Nestled in the heart of the Ceredigion countryside, Woody’s Lodge at Penlan Farm near Llandysul is a new drop-in and support centre for veterans, reservists, emergency personnel and their families. A branch of the Woody’s Lodge charity based in South Wales, the site opened last month and gives veterans in the Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire area a place to connect and access practical help, support and advice.

Run by West Wales Project Manager and Afghanistan veteran Steve Owen, the farm is a welcome resource for local veterans, police, RNLI, fire or ambulance service personnel who feel isolated or need mental health support. Steve explains:

“People can drop in just to say hello and meet other veterans. If they want to talk to someone who understands what they’re going through, we’re here to listen. If they just want to come and find a quiet spot in the garden to sit and have a bit of time to themselves, they can.

And if they need advice, we’ll find the answers. We also work closely with a trusted network of charities which means we can refer people to the right specialist help where we need to.”

There are big plans ahead. As part of the Woody’s Lodge ‘Green Green Grass of Home’ project, Penlan Farm’s idyllic country setting makes it the perfect spot to enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of getting back to nature. Part of the grounds has already been transformed into a peaceful sensory garden. There are also plans to deliver outdoor activities and workshops in conjunction with other organisations as well as free camping holidays to veterans and their families.

If you’d like to access support, drop-in or volunteer at Penlan Farm, contact Steve on 01559 361328 or email steve@woodyslodge.org (Drop-ins are slightly restricted at the moment due to Covid-19, so it’s best to book before you go.)

You can also stay up to date with all the Woody’s Lodge news and events on their Facebook page.