Ministers visit Templepatrick farm

Rural Support recently celebrated a successful Social Farming Awareness Week, including a visit by two Executive ministers to a local site.

During the week, current and potential participants, representatives from four of the Health and Social Care Trusts, interested farmers, and the Rural Support team visited a range of farms including Laurelview Farm in Templepatrick.

At Laurelview, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir met participants and learned more about Rural Support’s Social Farming Support Service, which this year celebrates a decade of empowering individuals and strengthening communities through social farming.

Social Farming is a service delivered by farmers, providing meaningful farm-based activities for people with support needs. There are currently 19 active farms

across Northern Ireland, delivering 35 Social Farming sessions for 100 participants per week.

Aoibeann Walsh, Social Farming and Innovation Programme Manager at Rural Support, said: “We had a fantastic week celebrating all that Social Farming has to offer.

“I want to thank the farms, participants, and visitors for their support and for helping to showcase the wide range of activities taking place on social farms across Northern Ireland. Social Farming has grown steadily over the past decade through funded support from DAERA, and we look to the future with great optimism.”

If you are interested in learning more about Social Farming, please contact Rural Support on 028 86760040.