Nurture with Nature

With any luck, you're reading this article on our brand new website www.wickcarefarm.co.uk! It's been a busy project behind the scenes, and we're pleased to have finally gone live. Our goal was to develop something that is purpose-built, up-to-date and mobile-friendly; while providing a better showcase of who we are and what we do. It’s a great marker for our ten-year anniversary, and a great asset for the years to come.

When we first opened our doors in 2014, there were fewer than 100 care farms operating in the UK. That number has since tripled, and it’s wonderful to be a part of a unique and growing sector – combining nature, social interaction and purposeful activity with therapeutic support. It’s always humbling to see the mental health benefits of care farming in action at Wick Care Farm. For some, that is the joy of feeling safe, present and engaged in animal care or horticulture. For others, it is the gradual blossoming of confidence and self-worth in an environment where they belong. Reflecting on this, our newly adopted slogan – Nurture with Nature – feels apt.

Nature is of course our continual theme, and no article would be complete without a whirlwind tour of seasonal life at Wick Care Farm! The kitchen has been filled of late with the smell of tomatoes roasting, beans blanching and plums prepping. Boxes arrive from the allotment and polytunnel bursting with colour, and the freezer has been quickly filled with delicious produce, prepped for the months ahead. Meanwhile, our 24 new chickens have settled well into life at Wick Care Farm. Special thanks goes to the Rotary Club of Pershore for the chickens and ducklings, as well as to the Evesham Hospital Social Club – whose fundraising allowed us to purchase new coops with step-free access so that everyone can enjoy the poultry. With 24 happy hens, we are very pleased to say that eggs are (at long last!) back in stock and available at the gate.

As seasons change and the cycles continue, I wanted to conclude by celebrating the life of Whispa – one of our sheep who became well-known for her friendliness, curiosity and love of a cuddle. She encapsulated what it means to be a ‘therapeutic animal’, and was always eager to spend her time gently nestled beside anyone who came into the field. For many of us, we know sheep to be a distant animal – grazing upon the hillside and steering clear of any ramblers. Whispa was quite the opposite. She loved people and gave that love in abundance – often to those who needed it most.

You can find out more about Wick Care Farm at:

Website: www.wickcarefarm.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wickcarefarm/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/wick_care_farm/