HAVING shared her own experiences of loneliness and isolation in the Farm Safety Foundation ’ s 2020 Mind Your Head campaign earlier this year , Milly has been working with the Farm Safety Foundation , FCN and The Farming Forum , a thriving online community with over 45,000 active members in the agricultural industry , to create a new online community for females in farming where they can have conversations about issues that matter to them , concerns for their family and the future and share advice and experiences .

The Farming Forum ’ s new ‘ Home on the Farm ’ section will feature five key areas :

• Parenting and Children on the Farm

• Family and Farming

• Food from the Farm

• Better Halves

• Women in Agriculture

According to Milly ; “ Being a farmer ’ s wife with two young children , my husband , like many farmers , works long hours on the family farm and rarely takes time for a break . I have experienced the feelings that isolation and loneliness brings , being on my own with young children all the time with little support . This is one of the reasons I supported the Mind Your

Milly Fyfe

Stephanie Berkeley

Head in February though little did I know what the following month would bring … COVID19 has really shone a light on the issue of social isolation and the importance of support and conversations and this is why this forum is really needed right now . It is important that we stick together , support each other and open up conversations about the issues we are facing – stress and anxiety , keeping our children safe ,

succession , whatever feels important to you right now is what we want to talk about .”

“ Often when you start a conversation , you realise you are not alone as other share their personal experiences . Peer-to-peer support can really help .”

Stephanie Berkeley , Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation added : “ In the face of the new reality instilled by this pandemic , we are bound together more than

Vicki Beers

ever . Chances are that you already belong to a few different groups on Facebook or WhatsApp based on friendships , neighbourhood , school , or hobbies . And while Google is a useful tool for anyone looking for advice on the internet , there ’ s something very special and very personal about being able to ask , and potentially befriend , someone living or working in the same industry . Someone who can sympathise and even

empathise with what you are going through , having been in a similar situation in the past and whose lived experiences give them wisdom that Wikipedia just doesn ’ t have .

“ Home on the Farm will work for farming because it is a forum created by women , led by women , for women and will help with the she-covery after what has been a uniquely challenging 2020 .”

According to Chris Fellows of The Farming Forum , who will be hosting the Home on the Farm section : “ When Milly and Stephanie approached me about this new female forum , I jumped at the chance . The Farming Forum has always had a mixed membership . 3,000 of our registered members are women so it just seems a logical evolution of the site to offer a voice for women in the industry to create their own network of support . The Farming Forum site has never been overly complicated or overwhelming so , Home on the Farm will be easy to use , but at the same time will be full of great information alongside a friendly , welcoming community .”

Vicki Beers , National Partnerships Manager with FCN , said : “ The Farming Forum is a valuable platform for members of the farming community to meet others in a similar situation to them and share

by women , for women and will help with the she-covery after what has been a uniquely challenging

experiences - through the good times and the bad . Having a dedicated section of the Forum for women will help to encourage a wider range of discussions around all things farming , family and health .

“ As a farming wife and mother , myself , I am proud of FCN ’ s involved in this project . Some conversations taking place on the Forum also raise concerns around stress , anxiety , loneliness and other issues . FCN has volunteers throughout England and Wales who understand farming and are here to help . For those going through a difficult time or looking to speak to someone in confidence , FCN ’ s Helpline is available to call on 03000 111 999 for anyone in need of support .”

For more information on Home on the Farm please visit www . thefarmingforum . co . uk