A CHARITABLE farm which has received a £10,000 boost for improved facilities received a visit from is constituency MP.

Tiptree MP Priti Patel took time to visit Lauriston Farm, on the Blackwater Estuary near Goldhanger at the weekend.

The farm is a charitable, community owned social farming business and works with people who have learning disabilities.

It is a safe environment in which everyone can help to grow vegetables, raise cattle and sheep, as well as see and look after wildlife.

The £10,000 National Lottery Community Fund grant, which they received earlier this year, has helped them to create and host educational farm walks.

Plans are also in hand for a major update of the Farm’s kitchen facilities.

Speaking after her tour of the Farm Priti said: “Lauriston Farm is doing some wonderful, inspirational work in caring for an internationally important wildlife habitat as well as improving the lives of people with learning disabilities, giving them opportunities to enjoy activities that many of us might take for granted but to them are absolutely huge.

"It was a pleasure to learn first-hand all about the great things they do here and to see that the grant the Farm has received from the Lottery’s Community Fund is being put to good use.

“The Farm is doing all this excellent work and is also a genuine business supplying fresh biodynamic vegetables from their own fields to markets and local customers and producing rare breed lamb, mutton and beef. It is a very impressive operation socially, environmentally and economically.”

Spencer Christy, Farm Director added: “It was pleasure to show Priti over the Farm, to talk her through what we are doing here and to introduce her to some of our team.

"Priti’s enthusiasm for our work was obvious and we greatly appreciate her interest. Being in touch with key local stakeholders is very important for us, going forward.”