THE Prince and Princess of Wales visited a Herefordshire farm to support mental health services provided by a local charity.
The prince and princess came to Kings Pitt Farm near Hereford, where they met Duchy of Cornwall farming tenants Sam and Emily Stables.
Mr and Mrs Stables founded the charity We Are Farming Minds which works to support the mental health of farmers in rural communities throughout the county.
The couple greeted the royals along with their children, George and Alfie Stables, with the princess saying, “It’s nice to meet another George”.
Prince William and Princess Catherine then got to see a demonstration from the farm’s sheep dog, Hugh, as he rounded up a flock of sheep.
They then got to meet the charity’s trustees, Caroline Brewer, Suzanne Jones and David Harding, and some local farmers who have benefited directly from the charity’s work.
The farmers got a chance to share their personal experiences with their mental health with the prince and princess, and the charity said that they provide a range of support to those who need it, including counselling over the telephone and in person.
Prince William praised the charity for offering face-to-face support as well as over the phone, commenting that in-person appointments are important for “developing connection and opening up”.
We Are Farming Minds offers Herefordshire farmers access to a range of services including counselling, a 24-hour support line, workshops, and social events to break feelings of isolation.
The Duchy of Cornwall is working closely with the charity to enhance its new mental health strategy which provides ongoing mental health support to farming tenants in rural and isolated communities.
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Speaking about his own experiences, Mr Stables said: “A number of years ago I went through a rough time and made the decision that I didn’t want to be here anymore.”
He fought back tears as he explained that there was a lack of support in the farming community, and he had been inspired to change this.
“We never thought we’d be here today with his royal highness and the princess. They’ve done so much for agriculture and to support this charity,” he said.
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