THE HEAD of Natural England visited a North Yorkshire “care farm” recently, to see how the natural environment can provide social benefits.

James Cross, chief executive of Natural England, visited Botton Village Care Farm at Danby near Whitby, to see how it provides therapeutic farming.

It is part of the Camphill Village Trust, which is currently working to turn four of its other farms into care farms.

They are designed to provide health, social and special educational care services through supervised programmes of farming-related activities. The farms are designed to support a wide range of people, including those with learning disabilities, people with autism spectrum disorders, young people at risk and older people, as well as those suffering from the effects of work-related stress or mental health issues.

Mr Cross was there in support of Care Farming UK (CFUK), which is developing a care farming sector in the UK.

He said: “I am delighted that Natural England is able to provide support, even in a small way, to CFUK to help in its ambition to increase the number care farms across England and to create health and social care services right in the heart of communities for local people, delivered by local people.

“Natural England is committed to working with partners across the country to transform how the natural environment can help people in their daily lives; so wherever they live or whatever their background they have the opportunity to experience the many social benefits that come from getting out into the natural environment.”