Duchy College Military & Protective Services Academy Rural Remembrance With Battling On

Last month Level 3 and Level 3 Extended students supported a community engagement Rural Remembrance event at Merryhue farm with Battling On. Battling On The courage and devotion of our forces is recognised without doubt, however, it has also been recognised that some service personnel find it difficult to settle back into civilian life after leaving the forces. Battling On was established to support members of the British Armed Forces who have retired from the services and are struggling to re-adjust to civilian life.

Battling On is situated between Callington and Liskeard, on a tranquil hundred and twenty-four-acre Care Farm called Merryhue, and is staffed by predominately ex-forces who have experienced the difficulties associated with returning to civilian life. Merryhue Farm is home to a wide variety of livestock and animals including alpacas, pigs, goats, horses, geese, ducks, chickens, dogs and cats many of whom have been rescued or rehomed.

As a training centre Battling On has the use of dedicated workshops and teaching spaces situated across the farm which is a mixture of grassland, meadows, semi ancient bluebell woodland and has the river Lynher running through it providing a tranquil environment to learn, relax and heal. Battling On uses the best practices of green space eco therapies to help tackle issues from low self-esteem and confidence to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. At the heart of Battling On is the concept of community participation and civic responsibility. Much of the vocational training is delivered through helping with community projects. These range from the management of wildlife areas in local primary schools to the maintenance restoration and repair of designated conservation areas.” From WW1 field kitchen, WW2 battle trench, rural experiences of the blitz on local areas to fieldcraft – all attendees learned about the local population’s efforts and heroes.