A SHEEP farmer who walked 142 miles from Ross-on-Wye to London to raise awareness about rural mental health said it was ‘an incredible journey’ and added that it had been an incredibly humbling experience.

Sam Stables, co-founder of the charity We Are Farming Minds, said that during his five-day walk he had met up some wonderful people both from farming and non-farming communities, who walked with him and shared their stories.

The fundraising walk, which received a £5,000 donation from the Prince of Wales, who is a patron of We are Farming Minds, boosted the fund, which is now approaching £50,000 for the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs.

Along the route Sam, carrying his ‘bag o’ worries’ met up with South Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman in Beaconsfield, who had already highlighted Sam’s 142-mile walk challenge to other members in the House of Commons.

Last Friday having completed the walk, Matt Ware, a former chairman of Herefordshire's National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, waved the Union Jack flag in celebrating Sam completing his challenge at the Farmers Club in Whitehall Court in London.

Sam reflected on his achievement afterwards and said that the whole reason for this walk was a message of hope to those suffering from mental health issues in the rural community and added: “Hope that there are incredible support lines within the farming community to speak to because of the immense pressures farmers face every single day.

"It's been an incredibly humbling experience. It's really restored my faith in humanity.

"There's some amazing people out there who want to support, who want to look after, share stories in the knowledge that it is okay to talk."

Sam concluded that his aim is to give the next generation of farmers the voice, confidence, and support they deserve as they are carrying more weight on their shoulders than ever before.