A cherished Northumberland community farm that faced closure because of mounting financial pressures has been given a new lease of life thanks to support from the Business with Purpose Service.
Lifelong animal lover Clare Welsh founded Humbles Wood Farm in Prudhoe in 2012 with a mission to bring the joy and therapeutic power of animals to local people – especially those facing physical, mental or emotional challenges.
When she purchased the land, it was a run-down pig farm, but through years of hard work and dedication alongside her partner Clive Johnson, they transformed it into a welcoming space – opening their gates as a petting farm in 2018.
But after years of running the not-for-profit space largely on passion and perseverance, Clare found herself in serious financial difficulty and feared she’d be forced to close the gates for good.
“It was touch and go,” said Clare. “Planning issues and rising costs were so overwhelming, I honestly thought about packing it all in.
“The farm has never been about money – it’s a labour of love. I opened it with a simple dream to share my animals with those who otherwise don’t get a chance to benefit from them. But I hadn’t realised how expensive it would be to make the farm safe for visitors – especially with rising costs of feed and vets bills.”
Determined not to give up, Clare reached out for help to her local council and was introduced to business adviser Judith Falla from the North East BIC. Judith provided one-to-one business support through the Business with Purpose Service – and helped Clare turn the farm’s future around.
“Judith has been a gift to me,” Clare said. “She’s taken the time to understand how I like to work and what really matters to me and she’s helped me make decisions that stay true to this.
“She knows how tightly I like to keep hold of my business – because it’s my baby at the end of the day! But she helped me see how a few changes could generate the income we need, without losing the heart of what we do.”
Clare registered the farm as a Community Interest Company (CIC), unlocking funding opportunities and with Judith’s guidance and support she was able to create a more sustainable business model.
Together, they developed a whole range of new animal experiences, including goat cuddling, alpaca walks and pony grooming, to bring in crucial revenue that supports Clare’s ambition to keep farm visits free for the public at weekends.
And a new sensory garden, funded by a £1,500 grant from Northumberland County Council, will be available for families and organisations to hire as a private space for parties and picnics with a connection to nature.
The farm now delivers animal-assisted therapy sessions, and outreach visits to care homes and community centres. Its wide range of wellbeing activities support children with special educational needs, young people not in education or work, and adults experiencing isolation, stress, or trauma.
“As a CIC, we’re dedicated to improving mental health and emotional wellbeing through animal interaction,” Clare explained. “We’ve had visitors reconnect with childhood memories, people with mobility issues grooming ponies, and children with autism finding peace here. It’s absolute magic.”
Looking ahead, Clare hopes to expand her team, increase outreach visits, and raise funds to provide more free or subsidised sessions to those in need. She credits the support she received – giving her the tools and confidence to grow.
“I’ve always been good with animals and our visitors,” Clare added. “I love rolling up my sleeves and getting stuck in but I wasn’t so confident with commercial stuff.
“But Judith has given me a new direction. She’s inspired so many new ideas, helped me to find a whole new customer base and introduced me to new people who want to be part of what we do.
“Life is completely different than it was a year ago and I’m so excited about the future.”