After many years of planning, we would like to introduce our new social enterprise project on the farm - The Earth Works Project. We are happy to hear from groups who think they could benefit from some time on the farm working with our horticultural therapist and others of our staff here. We welcome enquiries from all sorts of groups including those with post traumatic stress, in rehabilitation, low income families, excluded young people, ex young offenders and the homeless.

The earth works project aims to improve the health and well being of participants through a non-clinical therapeutic involvement in horticulture. We work with existing clinical practitioners to develop interactive programs that can be specific to the needs of an individual or as group learning.

A typical session will start with the preparation and lighting of a fire in a brasier to boil water for tea making. We discuss what the activity will be that session whilst drinking the freshly brewed tea with biscuits.

All activities promote the use of basic horticultural techniques in the production of organic vegetables, herbs and cut-flowers from ‘seed to table’. We aim to foster a connection with land, nature, food production and self whilst developing self-confidence, discipline and co-operation skills as well as allowing participants to access a potential new career or interest pathway.

During this summer we have worked with The Churn project in Cirencester who have really helped to get the project up and running. They are returning for another course this autumn. We are also working with Adult Education services in the Cotswolds as part of their remit to encourage people back into learning and with the military charity Combat Stress who are coming with eight individuals for a taster session next month.
Thank you to all who have been involved and continue to help the project gro

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Here at Abbey Home Farm we are interested in working with any groups and charities that might like to use our facilities on a weekly, monthly or just once off basis. We can offer growing, helping with the animals (limited numbers) conservation work and in time to come green woodworking and basic building skills.

For general details about the Care Farming Initiative in UK see www.ncfi.org.uk