We were honoured to welcome His Royal Highness Prince William, the Duke of Rothesay, to East Scryne Fruit Farm. His visit underscored our shared commitment to supporting mental health and promoting sustainable farming practices within our community.
Discussing Mental Health in Farming
We were delighted to welcome the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) and the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC), when we hosted their roundtable discussion addressing mental health challenges such as loneliness and rural isolation. As part of the FSF’s ‘Mind Your Head’ campaign, they organised a series of quarterly roundtables where they gather key voices to discuss and debate and listen to what they believe should be done to improve safe working and encourage mental wellbeing in the industry.
Prince William emphasised the importance of breaking down “taboos and stigmas around mental health,” acknowledging that these issues are often underrepresented in the farming sector.
Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, noted, “The young farmers are so enthusiastic and hard-working and they should be celebrated so it’s lovely to have someone like the Prince come and listen.”
Viki Johnston, a 25-year-old farmer from the Glamis Castle estate, shared her perspective: “He was really enthusiastic about young farmers and what we are doing as an association, and he seemed really knowledgeable about the struggles we face.”
Jim Porter, co-owner of East Scryne Fruit Farm summed up what the visit and the work of everyone present meant to him, “There’s a quiet strength in the farming world. We may work in isolation at times, but our shared values run deep—resilience, care for the land, and looking out for one another. Having that recognised during the Duke of Rothesay’s visit was a proud moment for us. His interest helped shine a light on the incredible work being done by organisations like Yellow Wellies and the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, who are pushing mental health to the forefront and giving our young people in agriculture a strong voice and support network.”
Highlighting Sustainable Farming Practices
Afterwards, during his tour of our farm, Prince William expressed his deep connection to agriculture, stating, “I have long believed that farming plays a crucial role in society.” He showed a keen interest in our sustainable farming methods and the resilience demonstrated in the face of challenges like Storm Eowyn.
Kate Porter, co-owner of East Scryne Fruit reflected, “We see ourselves as caretakers—not just of the land, but of a way of life. It was heartening to speak about that legacy, especially as we look to pass it on in better shape than we found it—not only in terms of soil and sustainability, but also in how we care for the people behind the work. Mental wellbeing has to be part of that future, so we were delighted to be able to play a small part in making this visit happen.”
Prince William’s visit reinforced our dedication to fostering a supportive environment for mental health and sustainable agriculture. We remain committed to these values, ensuring that our farm continues to be a place of growth—for both our produce and our community.
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East Scryne Fruit
Growing fruit. Growing community. To learn more about the ‘Mind Your Head’ campaign, visit www.yellowwellies.org
East Scryne Fruit 