Charlotte Eades-Willis was not really speaking when she moved to Sutton St Edmund aged 11.
She had been diagnosed as having asperger’s and mum Suzanne thought a move to a home with land so they could keep animals would be beneficial.
The first animals they brought on to the smallholding on Broadgate were mare and foal miniature Shetland ponies, Faith and Charity.
Suzanne says: “I told Charlotte that Charity was hers and she spent every day with this little chestnut foal and she started to talk to it. She wasn’t using proper words, but nearly proper words.”
Charlotte’s diagnosis was “high functioning autistic with asperger’s”, and Suzanne says: “I was told, because of her social skills and her inability to mix with other people, even to be in a classroom with other people, that she would never get anywhere.”
Suzanne was not to know then that her daughter would go on not only to talk properly to the animals and, in time, to other people, but to achieve eight GCSEs at grades A and B at the George Farmer School at Holbeach.
She then went on to study for an HND in photography at Stamford College before successfully completing a foundation degree in lens based media.
Charlotte (21) is now studying part time at Lincoln University to “top up” her qualification to a full honours award.
Alongside her study, always accompanied by a carer because she is unaware of hazards and has no concept of time, Charlotte has developed a passion for animals, and rare breeds in particular.
In fact, Charlotte tells me: “It makes me happy. I wouldn’t carry on living if it wasn’t for my mum and my animals.”
Chickens, geese, ducks and rare breed turkeys followed the Shetlands on to the smallholding, as well as rare breed Mangalitzas, the closest thing to the now extinct Lincolnshire Curly Coated pig, plus pygmy goats and rare breed Golden Guernsey goats.
Suzanne says: “There have been numerous events on the smallholding that have reduced me to tears because of the gratification Charlotte gets out of the animals. I can only describe the smallholding as part of Charlotte’s being.”
Busy, noisy situations still cause a “meltdown”, but Charlotte has developed coping strategies to deal with people.
Her main carer is her mum, with support for both of them from professional carers because Suzanne has Lupus Antiphospholipid Syndrome and is prone to clotting at any time.
Suzanne has needed more help recently because she’s been out of action since breaking both legs after falling into a set of chain harrows.
“That was an epic day,” she says. “The fire brigade had to cut me out.”