I see lots of children coming to the farm, and it is understandable but sad to see how frighten most of them are around the animals here. The Bedlam Farm are animals, and any animal needs to be treated cautiously, but when I see children come who are appropriate, careful and affectionate – even at two – you know they have been given the opportunity to be around the natural world, to learn how to be, to not just be aware of the dangers, but also of the wonderful connections and experiences that can come from animals. Jay Anderson walked the pasture, visited the sheep, cuddled with Simon, hung out with Flo the barn cat in the garden and gave Red a good belly-scratched.

You learn a lot about people from watching animals react to them, and the animals here are skittish around people who are afraid of them. At one point, Simon grabbed for a carrot in Jay’s hand and he nipped the edge of Jay’s figure lightly. Jay winced, cried for a moment, and then asked for another carrot to give Simon. He approached the animals slowly – his father cautioned him to be even slower – and they all were at ease around him. Border collies don’t roll over on their backs for scratching unless they feel very much at ease, full of trust. Hope Jay hangs around the farm.