NCFI supports thriving Staffordshire care farm

Posted 31 January 2011

Watch the video on our YouTube channel.

Sherratts Wood is one of many farms supported by the National Care Farming Initiative (NCFI), and is now a thriving business providing support to improve physical and mental health and well-being.

Brendon and Louise Fletcher-Chard run the 18-acre farm in Staffordshire and aim to provide a place where everyone can exercise choice, independence and improved wellbeing, irrespective of ability or disability.

They are currently receiving support from the NCFI, an initiative created in 2005, inspired by a conference at Harper Adams University College.

The NCFI is based at the University College in Shropshire, and was established to raise awareness of the benefits of care farming and to provide practical support and advice to farmers and agencies that wish to become involved.  It is supported by its four partners and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Care farming projects involve commercial farms, woodlands and market gardens working with health and social care agencies to provide normal farming activities to improve participants' physical and mental health and well-being.

Farming activities and the connection with nature in the rural environment are proven to improve the quality of life for suffers of mental health issues and depression, work-related stress, learning difficulties or those with a drug or alcohol history. Becoming involved with activities on a working farm can also be very beneficial for rehabilitation and re-education for disaffected young people.

Here is a video featuring the work of Sherratts Wood.

www.ncfi.org.uk

www.sherrattswood.com