Residents at a Brigg care home enjoyed a heartwarming festive treat after welcoming a special Christmas animal therapy visit from The Purple Pig Farm.
The visit brought a variety of friendly animals into The Birches care home, including an owl, rabbits, guinea pigs, a tortoise and even a bearded dragon. Residents were given the chance to meet, stroke and learn about each animal, with sessions tailored so people could take part either in communal lounges or quietly in their own rooms if preferred.
The Purple Pig Farm works across Lincolnshire and beyond, providing animal therapy experiences for care settings, schools and community groups. Their visits are designed to support wellbeing, boost confidence and encourage social interaction.
The Birches is owned and managed by social care group HICA and provides residential support for adults with learning disabilities and autism. The festive visit was made possible through the HICA Shine Fund, which allows every HICA home to organise inclusive activities each year that can be enjoyed by residents of all abilities.
Anita Gregory, Manager at The Birches, said the session had a lasting impact on everyone involved.
“It was a lovely afternoon and the reaction from residents was brilliant. The animals were so calm, which helped everyone feel comfortable and curious. It encouraged a lot of conversation, especially from people wanting to talk about pets they’d had or animals they remembered growing up. Sessions like this make a genuine difference to people’s confidence and help bring the home together, and it felt particularly special to do it at this time of year.”
Residents continued talking about the experience long after the animals had left, with many describing how unusual and memorable it was to meet an owl up close.
Resident Tracey Harris said, “I never thought I’d find myself sitting in the lounge with an owl just a few inches away from me. It was such a gentle, steady little thing that I felt completely relaxed with it. I’ve always liked animals, but I’ve never been this close to something like that before and it brought back lots of memories of pets we had when I was younger. It brightened the whole afternoon and made the place feel even more festive.”
