‘NATURE is the best medicine’ – that was the message given to more than 250 people who attended the recent open day at Clynfyw Care Farm in Abercych, near Boncath.

The day was a celebration of the work of West Wales Action for Mental Health’s Care Farm and Gardening Community of Practice.

Clynfyw Care Farm – led by Jim Lewis-Bowen – has been working with vulnerable people for nearly 10 years.

Jim’s family has farmed at Clynfyw for 250 years but it is its recent reincarnation as a care farm or ‘green gym’ that has been winning plaudits from social services and mental health workers.

The potential for nature as a therapeutic tool for health and wellbeing is well documented, and the open day provided a good way to meet experts, including Patrick Holden, the director of the Sustainable Food Trust.

“There’s no doubt that for vulnerable individuals the farm can be an ideal place to be. It provides a stable environment with routine. I’m absolutely certain that care farms have the capacity to make a central contribution to the care of vulnerable people in a civilised society,” he said.

The day, which was attended by local regional AM Joyce Watson, also saw the launch of Jim’s book ‘Care Farming for Beginners’ which gives a warts and all account of the work that goes into running the farm.

Clynfyw Care Farm welcomes more than 100 local vulnerable people each week, engaging in fun and meaningful projects from re-housing rescue chickens and fixing donated wheelchairs for South Africa, to football, drama and swimming clubs.

There are also nearly 40 staff running the projects and supporting people in supported tenancy on the farm.

“The growing care farm movement offers opportunities in social care which are not found anywhere else,” said Jim.

“It is a good place to be but it has not been plain sailing. There continues to be sleepless nights as we fumble our way through the world of the social care system, taking on the responsibility of supporting new people with increasingly complex needs.”