Much of Archie’s early childhood was spent observing local agricultural contractors. He watched them mowing and carting grass, spreading muck and cultivating the ground. He recognised all the machines and the contracting firms – which ones he wanted to work for and which vehicles he wanted to drive.

Archie is living with autism (ASD) which can make it difficult to understand what others are thinking or feeling and makes social situations very stressful. Reading facial expressions and emotions can be confusing, so trying to establish new friendships can be fraught with anxiety and uncertainty. 

Like many neurodiverse youngsters, Archie’s given response to the challenge of mixing with others would be to withdraw to a safe place and observe or to avoid social situations where he could. 

Archie and his family relocated to this area when he was 10-years-old. He started at the local secondary school, but the challenges of living with ASD - making new friends, getting to know new teachers, adjusting to new routines - proved too difficult and this is when Archie’s Loweberdale Farm journey began.

Archie was 12-years-old and not attending main stream school when he began spending time at Lowberdale Farm in 2018. Initially Archie was very quiet, finding conversations hard and answering questions with just a few words. His time was spent quietly driving the wheel barrows around the yard, mucking out lambing pens etc. He attended with his older sister Abi and relied heavily on her to manage conversations.

Lowberdale Farm offers the type of safe space which children, particularly those with neuroatypical conditions, need to grow. The farm delivers stability and routine in a non-judgemental and inclusive environment where encouragement is given to try new things but without any pressure, only support.

Youngsters respond well to the farm and its welcoming, family atmosphere where conversations and friendships are encouraged to form naturally and in an unforced way for example, by eating around the table together or working alongside one another on farm tasks. 

When Abi left Lowberdale Farm to begin Agricultural college in the Autumn, Archie was left coming to the farm alone. Gradually he gained the confidence to begin forging a positive working friendship with 18-year-old Maisie, who was helping on the farm at the time, taking on the role of her assistant and helping with cleaning out the cow shed, sending sheep down the race etc.

Maisie moved onto another farm some months later, which provided an opportunity for a now more confident and capable Archie to quietly show how competent he had become and that he could now do many things on his own. His enjoyment and satisfaction in being able to put his skills to use was clear.

Amongst other interests including football and games, Archie’s passion is tractors. He has a natural affinity with tractors and is able to understand the the dials, the hum of the engine and the need for a beacon, the attachments and operations, the direction of travel, whether were they overloaded or underpowered, whether they would hit the gateway or struggle in the soft ground. 

On turning 16 Archie bought a tractor. He had enough saved to buy a 1989 Massey 3060 and when the delivery lorry arrived on the farm it put a huge smile on his face. A few months later, and riddled with nerves, he drove out to the local village for his tractor test. He was able to face the challenge and passed with ease, giving him access to the freedom of being able to drive to and from the farm.

Through Archie’s own determination and resilience, combined with his placement at Lowberdale Farm and the support of his parents and family, Archie has established positive friendships and enjoys a healthy and active social life with interests and activities outside of the farm.

Now a 20-year-old young man, he has earned a part time role working with us on Lowberdale farm. He is capable of fulfilling a whole range of activities and is responsible enough to be able to get on with without supervision. 

Having grown in self-assurance and competence Archie has also branched out away from the farm to secure further work opportunities for himself at a nearby garage and it is wonderful to see him reaching his potential.