HIDDEN in the Cheshire countryside, The Children's Adventure Farm Trust provides a haven of happiness where children can forget about life's difficulties.

Set in 10-acres of land, the trust offers accommodation and day trips for children and families who are living with difficulties on a day-to-day basis.

The trust was founded in 1985 by Tim Grundy as a way to offer disadvantaged children respite in the form of a holiday or day trip.

Free holidays are now offered to groups of up to 26 people, including care staff and take place from February through to October.

The week-long holiday includes meals, planned activities, a day trip off-site, a goodie bag and a 'happy memories' DVD of their week.

CAFT offers everything from alpacas, goats and donkeys to a slip 'n' slide, an adventure playground, a sensory play room and a mini cinema.

Parents and siblings of terminally ill children can also benefit from the facilities in the bespoke family breaks which offer respite from time spent at hospices.

Bespoke family breaks for children with complex and severe disabilities are also available in specially adapted accommodation.

Last week, Playability from Orford enjoyed a day trip to the adventure farm.

The Warrington charity cares for children and young people with severe learning disabilities.

Playability manager, Cat Lord, started volunteering there when she was 15.

Describing the difference that places such as CAFT have on the children's lives, she said: "In all the school holidays we run play schemes for children with additional needs and disabilities.

"Most days we are based at our venue and do activities there or we have day trips like this to The Children's Adventure Farm.

"The equipment that the adventure farm offers our children is fantastic and it is so exciting for them.

"For someone like Toby who uses a wheelchair, for him to get to the top of a bouncy castle slide is a huge achievement for him so they get the chance to do things they wouldn't normally get to do.

"One of the children on the bus here asked 'are we going on holiday now?' so it is a great trip out for them.

"With it being so close to Warrington, it suits us brilliantly as some of our children don't like long bus rides."

To stay open, the charity needs around £1 million a year to run the farm for children and families across the region.

Fundraiser Helen Crowther, said: "If companies have dress down days or Christmas card collections, it is a really simple way for plenty of people to get involved in fundraising.

"People can join in on one of our sponsored walks or runs - there's also a family fun day in September and a fundraising ball at The Mere so there's loads of different ways that people can support us.

"We just want more people to know that we exist and learn about what we do."