CAFS Care Farm

Farming Therapy

Challenge

CAFS Care Farm is a therapeutic landscape delivering health, social and educational programs for vulnerable people through structured, supervised activities. The brief evolved through close collaboration with CAFS, while the site slopes, redundant structures and high-maintenance rose gardens required significant adaptation.

Solution

The design created a safe, inclusive and flexible working-farm environment supporting accessibility, meaningful activity, social connection, physical engagement and interaction with animals. Long-term maintenance was also considered to ensure ongoing viability.

Results

The masterplan supports animal therapy, market gardens, sensory landscapes, recreation, accommodation and community spaces, while providing a framework for future development and communicating the CAFS vision. The Market Garden precinct was completed in 2018, incorporating barns, raised beds, orchards, poultry areas and outdoor learning spaces. An open day attracted about 5,000 visitors, and existing roses were relocated to a local nursery for reuse