Pause on the Farm - A Root & Rise Together Experience

Most of us don’t realise how much we’re carrying until we stop. And stopping’s the hardest bit, isn’t it?

 

We’ve created this programme because we know exactly what that feels like, we’ve both hit burnout ourselves. We know how it creeps up on you, how your body keeps score, and how hard it can be to pause before you break.


That’s why this space exists. We all need time to settle, get back into your body, and let some of the weight you’ve been carrying shift—even if it’s only for a little while, here on the farm with us.


Pause on the Farm is a safe, no-pressure afternoon where you get to reset your body and mind. We’ve designed it with purpose, care, and lived experience.



There’s no pretending, no “putting on a face,” and no need to push through. Just time to breathe, reset your nervous system, and leave feeling a little bit more like yourself again.


What actually happens?


When you arrive, we’ll welcome you in and give you time to settle.


You might meet the farm cat first, or just take a moment to breathe and look around.


Animal time is of course part of the session—but it’s always done gently and at your pace.

Kate will guide you through feeding the goats, stroking the sheep, or spending quiet time near the cows. It’s all supervised and calm. No rushing about, no pressure to join in if you’d rather just watch.


Animals bring something special to these sessions—they help people slow down in a way that feels natural, without words. But it’s all done safely, with care and attention to how you’re feeling on the day.


The rest of the session is designed to help you physically and emotionally reset, not just for the afternoon, but in ways that you can carry with you afterwards.


Here’s what’s included:

·      Gentle movement to shake off what’s stuck—we’re not built to hold everything in

·      A simple explanation of what stress actually does to you—no waffle, no jargon, just real knowledge that helps you stop blaming yourself

·      Trauma-informed breath and body tools that work when life’s loud—you’ll leave with something you can use on the school run, in a queue, or at 3am when your head won’t switch off

·      A letting-go ritual—quiet, personal, and private. A way to gently set something down

·      Time with the animals—not just “a nice thing to do,” but a proven way to calm the body and settle the mind

·      A real-life intention—something small, doable, and yours to take away. We’ll write it on a card for you to keep.


We finish with a cuppa and a sit-down.



Why us?


Because we’ve lived this too. We’re not here to preach or perform—we’re here to host the kind of space we wish we’d had.


Kate comes from an NHS background, with years of experience supporting others through practical wellbeing approaches and years of training delivery experience. She also knows the animals inside out—what calms them, what calms us, and how being around them works both ways. The beautiful farm is also her home, which she is kindly opening up to help others to reset and breathe.


Nicky is a qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) coach, delivering trauma-informed stress education and coaching for real people navigating stress, burnout, and life’s messier bits.



Who’s it for?


If you’re:

·      Running on empty

·      Stuck in survival mode

·      Struggling to switch off or sleep

·      A carer, holding everyone else together while running yourself ragged

·      Leading a department or team that’s been through a tough time and needs a             mental health reset with a bit of team connection and breathing space

·      Just needing a proper pause—without having to explain yourself first



This is for you. You don’t need to be “good at relaxing“. You just need to turn up.


Workshop Details

- 3 1/2 hour Afternoon sessions (we’ll share times when you enquire)

- Small groups, carefully matched to get the right dynamic.

- Held on the farm, in nature, alongside the animals

How to join


We’re running sessions throughout the summer.

 

If this feels like something you need, get in touch to join the waiting list.


We’ll chat to you first—nothing formal, just a check-in to make sure it’s the right fit and the right group for you.


Group sizes are intentionally kept small to make sure the experience works for both sides of the session.


Pause on the Farm. A safe place to land, breathe, and begin again.


Bookings for First Thought Training in Partnership with Rise and Root Together

Pause on the Farm – SAS Week Wellbeing Workshop 8th Oct.


•A calming half-day wellbeing workshop with animals, breathwork and nature – designed to help SAS doctors pause, reset and recharge.

• Date: Wednesday 8th October 2025

Limited places available;

• Times:

 Morning: 9:00am–12:30pm

 Afternoon: 1:30pm–5:00pm

• Location: McNeil's Mill Farm, Doncaster

• Head over to our shop to book your place.



Feedback from our lovely Visitors...


"You were both very welcoming, I wouldn’t normally talk so freely in fact I surprised myself but it was a nice small group and there was no pressure. I’m already using the ideas you gave me and I was very grateful for your gentle kind manner. The animals are lovely and you’re right they do instantly calm you. I really needed a little bit of time and space and I’m so glad I signed up because I definitely found it with you." - Michelle


"The session was great, very informative about the Vagus Nerve - I didn't know anything about.  I will go for massage for this too. The simplified technique of doing Mindfulness Breathing (using hands) was very helpful, I will definitely practise this and I have shared this simple way with friends and colleagues.  I thought we were made to feel very welcomed by both Nicky and Kate but in particular by Kate as it is her home and property.  I thoroughly enjoyed the whole event.  I left feeling happy, calm and revitalised. From attending this session, I have decided to take up Horse-Riding again as a "ME" Time Hobby and I have booked myself in to a local Riding Stables. " - Jan


"The farm was amazing, the animals (including the cat) was fantastic! Such a calm setting, really good for the purpose of the session. Would 100% recommend!" Jack


"Our greeting was warm and welcoming and this was maintained throughout and the group was facilitated very well. Lived experience was appreciated and the group was relaxed and made to feel comfortable to share." - Jason


"This activity is a fantastic way to bring people together and encourage open communication. I believe it would be a valuable team-building opportunity for businesses of any size, bringing with it better relationships between colleagues and managers, leading to a more positive and collaborative work environment." Mandy


"I think this was amazing, it brought us closer as a team even though I thought we were already close. I also feel like you gave us time to open up and share as much as we wanted to without feeling rushed. It's made me think more of myself (even though I do still feel bad for that haha) but it's made me think of what I need and want. I still think a lot about others needs because that is just the person I am and I do genuinely care about people but it's about thinking of me a little bit more so that I have more in me if anyone else does need to lean on me. Thank you again" Katie


"I could have stayed all day! But the shorter session was enough to point me in the right direction of tools I can use to help myself and I’ve used it to sign up for a more in depth session in a couple of months" - Michelle


"Amazing Wellbeing experience!!

Huge thank you to Claire for organising I absolutely loved it!!! The sheep were my favourite" Lucinda



Animal welfare is paramount to us; plentiful fresh feed and water, along with shelter from the elements is offered to every species you can find here on the farm. Non of our animals enter the food chain, we are a high health pedigree herd/flock. A happy animal gives us something back - the ongoing pleasure of working with them and successfully breeding the next generation.