Tilly is autistic, severely dyslexic and has Irlen syndrome. She often feels overwhelmed by sensory things, such as busy environments, meeting new people and crowded places. She struggles to read people and understand social cues, which makes her anxious in social settings. Small in-teractions can trigger overwhelming thoughts and feelings, which consume Tilly’s mind for prolonged and debilitating periods. This results in her retreating to safe places and people, and not being able to attend school or anything else – a state which could be referred to as ‘autistic burnout.’

Tilly first came to the farm in Summer 2023 for the Summer Shepherding School, initially she sat in tears in the car, too anxious to get out. After some time watching the other young people, with support from her Mum, she was able to join in. Tilly then came every week, building in confidence and independence – she returned again at Easter for lambing and again in the Summer that followed.

Tilly now comes to the farm every Wednesday as part of a small group of neuro-diverse young people, where she confidently works with the cows and sheep and enjoys learning new skills, and also builds friendships which she continues to develop outside of the farm setting.

She appreciates that at the farm, she feels safe, valued and accepted for who she is. She enjoys feeling like she is contributing to the farm, as a valued member of a team member.

Being physically active in the outdoors, helps Tilly to regulate her emotions and gives her a break from the thoughts consuming her mind. It has given Tilly the confidence to pursue her interests in working with animals in the future.