Rewarding experience 

Care farming for   mental health & well being   

Our mission is to provide a safe, inclusive, and positive therapeutic learning environment for adults and young people, particularly those experiencing high levels of adversity. We focus on enabling individuals with learning disabilities, SEND, SEM, mental health issues, depression, anxiety, and PTSD to develop new skills and build confidence in a supportive, nature-based setting. Through hands-on experiences, we aim to offer a space where personal growth and well-being can thrive.

We offer a one-to-one service and group sessions throughout the year.                  

 What is Care Farming?

Care farming, also known as green care or social farming, is the therapeutic use of farming practices to provide a supervised, structured service aimed at social care, rehabilitation, or education. It combines structured nature-based programmes designed to benefit health, social care, or educational outcomes for individuals with specific needs.

Adults and young people attend care farms for various reasons, such as specialist education, health and social care, or to improve their overall health and wellbeing

What makes care farming unique is that our service users have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the day-to-day running of the farm, engaging in activities such as animal care and horticulture.

Through these hands-on experiences, individuals not only gain practical skills but also experience personal growth in a supportive, therapeutic environment.

Who is a  care farm for?

Frampton Farm provides services for individuals with defined diagnoses, including adults and children with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs), mental health issues, PTSD, children excluded from school, and more.

 Care farming is gaining wider recognition from health professionals, special education providers, social care commissioners, GPs, and families as an effective way to support individuals facing a range of challenges. At Frampton Farm, we offer a unique environment where individuals can engage with nature, animals, and hands-on tasks, promoting emotional wellbeing and personal development in a safe and inclusive setting.

 Who is a care farm for?

Frampton Farm offers health, social care, and educational providers an effective alternative option, helping to reduce the strain on the NHS. By providing therapeutic and engaging experiences through care farming, we support individuals with a variety of needs, contributing to improved mental and physical wellbeing while offering a valuable resource for those who require specialised care or education.

What happens on  the farm? 

Service users are part of a small, supportive group that actively contributes to the daily running of Frampton Farm. They assist with feeding and caring for a variety of animals, including chickens, cows, ducks, pigs, sheep, goats, and alpacas. Participants learn valuable skills in animal husbandry, field maintenance, and shelter care, as well as engage in activities like taking goats or alpacas for walks.

The farm's tasks change with the seasons, so one month you might be helping to round up the ewes for pregnancy scanning, and another month you could be assisting with lambing. Additionally, you will work in our polytunnels and vegetable beds, helping to sow seeds, plant, weed, move manure, water plants, and even harvest produce to take home. This hands-on approach provides a therapeutic and productive environment for learning and growth.

How care farming  helps

Spending time outdoors in nature has been shown to significantly improve both mental and physical health. It can help reduce anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure, and decrease stress hormones, leading to an overall improvement in mood. Being immersed in natural surroundings has a calming effect, boosting feelings of happiness and reducing negative emotions. Nature provides a peaceful and restorative environment that promotes well-being and a sense of connection to the world around us.

Being part of the farm team provides a sense of responsibility as you care for the animals, work alongside us, and contribute to the day-to-day running of the farm. This hands-on involvement helps you grow your confidence and self-esteem, as you develop new skills and experience a sense of accomplishment through meaningful tasks. Working with animals and the land fosters a strong sense of purpose and achievement, making you feel valued as part of the team.

Our  Farm Animals

We have a mixture of animals, on our farm most are pets and rescue animals but we do have some commercial ewes for breeding. Their lambs are mainly sold to other small holders as breeding stock / pets.

We have over 100 animals on our farm, including various breeds of sheep, pigs, Boer goats, pygmy goats, rescue hens, several breeds of chickens, alpacas, cows, and a number of horses and ponies.

Most of our animals are very sociable and enjoy human interaction. They love being hand-fed and fussed over, making them perfect for visitors to meet and interact with.

Horticulture   Area

We have a dedicated horticultural area on the farm, featuring a fruit and salad polytunnel, an educational polytunnel where students can sow and grow their own produce, a greenhouse, a herb garden, vegetable patches, and a fruit patch.

Throughout the farm, you'll find hedgerows and British native trees. In 2024, we've begun collaborating with service users to plant even more trees, including a small apple orchard. We're also planning to create two new garden spaces in 2025: a sensory garden and a wildlife garden.

Wildlife.

Frampton Farm is a sanctuary for wildlife, home to foxes, rabbits, badgers, and various bird species. Over the years, many trees have fallen, but the family is dedicated to planting thousands of UK native trees. This effort not only helps encourage more wildlife but also contributes to the wider goal of environmental conservation.

Service users will play a key role in rewilding parts of our land, planting more flowers and trees, as well as creating bird feeders and providing nesting material for the birds. Their contributions will help enhance the natural environment and support local wildlife.