Chediston Care Farming holds open day at Halesworth base

FARM-BASED therapy will be on display on Wednesday as Chediston Care Farming, near Halesworth, holds its first open day

The event takes place between 10am and 3pm, and guestsinclludes members of the local authority care service, rehabilitation charities and armed services rehabilitation staff.

Care Farming is the therapeutic use of farming activities to improve health and to provide relaxing and rewarding activity in the countryside for people who are suffering from mental health problems, or learning to cope with physical or neurological disabilities.

Although the concept is well established in some other countries, it’s relatively new to Britain, and Chediston Care Farming, based at Bridge Farm, Chediston, near Halesworth, is one of just 21 care farms in the East of England.

Clients or ‘Farm Helpers’ buy a weekly or daily placement on the farm, enabling them to participate in a range of activities such as looking after farm animals, growing vegetables in its wheelchair-accessible raised beds, helping at lambing time and managing trees and conservation areas.

All activities at the farm take place under the guidance and supervision of occupational therapists.

The idea is that being a farm helper helps people overcome the difficulties they are facing and to experience purpose in life through engaging in a range of different activities.

Chediston Care Farming is a Social Enterprise accredited by Suffolk County Council as an approved care provider and a member of the East Anglian Care Farming Group