Rural therapy with snakes, cattle and reindeers

Heckmondwike is one of the series of small towns including Dewsbury, Liversedge and Batley, but it is here near to the site of an old railway line just on the edge of the town that Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre has earned a reputation for helping people.

Adam Cheney manages the site that is registered as a rare breeds farm and small zoo, that also hosts primary school day trips, is open to the public and has the Lakeside Restaurant, hosting special functions such as weddings, charity events and conferences.

“The rural therapeutic centre came about through Howard and Maureen Cook who own the land and are still very much involved today,” says Adam.

“Howard is a builder and Maureen has always had a passion for animals. They also have a passion for helping people, particularly those who struggle with learning difficulties, or are mentally or physically disabled; or those coming to terms with stress and anxiety issues.

“We have around 50 people who come every day picked up by minibuses with their carers. We have a craft room and they build furniture or they look after the gardens or tend to the animals.

“Maureen started the animals side of the centre with llamas in the 1990s and then added rare breed sheep.

“We’re now one of the main places in the area for primary schools that are teaching children about curriculum subjects such as insects and flowers. With us they get far more than that as we have animals, reptiles and a children’s play area.

“There are that many chimney pots around here that we have a huge population we pull from yet there are still some who are less than a couple of miles who don’t know we exist. That’s probably because people don’t expect something like this to be here.”

A recent major addition to Ponderosa was the appointment of farm manager Elliot Barr from Ossett, who is relishing his new career and feels the same way as Howard and Maureen when they started.

“I took an extended diploma at Askham Bryan College and having worked at an exotic animal rescue centre in Morley and for a specialist reptile pet shop in Ossett, as well as running my own wildlife group, I’m now where I want to be.

“I’d always known about Ponderosa and when the position came up I applied three times I was that eager to get it.

“We’re working on increasing things in all areas. Our Highland cattle are getting on a bit so we’re looking at getting some new heifers and when we do we will AI them.

“We’d also like some Belted Galloways. George the Soay ram could do with some females as he hasn’t had female company; and we’re looking at increasing the reindeer herd.

“Michael the reindeer was named after one of our volunteers. We have horses, llamas and many other animals including coatis. They look like a cross between a fox, raccoon and squirrel and are part of the raccoon family.”

Elliot would also like to see the existing reptile house grown further.

“We have snakes such as boa constrictors and jungle pythons; and green iguanas, water dragons and other invertebrates. I’d love a reptile house twice the size and not just because I like them but because of the reaction we get from those who come here.”

Elliot says he feels passionate about what Maureen and Howard started all those years ago and that he, Adam and his fellow farm team - including assistant manager Jake Taylor who will be joining full-time shortly and animal keeper Eve Fearn - share their enthusiasm for helping those for whom the centre was created.

“We want to give those who come here every opportunity to enjoy a better social life and experience. We’re about helping everybody from severely disabled to anxiety sufferers. It’s about working closely with them, their carers and trained members of staff.

“I had a chap recently, who hasn’t been with us long, and who suffers anxiety stress and doesn’t normally do well with big crowds. One day he got quite stressed and kept bobbing his hood up to make the world go away. I went up to him and said if ever he was having any bother just to take five minutes, have a cup of tea in the office and chat with me. We chatted and I explained some of the things I’ve had happen in my life that have caused real anxiety and how I deal with them.

“The really great thing was that when I’d explained how I’ve never completely got over something bad that happened years ago but how I am constantly working my way towards, it he opened up. I explained that really we were no different and he seemed to find it worked. Later he told me that he’d gone on a bus and went shopping by himself for the first time in three months.”

Howard was awarded the MBE for the vision that he and Maureen had shown.

Their sons Steven and Adam are also involved. Steven is one member of the main team that now runs the centre as it is today.

WORTHY OF ACCLAIM

Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre, the small zoo and Lakeside Restaurant, are worthy of your time.

This is one small corner of Yorkshire that’s often overlooked by visitors yet the good work that is done here is a real tribute to the vision of Howard and Maureen Cook who have ploughed a great deal of time, effort and finance into an inspirational site that is deserving of far greater attention.

The Lakeside Restaurant is ideal for major events and already has a significant reputation for weddings, parties and celebrations.

Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre can be found off Smithies Lane in Heckmondwike. For more information, visit www.ponderosa-park.co.uk