To coincide with World Mental Health Day, St Mary’s students and staff had a stress free afternoon by spending time with the animals at the petting farm organised by the Students’ Union. A wide range of animals including spiders, snakes, rabbits and guinea pigs were provided for the event by local business Kidz Farm.

Dr David Cliff, a personal development coach has commented: “Although the connection with mental health may not seem obvious, the presence of an animal can have a supportive and calming effect on people. Stroking pets induces a sense of wellbeing, often creating blood pressure reduction. The warmth of contact, the brisk dog walk to maintain fitness, the cat’s calming purr, all of these offer owners gifts that are hard to place a value upon, but without which we would be clearly more impoverished.”