It is a truth universally acknowledged that people can benefit from an association with the countryside and animals.

And there is no better illustration of this than the Farm Ability at the Oxford University Farm on the Wytham estate on the outskirts of Oxford.

Farm Ability is a pioneering project which provides young people and adults with autism and learning difficulties with training and work experience in farming activities.

The ‘co-farmers’ work a six-hour day up to three days a week, carrying out jobs such as grooming horses, sowing seeds, picking fruit or cooking recipes. Co-founder Corri Waitt, said: “The idea is to offer meaningful work experience on a farm and the jobs that our co-workers do are real jobs that need doing."

Started as a small pilot project two and-a-half years ago by Corri and Diane Horsman, head of education and training, Farm Ability aims to tackle the problems of bad diet, lack of exercise, poor health, obesity, unemployment, boredom and disturbed sleep – all common problems for adults with learning difficulties. And the project has achieved remarkable results.

Take Julian, for example. His mother Noriko explained: “Julian had a problem with food for a long time. He used to just eat horrible junk food like chips, pizza, burgers. Since he started Farm Ability, he has started eating many different kinds of food and likes vegetables.”

A spin-off from Farm Ability’s activities at Wytham is Oxford REAL Eggs – a not-for-profit social enterprise. REAL stands for Rural Enterprises for Adult Learning. The co-farmers deal with every aspect of the enterprise, from caring for the hens, grading eggs and packaging them, through to selling at farmers’ markets and to businesses.

There is also an ‘egg drop’ scheme for people who’d like a regular delivery. Research at Wytham has found that woodland creates a more natural habitat for hens which improves their welfare and the Oxford REAL hens enjoy such an environment. One early customer was Nicola Blackwood, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, who opened an outdoor classroom.

It is hoped the co-farmers will eventually go on to find paid employment or voluntary roles. "Finding employment is a huge problem for adults with autism," said Corri. "It's such a shame because they can make amazing employees. They have such attention to detail, they are loyal and they work very hard.”