at birkhill house
The focus at Birkhill House is on wellness & mindfulness
At Birkhill House
WELLNESS & MINDFULNESS
At Birkhill House is a newly established animal assisted activity/therapy venture in the Scottish Borders, which also offers an array of modern and traditional crafting opportunities. The focus at Birkhill House is on wellness and mindfulness – taking a moment out to be compassionate and nurture the creative side in all of us.
Set on nine acres of beautiful land about 30 miles south of Edinburgh city centre, the workshops take place in renovated stables dating back to the early 1800s. With a rich farming and equine history, the property is now a busy small-holding, whose residents include Huacaya alpacas, Castlemilk Moorit sheep, pygmy & Golden Guernsey goats, 14 beautiful domestic Ragdoll cats, a gaggle of small dogs, a plethora of hens and a friendly pair of peacocks.
Testimonials
Daniel, 14, was at a low ebb because of the stresses of high school when Lara invited us to come and have some therapeutic ‘kitten time’. I can honestly say it was the best thing we could have done. Our weekly sessions really helped Daniel feel in touch with a wider and kinder world beyond school. The kittens made us laugh together, and gave Daniel something he could care for, which helped him feel more positive. We still talk about the kittens very often and it’s good to know Daniel can go and visit Lara’s if he needs to.
Daniel's mum - Scottish Borders
Testimonials
I took students to to visit Birkhill to specifically look at suitable cat accommodation. The cat accommodation was spacious, light and airy with cosy reading room. The students were so taken with the set up and the calming ambiance they asked to be bought to visit the cats prior to all assessments. They all agreed they felt relaxed, peaceful and rejuvenated and in a better frame of mind for returning to college to continue classes. But of course they would loved to have stayed longer. With more awareness of mental well-being, as a group, we all agreed that Lara's facilities will be an asset to people of all ages providing a positive distraction from chaotic busy lives.
Gert Riddell, Lecturer in Animal Care, Scottish Borders College
Testimonials
Simply the most relaxing experience. Really helped me out, and I'd recommend it to anyone. If you're going through a difficult time or just feel as though you need some cheering up, and you like cats, then this will almost certainly be the perfect solution. I'd also recommend it to writers that feel as though they need a bit of down time to come up with new ideas.
