The Care Farm

Oakfield Community's small Care Farm is a developing project that will run alongside our Seed-to-Plate Project. We aim to provide weekly ‘Feel Good Farming’ sessions where attendees can get involved in the day-to-day care of animals – cleaning their homes, feeding, collecting eggs, and having a good cuddle with the animals.

It is anticipated that both these projects will promote teamwork, build confidence and self-esteem, develop friendships and, most importantly, be fun.

There have been numerous findings that spending time with pets and animals can have a positive impact of both our mental and physical health, through areas such as:

• increasing physical activity
• providing companionship by decreasing loneliness
• building social skills
• reducing anxiety by providing a sense of calm and reassurance
• boosting self-confidence
• adding structure to your day

(Mental Health Foundation, 2022)

You can read more on the impact pets and animals have on mental health here, posted by the Mental Health Foundation:

Animals at Oakfield's Care Farm...