Eager Beavers tackle family hike in support of charity farm appeal

A pack of Horsham Beavers were joined by mums, dads, brothers and sisters when they stepped out on a fundraising hike.
2nd Southwater Beavers2nd Southwater Beavers
2nd Southwater Beavers

The 2nd Southwater Beavers donned colourful animal masks for the three-mile ramble around Leith Hill, which raised money for Chailey Heritage Foundation’s Patchwork Farm appeal.

The charity, which supports children and young people with complex physical disabilities, is raising £55,000 to build a new animal therapy farm at its home in Chailey.

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Named Patchwork Farm, the wheelchair-friendly facility will initially be home to goats, rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens and provide a multi-sensory experience for the charity’s users as they explore new sounds, smells, sights and textures.

The Foundation is well on its way to reaching its fundraising target with the Southwater Beavers adding £80 to the pot, which they raised through their sponsored hike.

A total of 24 youngsters, aged between six and eight, were joined by siblings and parents for the walk on October 23, which took two and half hours to complete and included a picnic at Leith Hill Tower in the autumn sunshine.

At the end of the walk each Beaver was presented with a Patchwork Farm badge to sew onto their camp blankets, and a certificate congratulating them on contributing to the appeal.

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Eddie Mordaunt, 2nd Southwater Beaver leader, said: “It was a great family hike and we were blessed with lovely sunshine for the whole day. The Beavers were very pleased to have earned their hike badges, as well as raise £80 for Patchwork Farm, and loved wearing their animal masks.

“Our youngsters are always keen to get involved with fundraising activities to support local causes and the Patchwork Farm appeal really caught their imagination.”

The new farm is set to open in spring 2017 and as well as providing sensory experiences will be used to deliver life skills and independence courses. In future it will also be opened to the wider community and nearby schools so even more people can benefit from it.

For more details about Patchwork Farm, or to make a donation, visit www.chf.org.uk/patchwork

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