Our Team
Rob
Rob brings a wide range of experience to his work. His early career in the kitchen saw him reach impressive heights—winning awards, writing cookbooks, and working as a chef in a Michelin-starred restaurant. He later built a successful career as a carpenter, continuing to fuel his love of creativity and hands-on craft.
A passionate advocate for ethical meat consumption, Rob manages local deer alongside Lars, his dedicated deer-tracking Dachshund. Together, they hunt sustainably for the family freezer and support their local community.
Rob also raises grass-fed sheep and is committed to helping others understand where their food comes from, encouraging deeper connection to the land and teaching rural skills.
Living with Dyslexia, Rob has first-hand experience of the challenges young people can face in education. This drives his commitment to supporting the next generation, helping them discover their strengths and shine.
What Rob does on the farm:
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Oversees the care and management of our livestock
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Supports SEN sessions and events
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Maintains the farm and facilities
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Manages wildlife and habitats
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Designs recipes and prepares our sustainable meat boxes
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Teaches outdoor and countryside skills
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Janka
Janka is the owner and lead dog trainer at Penthwell Dog Training, specialising in dog-centred methods including scent detection and fun gundog work. Working alongside her Labrador, Trudy – a registered therapy dog – she supports children and young people with SEN, creating calm, confidence-building experiences through animal-assisted interventions.
Born with Cystic Fibrosis and later receiving a double lung transplant, Janka has always fought for equal opportunities and is deeply passionate about inclusion, diversity, and equity. Her qualifications include a Level 3 Diploma in ADHD, an Autism Awareness Diploma, EDI in the Workplace and a Level 3 Diploma in Animal Assisted Intervention. She is also learning BSL to ensure her services are accessible to an even wider community.
What Janka does on the farm:
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Delivers adaptive dog training
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Provides behaviour support
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Trains therapy dogs
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Acts as community liaison
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Leads marketing and public relations
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Builds, designs, and updates the website
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Takes responsibility for budget planning
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Organises events
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Develops and supports the SEN programme
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Manages farm animal care and training
Rachel
With more than twenty years’ experience as a Special Needs teacher, Rachel has worked with pupils across a wide range of complex needs, adapting her practice to ensure every young person feels understood, supported, and celebrated.
Alongside her teaching background, she has hands-on experience working on a farm provision for autistic adults, where she saw first-hand the therapeutic value of meaningful outdoor work, animal care, and calm rural environments.
Rachel's passion for animal-assisted support has shaped much of her work; she previously trained a dog who became a certified educational assistance dog in school, and she is now training her young dog to become a therapy dog. She has also completed a Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) four-day training course in companion animal interventions in therapeutic practice, strengthening her understanding of safe, ethical, and effective approaches to animal-assisted work.
Rachel strongly believes in the power of animal-assisted learning to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and create a safe space for pupils to engage, communicate, and explore new skills at their own pace.
What Rachel does on the farm:
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Plans and leads SEN sessions
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Supports learning through Animal-Assisted activities
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Provides one-to-one tutoring
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Cares for the animals
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Supports dog and farm animal training
