As many of you may know, the Care Home has been an integral part of Tablehurst Farm since its early days nearly 30 years ago. Over the years, the residents—Stuart, Terry, and Andrew—have become beloved members of our community, living and working alongside us on the farm.
The cottage has always been a hub of care and connection, supported by wonderful people who have provided dedicated care to the residents. Over the past year, a new team has stepped in and is now fully immersed in the life of our farm community.
Meet the Team:
Laura, the House Coordinator, brings a wealth of experience from the food industry and care work. Having grown up in Dorking and spent time in Brighton, Laura dedicates herself to the well-being of the residents while actively participating in farm activities such as butchery, gardening, seed preparation, and lunch-making.
Francis, a recent graduate of Michael Hall, has long aspired to work within a community settings. You might see him in the farm shop, where he brings creativity and high standards of care not only to the cottage but also to the farm.
Margy contributes her skills across various farm enterprises, particularly in firewood preparation and dairy, while also lending her help at the cottage when needed.
Yulia, part of the management team and Registered Manager at the cottage, has a background in theatre and inclusive social development. She plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of the cottage.
The residents play an active role in farm life, working alongside farmers, gardeners, and cooks. Mondays are spent preparing firewood to sustainably heat the houses. Tuesdays are “Chicken Day,” with everyone pitching in to help. Throughout the week, the residents assist with feeding animals, maintaining tidy spaces, building fences, and even tackling workshop repairs.
Andrew is a cornerstone of the farm’s famous pie kitchen, contributing to vegetable prep, sausage rolls, and general kitchen upkeep. His efforts ensure the space stays organised and efficient.
At the cottage, the residents enjoy one-to-one art therapy sessions and group music classes. We all love socialising—whether it’s attending Gateway Club, visiting the cinema, shopping, exploring markets, or enjoying concerts and parties.
Behind the hedges as you drive past the cottage towards the farm lies the cottage garden—a hidden gem that Laura and the team are lovingly restoring. The vision includes growing flowers to beautify the café and shop, cultivating herbs, fruits, and berries not yet grown on the farm, and perhaps welcoming a few chickens.
Last year’s spring cleaning day was a big success, and we’re eager to build on that momentum. If you have a few hours to spare to help with garden projects—or if you have garden furniture (particularly a table and some benches/chairs) you’d like to donate—please reach out to Yulia. Your support would mean so much to us, and we’d love to meet new friends and neighbours in the process.
Thank you for being part of our vibrant community!
We visited in 2015 when Sebastian and his wife were houseparents and were super impressed with what a wonderful place the care home was. They had such skill and showed dedication and joy in what they did. Great to see it still thriving. Stef.