A care farm and animal charity is looking for a new home.

East Anglian Daily Times: The team at French's Care Haven and Care Farm: Jane Nuttney, Jo Sargent, Coral Sharpe, Jann Turner, Sophie King.The team at French's Care Haven and Care Farm: Jane Nuttney, Jo Sargent, Coral Sharpe, Jann Turner, Sophie King. (Image: Archant)

Jann, who is qualified in various therapies aimed at boosting horses’ rehabilitation and wellbeing, currently leases a farm site, but it was recently put up for sale.

“I will have to vacate when a buyer is found. Sadly I have spent the last seven years turning the farm buildings into a happy and safe place to be for animals and the people who come to French’s for educational and work experience and those who come for care farming,” she said. “Over the years I have fully equipped a kitchen, disabled toilet and workshop room and had new roofing put on most of the buildings.”

She is now on the lookout for someone with land and outbuildings. These could be derelict or part-used.

“I am looking for a minimum of 20-30 acres of grazing with outbuildings somewhere in Suffolk. If a new home is not found the charity’s horses would have to find new homes, which is a very difficult task as most are high maintenance or old, or be put to sleep.”

She also has staff, two apprentices and takes in students for educational weeks and fears for the future if she can’t find a new home.

“It is a worrying thought that I cannot bear to think of,” she said. “There must be farms out there which are not using all of there land and buildings or smallholders who are at a loss to know how to bring in some income.”

Doeke Dobma, of Clinks Care Farm at Toft Monks, Beccles, who has campaigned for more care farms across the region, said: “I have known Jann for four years and she and her team have always been very dedicated to care farming and rural wellbeing. Jann is looking for a new site to bring her care farm venture one step higher.”

The care farming model has been successful in helping improve mental and physical health, he said. He appealed to members of Suffolk’s Country Land and Business Association to follow in the footsteps of the Sotterley Estate near Beccles, where Miles and Tessa Barnes allowed the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust to come and work on the estate.

Contact Jann Turner on jann.turner@hotmail.co.uk if you have any good ideas.