A FARMER – and mother – in Cornwall who provides services to support children with special educational needs and their families has been left heartbroken after Storm Herminia.

Flooding has hit the Farming Mother CIC (community interest company) which Keeley Reading runs at Penvergate Farm, a small working farm near the coast in the Gorran area to the south of St Austell.

Keeley, who is in her 30s and has three children, including one with multiple special educational needs (SEND), has a passion for providing animal therapy at the farm.

However, her work has been dealt a blow by the torrent of water that flooded down the lane near the farm during the intense storm at the weekend.

Keeley says the lane has been wrecked and the farm driveway and a car park have been badly affected by the mud and debris that flowed off the road, meaning people won’t be able to visit the farm.

“The speed and intensity with which this destruction occurred has left us particularly reeling,” she said.

Keeley believes Cornwall Council has failed to address local concerns about flooding.

She said: “We are heartbroken that the tireless efforts and financial investment we have made to create an accessible environment for our SEND children and their families have been devastated. This incident marks yet another chapter in a troubling pattern.

“The infrastructure designed to divert water from surrounding villages has proven inadequate, a concern that many residents have raised for several years.

“The debris and hazardous materials scattered across our property, coupled with the washed-out road, have rendered the area inaccessible and unsafe.”

Keeley has called on Cornwall Council to take urgent action.

She said: “Our commitment to serving our community and providing a safe haven for SEND families remains unwavering, but it is essential that we receive the necessary assistance to rebuild and restore accessibility.”