Donation to Bassy’s Barn
Members of Alton Lions Club (CIO) visited the Open Day at Bassy’s Barn in Chawton on Thursday (23 April) to see how the club’s Lions Den 2025 donation has been used to enhance the farm’s offering.
Now in its second year, Bassy’s Barn CIC (Community Interest Company) is a family run small holding, developed primarily for the use of SEND children and their families, but also enjoyed by adults living with dementia or having had a stroke, and their carers.
According to owner/founder, Alison Dinnematin: “Our aim is to give the experience of a petting farm, without the challenges of over stimulation faced by highly sensitive children. We have miniature farm animals, in a quiet, safe, and secluded setting.”
On Thursday, the sun was shining as Alton Lions President, Paul Taroni, and fellow Lions Annette Mill, Julie Sibley and Moira Baker, joined families who enjoyed meeting the animals on the farm, amongst them miniature goats, sheep, ponies and a lively alpaca; with ducks on one of the two ponds, soon to benefit from a bird hide; and the beginnings of an orchard walk, being developed to enable wheelchair users in particular to get up close to the fruit trees and the birds and insects they attract.
Lion Annette Mill (left) President Paul Taroni (centre) Lion Julie Sibley (right).
It was the fruit trees that were purchased with a £400 donation from the Alton Lions Den.
Posing by the newly planted Fruit Trees
As a community project, run by Mrs Dinnematin, with help from family and volunteers, visits by SEND children, dementia and stroke sufferers are free and operated on a one booking at a time policy, with each visit tailored to the needs of the individuals.
The farm is open to visitors on six days a week (closed Wednesdays) from 11am til dusk.