Renew and Restore in Nature
Supporting people living with cancer
Join us for restorative, fun and uplifting sessions all rooted in nature, on our beautiful community-owned organic farm. Sessions run fortnightly Fridays 10.30am to 1.30pm.
Our Renew and Restore programme is open to all and will include a wide range of activities, evolving around your feedback.
You could experience an introduction to photography, cooking, try your hand at bush craft around the camp fire, join a foraging walk or a conservation task, create art inspired by nature, or perhaps enjoy just a gentle amble through our woodland and a cup of tea.
We guarantee a friendly space, where you can dip in and out of what suits you on the day.
The Fordhall Community Land Initiative is really excited to be working with funders Lingen Davies Cancer Trust to deliver this diverse programme of free support for people living with cancer.
Launched in May 2024 and running to the end of the year, you can attend as many sessions as you like to create a bespoke programme to suit you.
The base for all the sessions will be our stunning ecologically-built Straw Lodge, with sweeping views across the Tern Valley.
Whilst the majority of sessions will take place outdoors your comfort is our priority, therefore the Straw Lodge offers a retreat space during each session.
What can I expect?
10:30am
Arrival for a welcome brew, get to know us or chat with friends.
11am
You can choose to: Join your chosen activity; Take a gentle amble around the farm with a friendly Fordhall host or Relax at base.
1pm
Return to base for a cuppa and to regroup with friends.
1:30pm
Session ends. Head off home or spend more time exploring the farm, maybe visit the café or farm shop.
We know that treatment can have its ups and downs. Therefore, if you book an activity, but on the day, you don’t quite feel up to it, we will be flexible.
You can always change your mind and stay at base or join the amble.
Similarly, if you want to dip in and out of an activity, that is also perfectly fine. These days and experiences are here for you.
Drinks will be provided, and you are very welcome to bring any food or drink with you from home you’d like to have with you.
Upcoming sessions
Due to small group sizes, attendance always needs to be booked in advance.
Your health - if you have any concerns regarding the suitability of these activities please contact your GP before attending.
- 4th April 2025 - Create a Spring Wreath - Come and join us in creating a Spring themed Willow Wreath. We will be foraging for natural materials for our creations and be making them outside amongst the spring newness the farm has to offer.
- 25th April 2025 - Music and Mindfulness - Come along and join us for a session of music and mindfulness whilst enjoying the glorious surroundings of spring time on the farm.
- 9th May 2025 - Extraordinary uses of ordinary Plants – ‘Join Medical Herbalist, Bee, for a little walkaround the community garden and a bit beyond to explore how some everyday 'weeds' could add to your nutritional diversity and density. We will also look at how you might be able to harness of the power of plant medicines to treat some common ailments too'
- 23rd May 2025 - Tai Chi - We will be learning the wonderful art of Tai Chi. The session will be low impact exercise which is wonderful for Mindfulness. The session is open and adapted to all and we would love for you to come along and get involved. The session will be made up of two 30 minute instructed sessions with a rest break in-between.
- 6th June 2025 - Summer Amble - Join us for an amble with one of our board members and wildlife trust expert, as we explore Fordhall and its surroundings.
- 20th June 2025 - Summer Solstice - Be part of welcoming summer to Fordhall through a mixture of music, song and a session full of fun.
- 4th July 2025 - Felting on the farm - Using the landscape that Fordhall provides, come along and learn the beautiful art of felting led by a wonderful local artist, Maxine Smith. During the session, you will get the chance to create an individual felting scene to be framed and taken home.
- 18th July 2025 - Exploring raw foods - This will be a hands on session including creating smoothies, with a competition for the best designed flavour. Learn the art of apple pressing and all creations are able to be taken home.
- 1st August 2025 - session details TBC
- 15th August 2025 - session details TBC
- 5th September 2025 - session details TBC
- 19th September 2025 - session details TBC
- 3rd October 2025 - session details TBC
- 17th October 2025 - Autumn Amble
- 31st October 2025 - Samhain
- 7th November 2025 - session details TBC
- 21st November 2025 - session details TBC
- 5th December 2025 - session details TBC
- 19th December 2025 - session details TBC
- 16th January 2026 - session details TBC
We will publish more session information here as we progress though the year and tailor the sessions based on feedback of our attendees.