A 143 acre Norfolk County farm in the Waveney Valley has begun to develop as a social enterprise and as a care farm, combining the care of the land with the care of people. Clinks Care Farm Ltd is being set up after a study visit to the Netherlands with farmers and health and social care providers, which, combined with research in Europe and the UK demonstrated the positive impact outdoor working in a farm environment can have on disadvantaged people. Social Entrepreneurs Doeke Dobma and Iris van Zon have been promoting the model of care farming for many years, starting the Sotterley Care Farm project in Suffolk in 2008 for people with severe and enduring mental health problems. The great success of Sotterley was recognised earlier this year when it was named as a finalist in the recent Health & Social Care Awards 2009 (NHS East of England). Based at Toft Monks in South Norfolk Clinks Farm hopes to be operational by Spring 2010 selling vegetables grown on the farm.

Tags: Care Farming, Clinks Farm