A Catch Up With Hannah, Little Alf & Friends

It’s been sometime since my last article with the Yorkshire Times!

Life has been busy at the smallholding, and summer is always the busiest time of the year for me.

Each year, I open the doors to the public here at Swinton Green, running animal experiences for those who wish to visit. The experience ran through 2024 for the second year in a row and once again proved to be a huge success.

An animal experience centre was always my dream since I was 16. Just a couple of years ago, I opened up my animal experience centre to the public. I was 25 years old. For me, I’ve always found animals to be the perfect place to escape after a busy day, unwind, and spend time outdoors.

In my teens, I fractured the vertebrae in my back while having a year off due to rehabilitation. It was then that I realised the connection between animals and nature. I had dreams of one day establishing a centre where people could connect with animals, provide animal therapy for those in need, and educate people about animal health and awareness.

Instead of operating as a petting farm, I offer 121 sessions with the animals at Swinton Green Animal Experiences, where individuals and family groups come to learn more about animals and gain hands-on experience.

Swinton Green is a 16-acre smallholding based in Yorkshire. I have a large vegetable area and wildflowers coming through, so it’s not just about the animals; it’s about enjoying life in the rural countryside. 

For me, it’s important to show people what animals can bring to your daily life. I work extensively with charities, and every year, my local Riding for Disabled Group visits Swinton Green to learn more about the animals and spend a few hours outdoors with each species.

I have found my animals a wonderful comfort and focus during difficult times, and I want to share this with others. Using animals to help people has proved to have so many benefits; positive interactions with animals can lead to benefits in the mind and body and reduce stress and an overall more balanced mental and emotional state.

In the last few weeks, I’ve been recovering from minor surgery and found myself spending time with the animals more and more while I’ve been resting and recovering.

For me, my work constantly evolves; my 16-year-old dream has undergone significant changes in the past few years due to my personal growth and development. I've now closed the experience centre for the autumn and winter, and during this time, I'll be developing new plans for the 2025 season. What I want to accomplish next year will have to wait until 2025.

I am now getting ready to settle down for the winter with the animals. This weekend the clocks change, and the ponies have started to get their winter coats again. The hay shed is full, and the stables are ready for the winter months ahead.