ashfield gardens prospectus for carers & professionals
The Camphill Village Trust Limited is registered in England & Wales as a charity, no. 232402, and as a company limited by guarantee, no. 539694. Registered office: The Kingfisher Offices, 9 Saville Street, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7LL
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Social / therapeutic horticulture and green care Social and Therapeutic Horticulture is the process of using plants and garden activities, in order to improve physical, social and emotional health and well-being. Social and Therapeutic Horticulture is a nature-based intervention, which can be applied to any individual or group, identified as having a defined need. Nature, Health & Wellbeing Sector Everyday life
Experiencing nature
General population
Green Care
Nature-based activities
Nature-based therapy or treatment intevention
General population
People with a defined need
Restorative landscapes and gardens
View from window (at home or work)
Green exercise
Green exercise
Green exercise
(as a treatment intervention)
(i.e. Walking for Health)
Nature therapy; Wilderness therapy
Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH)
Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH)
Community food growing
Community food growing (as a treatment intervention)
Community gardening
Horticultural Therapy (HT)
(e.g. walking, running, cycling in nature etc)
Gardening / Horticulture (at home or work)
Interacting with nature
Health promotion
Forestry, environmental conservation
Environmental conservation groups
(work or home)
Farming
Human Animal Interactions Animal-based recreation (e.g. dog walking, horse riding etc.)
Community farming; city farms; one-off social farm visits
Animal Assisted Activities (AAA)
Environmental conservation (as a treatment intervention)
Other types of nature-based interventions include animal assisted therapy and social farming. Designed, structured and facilitated for individuals with a defined need, these programmes aim to achieve patient oriented outcomes. Together, these therapeutic interventions are known as green care. The application of nature to nurture good health is not a new concept and we have been using these techniques for many years. Hospitals, monasteries and churches have all historically been associated with the use of outdoor, therapeutic spaces as a means of healing, relaxation and rehabilitation.
Ecotherapy
Social Farming
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
Benefits of green care For individuals and groups identified as having a defined need, the immersive nature of green care programmes can have a very positive impact on physical, social and emotional health and well-being. The ability to interact with animals, plants and nature can have several benefits.
[Source: Bragg, R., Atkins, G. 2016. A review of the nature-based interventions for mental health care. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 2014]
• Increased communication and social interaction • Reduced feelings of anxiety and depression • Opportunities for learning, education and skills development • Long term reduced reliance on health and social care services • Improved sleep patterns • Increased sense of responsibility and nurture • Improved behaviours • Increased self-esteem • Improved fitness, mobility and endurance levels • Reduced blood pressure
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Camphill Village Trust The Camphill Movement was originally founded in 1939 by Austrian Doctor Karl König and a group of young refugees. Inspired by Ruldof Steiner’s principles in Anthroposophy, Karl König initially founded the Camphill Communities, in order to support children with learning disabilities. The Camphill Village Trust Limited was formed in 1954, and following parental requests, the first adult provision was founded in 1955.
Camphill Village Trust is a national charity supporting adults with learning and other disabilities. We help the people we support to build relationships and self-esteem, enabling them to lead meaningful lives. We have 10 communities and services across England in both rural and urban settings but wherever our support is located it is shaped by the people we support, and driven by our passion to see everyone as active citizens with a life of opportunity.
Ashfield Gardens Part of our Stourbridge community, Ashfield Gardens is a community interest project, which provides land based support opportunities in horticulture, agriculture, animal assisted interventions and wildlife conservation. Our facilities include a barn, workshop, kitchen, round house and pottery studio, enabling service users to explore opportunities in wood working, cookery and crafts. Ashfield Gardens are currently undergoing an exciting new phase of development, in order to enable the extension of our provision of services to the wider community. We open our garden gates to anyone who can benefit from the immersive nature of our therapeutic green care programme of activities, irrespective of differences in background or ability. We aim to empower and support people to lead a life of opportunity, through the combined provision of naturebased interventions and health and social services. We believe that the immersive nature of our curriculum, empowers the people we support to care about their own well-being, helping them to overcome any barriers to learning and development. Through their achievements, they can then learn to recognise their potential and make a positive contribution to society. These achievements are continuously celebrated through cultural events and activities.
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Why choose Ashfield Gardens?
Ashfield Gardens is a five acre plot of organic farmland, with areas to include vegetable allotments, an orchard, paddocks, wildlife haven and a small woodland. The gardens also benefit from a heated barn, round house, kitchen, wood workshop and pottery studio. Ashfield Gardens is home to a range of animals to include chickens, Shetland ponies and our resident cat called Nutmeg! Our collection of livestock enable opportunities for social farming and animal assisted interventions. Empathetic and intelligent, animals are often able to induce our thoughts and feelings. They are non-judgemental and non-confrontational, providing immediate and honest feedback, through non-verbal communication. Interactions with animals can improve behaviour, reduce anxiety, create a sense of nurture, increase self-esteem and encourage social and communication skills.
Our extensive gardens and polytunnels enable opportunities for planting, growing and harvesting throughout the year. Our gardens are purposefully designed to facilitate interactions with the healing elements of nature. Activities in horticulture, may be passive or active, dependent upon the garden design and the needs of the people we support. Horticultural therapy can help to improve memory, cognitive abilities, task initiation, language skills and socialisation. In physical rehabilitation, it can help to strengthen muscles and improve coordination, balance and endurance. Whilst in vocational horticultural therapy settings, people may learn to work independently, problem solve and follow direction.
