The concept of the care farm isn’t new but in recent years it has become an increasingly central component of community-based social care across the UK – and West Wales is no exception. In fact, we’re lucky enough to have some very successful farm initiatives doing great work with the local community.
A farm environment naturally lends itself to being used for therapeutic purposes. Spending time in green spaces and being around animals are both known to help boost wellbeing and lower stress and being able to do so with the structured support from a care team can be of huge benefit to service users. Farms also offer opportunities to get involved in numerous activities that can help people learn, socialise and feel more connected with the natural environment. As a social prescribing tool, care farms can transform lives, especially for those who live with disability, mental health issues or are socially isolated.
The care farm model is something Bird Farm Alpacas near Lampeter (featured in Life Seeker Issue 14) have championed for some time and they have supported many young people with learning disabilities to learn how to care for the animals and develop new skills. Founder Emma Bird has also now joined forces with Claire Taylor from Wildflowers (featured in Life Seeker Issue 13) to enables carers and the cared for to spend quality time in nature, share their stories and make valuable therapeutic connections with others.
Further South in Pembrokeshire, Clynfyw Care Farm has been going from strength to strength since it became a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2011. Supporting adults with learning disabilities and on the autistic spectrum as well as people on a journey of mental health recovery, the project gives participants the opportunity to forge social relationships, learn valuable practical and life skills, enjoy a huge range of activities whilst receiving the bespoke support each individual needs.
Recent achievements have included a very well received garden skills course, where members of the public were able to learn how to grow food more sustainably from Clynfyw’s head gardener and a local expert on sustainable living.
April also saw the opening of Siop Clynfyw. Paul Phillips from the Clynfyw team explains,
“The shop sells some of Clynfyw’s own produce like the fantastic quality compost from the wormery and charcoal for those summer BBQs. The charcoal is locally sourced from the woodlands at Clynfyw so there are no air miles. We also sell fruit and veg grown in our gardens and craft items made by our brilliant craft team. These are one-of-a-kind pieces.
All of this produce is made by our tenants and participants. We have some incredibly hard working and talented people here who contribute to the running of Clynfyw, supported by a dedicated team of staff.”
