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Faith at the Farm: A Morning of Connection, Nature and New Possibilities
We recently spent the morning at "Faith at the Farm" a pilot event run by Rooted in Hope (Beverley Methodist Church) and led by Lydia Harrison at Dumble Farm and it was something really special.
What might sound like a simple visit to a farm turned out to be a powerful example of what can happen when community, faith, and nature come together.
From meeting Highland calves in the barn to a peaceful guided meditation out in the fields, the day created space for people to slow down, connect, and just be.
The setting itself: quiet, open, and full of wildlife, made it easy to see why this kind of experience has such a positive impact on wellbeing.
Why This Matters for VCSE Organisations
For those of us working in the VCSE sector, this event was a great reminder that meaningful community support doesn’t always happen in traditional spaces.
This was a brilliant example of partnership in action:
- A local farm offering its land and knowledge
- A church-led initiative creating inclusive, reflective experiences
- Community members coming together in a welcoming, informal way
It shows how creative use of local spaces can open up new opportunities, especially for groups who might not engage with more formal services.
Listening and Learning
Spending time with participants gave us a real sense of how much days like this are valued. The feedback spoke for itself:
“I zenned too much during the meditation, I now feel very relaxed.”
“This has been great fun — this is heaven for me.”
We also had some great conversations about how experiences like this could support SEND groups, people living with dementia, and others who would benefit from gentle, nature-based activities.
Building Connections
As always, one of the most valuable parts of the day was making connections.
We spoke with local church members who are keen to link in for support, and explored how this model could grow, whether that’s through future events, partnerships, or using spaces like Dumble Farm more widely.
There was also an opportunity to offer practical support, including help with evaluation and capturing impact from our data analyst, something that’s often needed but not always easy for smaller projects to resource.
Looking Ahead
Faith at the Farm may have been a pilot, but it already feels like something with real potential.
It’s a simple idea, done well: bringing people together in a calm, natural setting, with space for reflection, creativity, and conversation. And sometimes, that’s exactly what’s needed.
We’re really looking forward to seeing how this grows—and to continuing to support and learn from initiatives like this across our local VCSE community
