A special day for farming menfolk was held at a Dorset farm last week.

Countrymen UK Club marked its 10th anniversary at Ryland's Farm near Sherbourne.

The club helps to find respite and meaningful activity for men with life-limiting conditions who want to remain involved in farming and the countryside.

The organisation was formed by farmer's daughter Julie Plumley when she realised that her father, who was suffering from Parkinson's, had no outdoor spaces or areas where he could engage in some meaningful activity.

She said: "He had always been a farmer and was not used to just sitting in a room indoors."

So Julie established the club which has been positively evaluated by Essex University for helping to improve men's wellbeing and improve sleep.

During the day at the farm a visitor was overheard saying: "He loves it here being part of the farm team. He feels at home, he does so much I can't believe it when I see what he has been up to in the photos."

The Lord-Lieutenant Angus Campbell gave a toast to the unpaid carers and families who support the men and have had such a tough time during Covid as well as to the men who are no longer with us and the current men who attend, commending them for their strength and bravery.

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Over the past 10 years the club has trained 11 other spaces and farms to use the countrymen's club model across the country from Cornwall to Scotland.

Julie said: "We hope that now Covid is more manageable that we will be able to train more sites in Dorset."

For more information about Countrymen UK go to countrymenuk.org, email admin@countrymenuk.org or call 01963 210789.