farming has expanded significantly in the UK as well as in Western Europe since 2005.

Both are in partnerships between health and social services managers, participants and farming families that can successfully develop the participant's potential and interests through structured farm-work. Working with animals or tending the land and crops is highly therapeutic.

The participants benefiting from such weekly farm visits are a cross-section of population from children to the elderly. The main categories are those with learning disabilities, mental health issues, school difficulties. ex-offenders and substance abusers in recovery.

In Holland and Norway, care farming (or green care), has become a mainstream service, advanced through partnership working between departments of health and agriculture as well as local governments and farmers.

There are about 180 care farmers operating in the UK, with most located in England and Wales as members of Care Farmers UK. Ireland is running a rapidly expanding scheme called Social Farming Across Borders - SoFAB Ireland. The number of care farm users in the UK is thought to be in excess of 3,000 a week and growing.

I remember being at the launch of Care Farming Scotland about six years ago, but sadly that embryonic organisation failed to develop. There are only around a dozen care farmers in Scotland, from Ullapool in the north to Dumfries in the south.

Care Farming Scotland was originally hosted by SAC (Scottish Agricultural College), but it pulled out. Now, under the chairmanship of former NFU Scotland president John Ross CBE, Care Farming Scotland is being supported by Apex Scotland. It is a specialist organisation that works with ex-offenders and vulnerable people to give them the necessary skills to change behaviour and lead fulfilling lives.

Not surprisingly, the Board of Care Farming Scotland recognises there is a need to explore the care farming scene in Scotland. Until November of last year, the organisation didn't have a dedicated field officer on the ground but, using a government funding package, a development consultant, Caroline Matheson, has been appointed.

After working in the NHS for 30 years in clinical, managerial and educational roles, she decided to change direction and set up her own care farming business. She has seen at first-hand how doing meaningful work on the land in a supportive team can make a difference to people who are struggling with various issues.

Her remit is to raise the profile of care farming with politicians and commissioners, as well as develop a network of care farmers and interested parties. That also involves meeting care farmers and finding out what they offer and what support they need.

Care farmers reckon that the benefits to participants include improved physical and mental health, and social benefits. Typically improvements to physical health are the development of farming, functioning and basic skills, and increased mobility. The mental health benefits clients receive from attending a care farm include improved self-esteem, wellbeing and mood, increased awareness, self-confidence, enhanced confidence or trust in other people and calmness. Social benefits include development of social skills, team working, independence, formation of work habit and personal responsibility.

The majority of care farms are not residential and most offer four or five days a week. The usual length of a session is a day (five to eight hours). Care farms usually charge for their services, per individual/session at an average rate of £51 a day (although this ranges between free-of-charge and £240, depending on client ability and degree of care).

Funding sources vary extensively. Many different organisations commission care farm services, but the majority of farms have clients referred to them by social services, community mental health teams and education services. Some clients are self-referred, while some are referred by family or other sources.

Qualifications held by care farm staff vary, but 61 per cent of farms have staff with teaching qualifications, 54 per cent employ staff with farming qualifications, 48 per cent have staff with health and social care skills, and 30 per cent have qualified horticulturists.

Care Farming Scotland hope to team up with Scottish Land and Estates as well as other land-based organisations to hold an event near Inverness in the autumn of this year.

The organisers hope that this event will be of interest to landowners, farmers and crofters, as well as the NHS, local authorities and third-sector organisations who commission services.

Details will be available on the new Care Farming Scotland website, which will be up and running shortly, or from Caroline Matheson at ballicherry@btinternet.com.