Social Farming Ireland is set to increase farmer participants from 56 to 100 by the end of the year. The Government-funded programme provides a therapeutic day service to participants with a range of issues, including people with mental health and learning difficulties.

Farmers receive payment for hosting groups and planning activities, such as foddering stock or planting and harvesting vegetables.

More than 100 people attended the social farming open day in Monaghan on Monday, with host farmers Patrick and Corina Corrigan saying they were “blown away” by the positive impact farming had on participants.

“People report benefits and outcomes across so many dimensions of their wellbeing,” Social Farming Ireland policy officer Dr Aisling Moroney said.

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Farming with nature in Mayo

Social farming contracts extended