The power of nature – therapy for cancer patients launched at England’s first Community Owned Farm

It has long been noted how connecting with nature is beneficial to mental and physical health, to the point even watching nature documentaries has been shown to be a mood booster! Nothing truly beats getting out and about in local green spaces. Spring at Fordhall Farm is always an exciting time, but this May is set to be extra special. Thanks to the support of the region’s primary cancer charity Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, Fordhall is excited to introduce new, and free to access, restorative sessions for those with a cancer diagnosis.

Having secured funding from the long-running charity which strives to make a positive difference to those impacted by cancer throughout Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, and Mid Wales, the team at the community-owned farm will be creating a wide range of fun and uplifting sessions all rooted in nature. These will cover a range of interests and activities, from photography, to bush craft, to conservation, nature inspired art and more!

The base for all the sessions will be Fordhall’s stunning ecologically-built Straw Lodge, with sweeping views across the Tern Valley. Whilst the majority of sessions will take place outdoors, the comfort of our attendees remains a priority, therefore the Straw Lodge offers a retreat space during each session.

Charlotte Hollins, Fordhall Community Land Initiative general manager, said:

‘We are excited to begin these restorative sessions here on the farm, and hope all the attendees find a calm and stimulating atmosphere outside of a clinical setting.

‘We will be launching on Friday, 17^th May, and running a diverse range of activities on fortnightly Fridays until the end of the year. None of these sessions will be rigid in structure, and we guarantee a friendly space, where you can dip in and out of what suits you on the day.

‘Of course, we are so grateful to our funders, Lingen Davies, as they have made it possible to deliver this diverse programme of free support for people living with cancer.’

Naomi Atkin, CEO of Lingen Davies, said this new phase of community-focussed support for patients was tremendously important to the charity’s Trustees and a fabulous opportunity for people impacted by cancer to benefit from the beauty of Shropshire.

“We are delighted to be working with Fordhall to make a real difference to those impacted by cancer. We hear regularly from patients how well they are looked after during their cancer treatment by everyone in the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre, and we also want to help those living with and beyond cancer by providing a range of holistic therapies which are free to access.

“Not only do we support this initiative, but we are also now funding yoga and tai-chi for cancer patients, horticultural therapies, and the iCan cancer rehabilitation programme – all free to access.

“Cancer is life-changing, we want to do everything we can to make a positive difference to those impacted by it throughout our region,” she added.

• For more information, please visit: fordhallfarm.com/restoreandrenew
• To find out more about Lingen Davies, please visit: lingendavies.co.uk

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