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Robust, resource-rich and providing an ever-changing and evolving environment, with shelter from the elements, woodlands offer an excellent source of learning and enrichment. We have a small area of woodland, dedicated to the provision of activities in bush-craft and survival, forestry and forest crafts. We employ a fully qualified, experienced forest school leader to instruct and assist in these activities. These experiences with nature may be peaceful, relaxing, stimulating, rejuvenating, profound or even playful.
Studies have shown that exposure to forests can benefit physical, emotional and restorative health. Our woodland extends onto a small meadow, which acts as a haven for wildlife. This area is full of potential and provides an abundance of opportunities for both volunteers and the people we support to work on some exciting conservation projects. According to research, working on wildlife projects can improve mental health, advancing the idea of social prescribing to nature, as a means of therapy.
Ashfield Gardens’ kitchen enables our ‘seed to table’ approach, where people are supported to understand the role that nature plays in human development. They are also encouraged to work for the benefit of themselves, others and the community. The ‘seed to table’ approach encourages a sense of nurture and creativity. It promotes goal-oriented behaviours, whilst providing a sense of achievement, through the instant gratification and reward of a finished dish.
Art is often used as a form of expression and communication and can be utilised as a medium to address emotional issues. Our pottery studio provides a calm, reflective space for the people we support to engage with creative tasks and informally share their thoughts and feelings. We employ the skills of a very talented potter and artist, who is experienced in supporting individuals with a diverse range of needs.
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Activities at Ashfield Gardens Here at Ashfield Gardens, we understand and appreciate the importance of routine and consistency, and as such, we deliver a structured timetables of therapeutic activities, tailored to meet the requirements, interests and wishes of each individual person. The people we support are provided with the opportunities to participate and thrive in the following areas and activities:
Organic horticulture
Planting, growing and harvesting flowers, vegetables, fruits and herbs; soft and top fruit maintenance; general garden maintenance
Arts and crafts
Pottery; nature-based crafts
Animal management
Animal assisted therapy; feeding routines; cleaning and mucking out; enclosure maintenance; observations; enrichment practices
Healthy eating from seed to table
Cooking healthy meals for the community; fruit pressing; juice and preserve making
Forest school
Bush-craft and survival skills; forest crafts; forestry
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife conservation projects; wildlife-based activities e.g. pond dipping and bird watching
Seasonal, festive and cultural events and celebrations
Participation in community events; trips out; cultural celebrations
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Our impact We seek to measure the impact of our intervention for every individual person who attends Ashfield Gardens. Prior to placement, we carry out an individual assessment, in order to identify any specific support requirements. We also use this time to get to know our prospective new starter, along with any others involved in their care, so that we can ensure the delivery of a person-centred approach, that is inclusive of individual needs, wishes and feelings.
Based on the findings of our initial assessment, we then implement a personal development plan, tailored to meet the person’s individual needs and objectives. This plan is continuously reviewed, through monthly appraisals, in order to assess progress, identify areas for development and set new goals (where appropriate). In addition to monthly appraisals, we also carry out bi-annual reviews, where the people we support and all involved in their care, are invited to discuss continued development and well-being.
Working with staff Here at Ashfield Gardens, we recognise and value the importance of accompanying staff. Support staff are key witnesses to the positive changes and achievements of the people supported in their care. They are also often their advocates and champions, in all other aspects of daily life. Through supporting people in placement at Ashfield Gardens, support staff often leave with a renewed sense of own importance in the journeys of those in their care. This in turn, can improve self-worth, increase job satisfaction, inspire ambition and further strengthen staff-client relationships.
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Who we support Our service is socially inclusive, and as such, we welcome a diverse range of children, young people and adults, who may be living with any of the following disabilities or support needs: • Learning disabilities • Physical disabilities • Autistic spectrum • Dementia • Elderly • Mental health issues • Traumatic brain injury • Life-limiting illness or injury • Previous trauma • At risk of social exclusion
Referrals Anyone can make a referral to our service, whether it be a carer, family member, friend or neighbour. We also encourage social prescribing by GPs, mental health services, community nurses and other health professionals. We offer our prospective new starters a free trial day at Ashfield Gardens. Trial days offer a fantastic opportunity for potential new starters and those involved in their care, to discover the types of activities on offer, meet the team and most importantly; see if they would like to return! Trial days also enable our team to conduct an initial assessment of individual needs and goals. During this assessment, we seek to obtain information in areas such as life story, personal care requirements, communication needs, medical history, behaviours and individual interests, wishes and feelings.
To make a referral, or arrange a visit to discuss your requirements, please contact our Social Garden / Farm Coordinator, who will be happy to help. 07585 244818 carefarmstourbridge@cvt.org.uk
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Service costs Our rates are very competitive and offer excellent value for money.
These costs may vary, depending on individual support requirements.
Days begin at 9:30am and finish at 4pm. A full day placement is priced at £45. We also accept morning or afternoon placements, at a cost of £25. The cost for our pottery studio is an additional £15 per day.
We ask that the people we support bring their own lunch.
Funding There are several ways to fund a placement, including: • Personalised budgets • Direct payments • Personal payments • Outside funding opportunities • Disability living allowance • Social prescription
Contact us If you would like more information, please feel free to contact us: Camphill Village Trust Stourbridge, Ashfield Gardens, Sugar Loaf Lane, Iverley, DY10 3PB 07585 244818 • socialfarmstourbridge@cvt.org.uk www.camphillvillagetrust.org.uk Stourbridge Ashfield Gardens Prospectus Marketing_Brochure_Ashfield_V6.indd 9
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