About Us

Depden Care Farm is run by the Millennium Farm Trust (MFT), a registered charity established in 1998, on a 6-acre site at Rookery Farm, Depden, West Suffolk.  We offer outdoor work activities and opportunities to learn skills in animal husbandry, horticulture and agriculture for adults with additional needs, people recovering their mental health or those with an acquired brain injury. Farm Helpers pay a daily attendance fee, can attend for up to 5 days a week and are supported on an individual basis or work in supervised teams.

Depden Care Farm has lots of animals to work with including pigs, sheep, goats, donkeys, with poultry of all sorts, guinea pigs, rabbits and Arthur the dog. We also grow fruit and vegetables in our fields, raised beds and in our polytunnel. Produce is sold in our “Veg Shed” to raise funds for the charity. The farm is wheelchair accessible and ideal for people with limited mobility.

farm helper collecting flowers for the veg shed

Who can benefit from attending?

Adults with learning disabilities and additional needs, people recovering from depression or mental health issues and adults with acquired brain injuries can all benefit from working at Depden Care Farm. Working at the farm helps build confidence, develop working skills and make new and stronger friendships.

The people who come to work with us are called Farm Helpers and an individual plan is developed with each of them, including personal targets and goals.

What skills can be learned?

We encourage everyone to do a bit of everything on the farm, if they can, though we all have favourite tasks. Activities are seasonal and very varied from looking after the livestock, to growing, harvesting and selling the produce we grow; or undertaking farm maintenance and environmental based projects or working inside in our new woodworking workshop.

What opportunities are there for the future?

Depden Care Farm’s educational programmes provide the opportunity to work towards nationally recognised qualifications for those who want to. The work programme enables Farm Helpers to progress into voluntary posts in farming and, where possible, into paid employment in this sector.

farm helpers and team member sitting on the floor planting courgettes

Our Values are....

that by Growing together we will foster a community at Depden Care Farm that promotes transformation, accountability, and integrity. A community which is built on:

  • Respect: Being allowed to be true to yourself. Respected and valued for who you are and what you offer.
  • Wellbeing: A safe place to build personal resilience and improve your physical and mental health.
  • Teamwork: Connecting people and communities through fulfilling work on the farm.
  • Learning: Empowering everyone to progress their skills and reach their life goals.
  • Compassion: Professional care and loving-kindness supporting everyone to reach their full potential.

Why come to Depden Care Farm?

  • The Care Farm provides a calm and confidence-building environment
  • Working on the farm and making friends is fun
  • Creative work provides a sense of purpose and a feeling of achievement when it is done
  • Physical activity outdoors provides a feeling of wellbeing and improves health and fitness
farm helpers and team members at Depden planting
Scroll to Top