’s team of experts support each year around 500 youngsters aged from 4 to 25 from across Barnet and other London boroughs.
Once the site has been cleared and derelict buildings made safe, the charity will install temporary cabins for classrooms and offices.
Working parties are assisting with litter picking and rubbish clearance – (From left to right, Jason Wolfe, Clare Russell. and Bridget McDermott).
Volunteers are asked to contact Clare Russell by email – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Planning is underway for the long-term development of the site which it is hoped will become London’s first purpose built equine therapy centre.
If approved – and the money can be raised -- the new, accessible facility will include two low level barns for hoses plus activity space, an all-weather arena and two classrooms.
SLTH estimates it will need up to a £1million to complete an all-purpose centre that eventually could cater for up to 700 youngsters a year.
For more information see www.strengthandlearningthroughhorses.org
