Social Farms and Gardens Programmes

Get hands-on in nature, with activities that boost confidence, develop practical skills, and support physical wellbeing.

• Growing and Horticulture Programme
Learn to nurture vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers through every stage of growth - from preparing the soil and sowing seeds to maintenance, pest control, pruning, and harvesting.

• Animal Care and Husbandry Programme
Gain experience in caring for animals, from weaning lambs and milking cows to collecting eggs, cleaning enclosures, and ensuring every animal is well-fed and cared for.

• Countryside Management Programme
Help care for the land, its plants and animals through sustainable activities such as tree planting, hedge laying, and maintaining pathways and waterways.

Creative Programmes

Connect with nature through creativity and self-expression, building communication skills, emotional regulation, and practical abilities in a supportive, therapeutic environment.

• Nature-Based Arts and Crafts Programme
  Create seasonal arts and crafts using natural materials, from wildflower fabric printing and leaf-pressed pottery, to wood-based crafts, textiles, and artwork inspired by nature. 
• Creative Arts for Wellbeing Programme
  Explore self-expression and connection through creative writing, mindfulness in nature, drumming circles, seasonal folk songs, and drama activities that celebrate the rhythms of the natural world.

Food and Retail Programmes

Gain life skills and discover new abilities, ideal for people working towards supported volunteering or employment, or seeking to develop greater independence.

• Catering, Food Preparation and Processing Programme
  Gain hands-on kitchen experience while learning about healthy nutrition. Prepare seasonal produce like jams for our shops, cakes for our cafés, and recipes for the whole community to enjoy.

• Retail and Customer Service Programme
  Develop practical skills and confidence in customer service, stock management, handling money, and order preparation, within a supportive, real-world setting.

The outcomes of nature-based activities

At Camphill Village Trust, we’ve always been passionate about enabling a Life of Opportunity through the power of nature. That’s because we can see the incredible impact that connecting to the world around us can have on health, confidence, and wellbeing.

Our Nature-based Therapies and Skills Programmes can help with physical and mental health, social connections, learning, and skills development. It can also reduce reliance on health and social care services.

It’s holistic and person-centred. Together, we’ll explore how nature can guide us in designing meaningful, inclusive experiences tailored to each individual’s needs and strengths - improving health and wellbeing as well as life and vocational skills. So, every experience and every impact are different, but common outcomes include:

• Increased self-advocacy, agency, and independence.
• Increased confidence and self-esteem.
• Increased inclusion and social connection.
• Increased sense of purpose, meaning, and value.
• Increased life and/or vocational skills.
• Improved health and wellbeing.