Teenagers enjoy two day summer camp with Woodford Halse project

Stable Mates Therapy is based in the village and is an animal-assisted therapy business dealing mainly with children with behavioural and emotional issues. The animals help by teaching about nurture, appropriate touch and energy, body language and immediate non judgmental feedback.

The two day camp was offered to five teenage boys from the Looked After Children section to come and experience the type of adventure holiday enjoyed by more mainstream kids, but not usually a viable option for them.

A spokesman for Stable Mates said: "With much good will from local contacts we were able to put together a program to give them a very full two days, plus camping at Stable Mates.

"On the first morning, Banbury Canoe Club agreed to facilitate them canoing from Cropredy to Claydon, where we stopped for a picnic. We then hiked down to Appletree Stud so that the boys could participate in a two hour horse care and riding session, before returning to Stable Mates to put up their own tents for the night.

"The following day we went to Great Ground Farm, Woodford Halse, where we were able to go alpaca walking and meet the three reindeer. After a session learning about spinning alpaca fleece and making felt it was lunchtime. We then moved on to Brick Hill Fishery for an afternoon of fishing which after a very hectic couple of days and the excitement of camping (for the first time in many cases) was a welcomed calming activity!

"All the boys completed and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, showing enthusiasm and resilience for each new challenge."