Curly's Farm is a working farm set in 10 acres of gorgeous Kent countryside, on the Isle of Sheppey. Curly's Farm prides itself on being fully inclusive where everyone can learn and develop their farming and livestock handling skills. The youngest farmers being just 3 years old, we have no upper age limit as we want everyone to access the farm!
On Curly’s Farm we work together carrying out essential and meaningful, everyday farming tasks working with the livestock that call Curly's Farm home. Learning new skills to improve confidence, self-esteem and working as a group, the young farmers will improve their social skills, tolerance of others and have an important role within the group and the farm team.
For anyone still a little puzzled, by the phrase 'care farming', it is the therapeutic use of farming practices and offers people with a defined health, social or educational need the chance to participate in a variety of farming activities for their therapeutic benefit – from animal husbandry to woodland management.
Launching the Growing Care Farming, with the Health Minster, Minister Coffey also reminded us in her speech that while care farming most importantly benefits the service’s users, it also offers benefits to many others, saying: “Care farming provides health and social care and specialist education providers with innovative and effective care options. It benefits society as a whole by reducing the strain on statutory services and the NHS, and it also helps farmers who have an alternative way to use their farm, to provide health, social and educational care services in addition to or instead of commercial production.”
We all learn to care for livestock, grow and care for home grown produce such as fruits and vegetables and learn the techniques to safely care for the farm animals.
Everyone’s contribution no matter how big or small is valid and important at Curly's Farm
Service access criteria:
Please do not refer if the patient is: o A threat to themselves or others o In a crisis situation o Any uncontrolled mental health issues or addictions
Categories:
Outdoor activities
Connecting with nature
Connecting with others
Information and advice
Additional needs catered for:
N/A
farming, connecting, skills, learning, caring, techniques, social, educational
Who can refer:
Professional referrals only