Why I’m Working to Create a Rural Wellbeing Project in Somerset

by Pip Langdon on 4th Jan 2026

My name is Pip, and I am the founder of the Merry Moos Farm Project CIC — a rural wellbeing project I am working to establish just outside Taunton in Somerset.

The idea for Merry Moos came from lived experience. Over the years, I have seen first-hand how isolation, stress, and mental health challenges can affect people living in rural communities — particularly older adults, people, and those working in agriculture. The countryside can be beautiful, but it can also be incredibly lonely.

In 2021, I lost my farming business due to a bump in my road, I set Merry Moos to assist others that were going or had gone through a well-being issue, but trying to find funding was proving to be difficult. That experience was hard, but it also strengthened my determination to try again — this time with clearer structure, stronger planning, and a deep commitment to doing things properly and sustainably.

Merry Moos is not about clinical services or formal therapy. The vision is to create a safe, calm, non-judgemental farm environment where people can reconnect — with nature, animals, and each other. Activities would include gentle animal interaction, therapeutic horticulture, light farm tasks, and time outdoors. Sometimes, simply having a place to belong can make all the difference.

At the moment, the project is still in development. We have identified a suitable farm and secured a significant proportion of the funding required to move forward. The remaining work is about building the right relationships, gaining guidance, and connecting with people who understand the value of community-led wellbeing initiatives.

Setting up a CIC has not been easy. Social projects that don’t fit neatly into traditional funding models often fall between the cracks, and I’ve spent countless hours contacting organisations, funders, and networks. What keeps me going is the belief that projects like this matter — and that rural communities deserve support that feels human, accessible, and grounded.

By joining Women Mean Biz, I’m hoping to connect with other women who understand the realities of building something from the ground up. I’m not here with all the answers — I’m here to learn, share, and hopefully find encouragement, insight, and connections that help turn this vision into something real.

Merry Moos is about people first. If it succeeds, it will be because of the community around it — and the women who helped shape it along the way.