PEOPLE living with dementia enjoyed an afternoon at a farm.

Alyn Bank Riding School hosted the 'Farm Friends' event recently.

It marked the first time the Mold Dementia Friendly Communities Steering Group and Alyn Bank Riding School have invited people living with dementia and their carers to the farm.

The riding school held the event to ensure people living with dementia have access to the outdoors including animal interactions.

It was open to all but mainly welcomed the memory café attendees in Flintshire and people living with dementia from Mold and local care homes.

Attendees enjoyed a variety of activities including a potting shed where they could plant their favourite plants and seeds, as well as grooming and petting of ponies.

Custard Cream the cockerel enjoyed the attention and some biscuits, and the baby Emus came out for a run and some cabbage.

Those who took part also enjoyed refreshments and freshly baked cakes whilst reminiscing with books provided by Aura Libraries about the outdoors and when they last saw ponies and tractors.

The idea originated from Maria Woodward to bring nature to those living with dementia.

She said “The success of the event has opened lots of opportunities for it to grow and there is scope to expand to allotments and nature areas.”

Luke Pickering-Jones, dementia services Lead for NEWCIS, said: “The events offered a wonderful experience for people with dementia and their carers and further enhances all the good work that is being done in Flintshire to help support them.

“One lady that visited came alive when petting and grooming the ponies.

"She told me of the times she has ridden, where she had lived and one particular farm vehicle brought back so many memories of her family.

"This event made this lady's day and without all the hard work of the Dementia Friendly Communities, these event would not be possible.”