We've worked with sector specialists to report on the scale of the care farming sector since 2007.
Our reports provide powerful information for policy makers, referral agencies and funders in the green care sector. Reporting on the growth of care farming sector has enabled us to advocate for UK care farmers and green care providers.
Care farming in the UK has grown from less than a hundred care farms to a network of over 400 care farms. Care farms vary in size, context and delivery approach. Together they form a key element of the green care sector. In 2021 there were an estimated 15,620 UK care farming places provided per week, which equates to approximately 734,140 per year.
The results show big steps forward. As care farming has grown we've been able to move from explaining the concept to promoting quality service provision. Care farming is making a real difference to people with a defined heath, social care or educational need right across the UK.
2021 - Care farming and green care survey 2021
Watch a webinar that gave a snapshot into the care farming sector in 2021:
Produced by the Social Farms & Gardens Growing Care Farming project.
2020 - Growing Care Farming: Annual Survey 2020
Produced by the Social Farms & Gardens Growing Care Farming project.
November 2020 - Lockdown 2 short survey of care farm status
Results of snapshot survey to show the status of care farms and green care sites over the second lockdown. The purpose of the survey was to help us understand how it was affecting care farming at the time.
- The majority of care farms (88%) remained open to service users in some capacity over the lockdown period
- Of those, 46% of care farms were open as usual with staff, volunteers and service users attending under social distancing measures
- 42% were open but in a reduced capacity with fewer staff, volunteers or service users attending under social distancing measures
- 12% were closed to service users, with only essential staff attending site to care for livestock and/or essential site maintenance
Produced by the Social Farms & Gardens Growing Care Farming project.
2017 - Care Farming in the UK and Ireland: Annual Survey of the sector 2016/17
Produced by Care Farming UK.
2015 - Care Farming in the UK and Ireland: State of Play 2015
Produced by Care Farming UK.
2014 - Care farming: Defining the ‘offer’ in England
Produced by Natural England and Care Farming UK.
2012 - Care farming in the UK – Key Facts and Figures
Produced by Care Farming UK.
2007 - Care farming in the UK: Evidence and Opportunities
Produced by the National Care Farming Initiative.