Our Ethos
Good Hope Farm is a therapeutic day centre for Adults with Learning Disabilities organised around a small organic farm.
Activities on the farm include taking part in horticulture: cultivating organically (without the use of chemicals) seasonal herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers to sell the produce (market or on site) to the local community.
We assess each individual’s needs to establish a tailored plan of work for each day. Activities are chosen so they give a real sense of achievement and may be designed to set up more challenging work if suitable to the individual. This is designed to empower individuals, giving them the chance to progress and thrive, all in a safe, nurturing and natural environment.
Although the farm offers purposeful work, it is intended also to be a place of peace, joy and healing through the beauty of the garden with its flowers, aromatic herbs and physical contact with nature. This interaction has proven to be essential to promote balance and well-being. There are places to sit and contemplate if the person wishes to.
Our aim is to change the perception of disability and create a positive image of what these special individuals can achieve. Our farm is a well-presented professional environment where we offer high quality produce for sale.
Nature
Workshops
Our workshops focus on various creative pursuits such as art, dance, music and product making (soap and hand made garden design products). We also hold yoga and meditation sessions to promote spiritual well-being and mindfulness.
See more about our workshops here.
Confidence
Restorative abilities
Contact with nature brings recovery, well-being and relaxation.
Our garden includes colourful flowers, delicious fruits and vegetables, delightful fragrant herbs and a place for sitting and enjoying the restorative and uplifting benefits of being in nature. This is primordial for adults with Learning Disabilities, who often are limited in their experiences of the world and especially access to nature.
Sustainability
Sustainability and a balanced eco-system have become important topics in the last few years with the disappearance of polyculture, the demineralisation of soil and the struggle of bees to pollinate.
We are committed to generating a small but rich eco-system where flowers, herbs, vegetables and insects create the correct balance for a protected and abundant natural environment. We cultivate and encourage wildlife and wildflowers among our plantation beds for this purpose and reuse our own seeds to create a stronger self-sustainable garden.
To maximise our own natural resources, we create our own compost and collect rainwater as much as possible for the benefit of our plants. We rely on recycling to avoid unnecessary waste and improve our sustainability. We cultivate seasonal produce and flowers -locally grown, not flown-, to limit our carbon footprint and reduce food miles wherever possible.
Corporate volunteering
We are very passionate about Good Hope Farm and it means a lot to see volunteers develop skills and teamwork as well as supporting people with learning difficulties and disabilities to thrive with us in nature.
We can offer various activities subject to the weather and tasks potentially completed by previous teams. We also encourage any hidden talents and skills to come to the fore. Keen gardeners, painters, carpenters and florists are encouraged to put their hand up. We also offer light tasks as an option for those less able to participate in listed activities.
We can also plan a specific project to achieve on the day.
This is always a fun and active day.
Let us know if you are interested by contacting us or click the button below to download a flyer.
The Good Hope Farm Team
