SweetTree Fields Farm Welcomes Back Visitors!

We are delighted to welcome a brand-new face to the SweetTree family! Christy Sephton joined us recently, taking on the role of project leader on the SweetTree Fields Farm and bringing with her an abundance of eagerness! After an 18-month hiatus, the farm once again opened its doors to clients and friends on the 25^th of June.

SweetTree Fields Farm is a 14-acre rural retreat care farm, originally established in 2013, that has been designed to create positive experiences within a safe, nurturing, and social environment. It offers activities ranging from gardening and horticulture to woodwork and animal care, suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

Each participant, or Co-Farmer, is unique in their health or social care needs, but we believe with our support, that each has the ability to contribute to the farm and wider community in their own individual way. Safety is the highest priority and the activities offered are constantly being re-shaped in the light of the latest guidelines to ensure we provide a Covid-19 secure environment.

We caught up with Christy to find out her experience of joining the farm and what made her so passionate about applying for the role.

“I first heard about SweetTree and their care farm when I was approached with the opportunity to apply for the role of farm project leader. The farm is a beautiful and peaceful haven that encourages independence and good mental health for people from all walks of life including those with learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries, dementia, and many other care needs. Activities may involve building a bird box, or even just being social. At the end of the day, we hope our co-farmers – and the support staff – leave SweetTree Fields Farm with a sense of accomplishment and a smile on their faces.

I have worked at SweetTree Fields Farm for just over a month now, and I have loved every minute of it. The passion and care is unrivalled and so much thought and effort is poured into every type of planning that goes on. Clients and co-farmers are truly at the centre of everything we do, and community care is something we live and breathe.

Absolutely everyone at SweetTree has the same goal and the same purpose – to give those with varying needs a better quality of life. The way that the teams work with each other across all departments to achieve this goal is truly inspiring. Selfishness and ego are left at the door when clients are involved, and it is always about them.

I’m excited to meet the clients that will be visiting the farm in the next few weeks, and I look forward to working with the team to truly make a difference in people’s lives – no matter how small it may seem to us. ”

SweetTree Fields Farm Mission

Our mission is to make a positive difference to the lives of vulnerable people who are experiencing social or educational exclusion, by providing meaningful experiences in a natural environment, and to help them grow to become confident, well-balanced individuals who are socially included.

We look forward to sharing stories and photos of what our Co-Farmers and visitors to the farm get up to over the coming weeks and months!

Christy with one of her new farm friends!