DILTON Marsh’s Fairfield Farm College has been providing a safe and practical environment for young adults with learning difficulties for almost 40 years.

The registered charity will be celebrating its anniversary next month and is inviting former students and Wiltshire Councillor Jane Scott to open a new building at the site, located on High Street.

Founded in June 1975 by Ken and Ruth Hester, the couple lived at the farm and encouraged local young people with learning difficulties to come and gain practical experience working on the farm.

“Ruth was really the driving force behind it because she was a physiotherapist and used to see people with learning difficulties,” said Janet Kenward, CEO and former principal of the college.

“It started off by her inviting a few of her patients to the farm to see the animals and it just carried on from there.”

The farm officially became a college in 1992 and has seen more than a thousand young people, aged 16-25-years old and with learning disabilities, pass through its doors over the years.

At present 42 students use the college, with four residential houses on site for a number of them to use.

The 26-acre farm is home to more than 30 animals consisting of pigs, cows, sheep and horses which students tend to while learning life skills and running the fully functioning farm.

As well as farm work, students are taught how to cook, horticulture, engineering and office skills in classroom environments so that when they leave they can support themselves in life.

In 2010, a shop and cafe were also added at the site and the new building will provide extra classrooms and consulting rooms for the students and the 65 staff working there.

Principal Tina Pagett said: “It is so rewarding working here, we have people coming to us with a range of disabilities such as Down syndrome, different levels of comprehension, some people who are very autistic.

“Some when they come to us won’t interact and will want to stay in the same room all day but then after a while you’ll see them outside taking part in the activities and getting involved.

“They all have their own personalities and it’s about learning to live and learning to work and support yourself.”