We manage purpose-built smallholdings offering market gardening, animal care, countryside conservation projects and outdoor rural activities - for everyone.

Care Farming - or Social Farming as it also called - is proven to bring many benefits to people who may be facing a wide range of issues affecting their lives.

Care Farming offers the chance to get outside, get involved with a wide range of activities, meet new friends and make positive connections. There are lots of good things about getting involved, some of the best are that anyone can take part and you don't need any experience at all.

So if you're looking for a way to improve your physical and mental health and wellbeing; or hoping to get out and about more; or want meaningful activities and structure; or you'd like to meet new people and make friends; or learn new skills; rediscover previous skills; further your education; or work towards life goals like employment, training or volunteering - then we'd love to hear from you.

Previous participants in Appleseed activities include:

People with mental health problems

People with stress, anxiety or depression

People with learning difficulties

People living with dementia (including carers)

Jobseekers

Ex-offenders

Disaffected young people

School and college trips

Local community groups

Local employer staff away-days

Staff

Local Volunteers (last but not least!)

Appleseed was created to improve the life chances of people in East Anglia. Our ethos is to be totally inclusive for as many individuals and groups as possible who face life’s challenges. We provide activities and participation with the common threads of improving people’s lives, connecting rural communities, and living locally and sustainably.

Benefits of attending Appleseed include:

Feeling better about yourself

Better physical and mental health

Feeling purposeful and energised

Getting lots of fresh air

Meeting like-minded people

Making friends

Reducing isolation

Increasing community spirit and connections

Reducing depression

Reducing stress, anxiety and worry

Learning new skills or rediscovering them

Increased motivation

Improved self-esteem

Being valued

Progressing towards employment, training or volunteering

Taking personal responsibility

Timekeeping

Teamwork

And lots more! 

Care Farming has been proven to have wider benefits for society than just for the individuals. As far back as 2015, the Ecominds Report showed that each person referred by the NHS to a Care Farm resulted in a cost-saving of £7k per person due to improved health requiring less medication and fewer visits to medical practices. In those areas of the country where Social Prescribing is commissioned and funded, it is agreed by all parties that it is successful and a valuable intervention.

The beauty of Care Farming is in it's simplicity and versatility, but as it is considered a non-clinical form of intervention, the NHS has not wholly embraced it, despite the huge rise in mental health issues being recognised in recent years which desperately require new ways to be tackled. Some forward thinking health commissioners in the East of our region introduced social prescribing many years ago, but there has been no widespread commissioning approach across the region.

At Appleseed we help people gain valuable skills such as timekeeping and team work, and to practice communication skills, and to most importantly become motivated. At the heart of what we aim to do is providing activities that support people through recovery and build real skills that can help local people find training or local employment. Typical activities that you can expect to take part in include: