RURAL CAREAT CHURCH FARM, ARDELEY

Where care for land and people meet

Enabling people with learning disabilities to work on a farm, learn new

skills and make friends

What is Rural Care?Rural Care provides training and work experience for people with learning disabilities and/or mental health issues in a supportive and caring environment within a fully working farm, here at Church Farm, Ardeley.

We also work in partnership with North Hertfordshire College to provide accredited training for their students with learning disabilities on the farm.

Volunteers are welcome and can help out with Rural Care or can work on their own so they can enjoy the tranquility of the farm.

Church Farm An amazing, beautiful place to work and learn new skillsChurch Farm is a 175 acre farm with rare breed livestock such as Berkshire and British lop pigs, Red Poll cattle and Black Welsh Mountain sheep.

We have chickens roaming in the fruit orchard, geese in the nut orchard and turkeys in the woodland, as well as six acres of organically grown vegetables and a pick-your-own soft fruit area. The produce is sold via the Farm Store, Café, Mobile Shop and Vegetable/Meat Box Scheme.

All of this enables us at Rural Care to get involved in lots of different jobs and tasks. We are the co-farmers.

Here’s some feedback from our co-farmers

“I work here! I like coming here. We cleaned out the chickens and they looked so happy with their new straw” - June

“Weeding - I love weeding!” - Janice

“The orphaned lamb sits on my lap and I have to feed it milk with a bottle. The lamb thinks I am his dad” - Ronald

Getting involved is easy!Gives us a ring or e-mail for an application form and to arrange a visit to the Farm.

After this you will be invited for a taster day. During the day you will get involved in a variety of jobs so we can see if you like it and how much support you need.

The next step is to organise the funding and transport.

Co-farmers are charged according to their support needs: low, medium and high. When all that is in place, you can get started!

Rural Care is open Monday-Friday throughout the year from 10am - 3pm.

For more details please contact:Ann De Bock, Rural Care DirectorEmail: ann@churchfarmardeley.co.uk

Tel: 01438 861 447 or 07507890245 and ask for Rural Care

For the Farm Store, Café & Tearooms, the Mobile Shop, Meat/Vegetable Box Scheme, Courses and Events or any general info about

Church Farm, call 01438 861 447 or email info@churchfarmardeley.co.uk

Rural Care is a member of the National Care Farming Initiative.

Church Farm, Ardeley, Stevenage, Herts, SG2 7AHwww.churchfarmardeley.co.uk/RC

All artwork by Rural Care co-farmers

RURAL CAREAT CHURCH FARM, ARDELEY

Something for everyone• Co-farmers work in small mixed ability teams

in a variety of jobs to suit individual interests, needs and abilities.

• Co-farmers are supported by fully qualified and experienced staff.

• We help to look after the livestock, and grow vegetables and fruit. Working in the store, café or kitchen to package and process food is also part of the experience as well as having fun and making new friends.

• On a day at the farm, you might collect eggs, feed the pigs, sow seeds and harvest strawberries and serve them to customers or eat them yourself!