***** Green Care Quality Mark Awarded since Dec 2022 *****
One of two care farms managed by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, The Willows Care Farm provides nature-based therapeutic activities for children, young people, and adults with additional needs, social and communication difficulties, mental ill-health, and those needing emotional support. The Care Farm provides meaningful nature- and work-based experiences in nature conservation, farming, horticulture, animal care, and Forest School activities. Each student is provided with a bespoke programme that meets their individual needs and that has been designed based on conversations with them, as well as their referrers, professionals, and their parents or carers.

All of the activities at The Willows works towards personal development, independent living, and employment for the students. This may be indirectly, for example, through social communication strategies, or directly such as encouraging students to create a small social enterprise growing and selling produce. Promoting physically and mentally healthy lifestyles is an integral part of what the Care Farm offers. Many of the tasks undertaken are physical in nature and take place outside, which encourages improvements to mental and physical health. The Care Farm is an accredited provider of the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) Unit Awards in practical activities such as tool use, animal care, and horticulture.

The trust also manages Lakeside Care Farm. Find out more here: https://www.wiltshirewildlife.org/pages/category/care-farms

As Wiltshire Council approved settings for Alternative Provision, most of the Care Farm's students are referred via the local authority's SEND Team, although we also take referrals from mainstream and special schools, mental health professionals and directly from parents/carers.