Looking after the women in farming and rural communities

A friendly social group called ‘Dartmoor Women in Farming – Time Out’ is encouraging new ladies to come along and share its monthly tasty free breakfasts offered by organiser Justine Colton at Tor Royal Farm, Princetown.
According to Justine: “We started out as a result of some very powerful Mental Health training that highlighted the levels of isolation often felt by women either involved directly in farming or living in more remote rural areas, where finding the time and opportunity for getting together with other ladies in a regular, low-key way, can be rare. We’ve re-vamped the Dartmoor Women in Farming Group first started by the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project several years ago.
“We offer opportunities for ladies of all ages and backgrounds who live on or near to Dartmoor – whether they bring their babies or have seen rather more years of the realities of living on the Moor – to have social time for sharing life experiences, finding new friendships or ways to help and support each other. Everyone is welcome and as well as the monthly breakfasts, we sometimes have relevant speakers, but above all, it is about having a few laughs and enjoying ‘time out’ with good company.
“We’ve been going for about 3 years now and between 10 and 25 ladies come along to our breakfasts at any one time. We have a donation bowl, and so far we’ve raised £400 for the Farming Community Network (FCN). This year’s donations will be split between The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution- RABI - which supports farming people through practical,
financial and emotional assistance, and the Farming Community Network (FCN).

Forthcoming dates and times are on the Facebook page (Dartmoor Women in Farming - Time Out) and reminders are sent out via the ‘Socials’ and by text.
 Justine said: “Just come along to our next meeting! It’s not necessary to book, but it does help to know you may be coming – please contact me to be put on the Whatsapp or Facebook group”.
Tor Royal B&B, Princetown, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6SL – tel: 07892910666