Fields Farm Nature Play & Therapy CIC is bringing together nature, animals and professional social care expertise to create an inclusive space for wellbeing in South Holland.
Tucked away on a three-acre smallholding in Whaplode, Fields Farm Nature Play & Therapy CIC offers something that can be increasingly difficult to find: space to slow down, feel safe and reconnect.
Through animal-assisted activities, nature play, therapeutic programmes and accessible community sessions, Fields Farm supports children, adults, families and organisations to build confidence, develop relationships and experience the wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors.
But the story behind the farm is about much more than its picturesque rural setting or collection of much-loved animals. It is rooted in the professional experience, personal values and shared ambition of founders Kate Heywood and Charlotte Cresswell.
Turning experience into something different
Kate and Charlotte are qualified social workers who have spent more than 15 years working across health and social care. Between them, their experience includes mental health, dementia, learning and physical disabilities, hospital discharge, safeguarding, children’s services, reablement and support for people facing highly complex circumstances.
They are also working mums with six children between them. After experiencing the pressure and emotional demands of their professional roles, they began thinking about how their experience could be used differently—creating something meaningful for their families while responding to needs within their local community. 
That shared vision became Fields Farm Nature Play & Therapy CIC: a place where professional knowledge sits alongside the calming, grounding and often joyful experience of being outdoors and interacting with animals.
The founders describe it as a space where people can reconnect with nature, find peace and experience the healing power of the outdoors—whether through structured therapeutic support, caring for an animal or simply having room to explore.
More than a day at the farm
The farm is home to donkeys, alpacas, sheep, lambs, chickens, ducks, geese, peacocks, rabbits, guinea pigs and dogs, each contributing to the character and experience of the setting.
Visitors might feed and observe the animals, take part in seasonal activities, explore natural play spaces, learn practical skills, get involved in gentle exercise or spend some quiet time outside.
Sessions currently include under-fives nature play, family farm activities, home-education sessions, holiday clubs and animal-assisted therapeutic activities for adults. The farm also provides tailored visits and programmes for schools, nurseries, day centres and community organisations.
Although the activities are enjoyable, there is a clear purpose behind them. Fields Farm’s work is designed to support:
- Emotional regulation and relaxation
- Confidence and independence
- Communication and social skills
- Physical activity and mindfulness
- Practical learning and life skills
- Positive connections between individuals, families and communities
The farm’s smaller groups and flexible activities help create a calmer environment that can be adapted for different ages, abilities and support needs.
Supporting people at every stage of life
One of Fields Farm’s strengths is the breadth of people it can welcome.
Children can learn through play, exploration and age-appropriate responsibility. Families can spend time together away from some of the pressures and distractions of everyday life. Schools and community groups can access nature-based learning linked to subjects such as science, environmental studies, PSHE and social and emotional development.
For adults experiencing anxiety, mental health challenges or learning disabilities, the farm offers gentle animal-assisted sessions where people can spend time outdoors, meet and feed the animals and enjoy a hot drink in a peaceful setting. Supporting carers can attend these sessions without charge.
Fields Farm also works with employers, offering wellbeing and team-development days that combine animal connection, gentle movement, creative activities, mindfulness and shared outdoor experiences. These can be tailored around team bonding, workforce wellbeing or a combination of the two.
This variety reflects Kate and Charlotte’s understanding that wellbeing does not look the same for everyone. Some people benefit from a structured programme; others need an informal, welcoming place where there is no pressure to perform, explain or fit into a conventional service.
Making wellbeing accessible
Fields Farm’s community focus is central to its identity as a Community Interest Company.
The organisation continues to explore grants, partnerships and funded programmes that can reduce financial barriers and make its activities available to people who may benefit most.
Its accessible approach is already making a difference. One person described being able to exercise outside while bringing her children as “a game changer for me and my mental health.”
It is a simple comment, but it captures something important about Fields Farm. Support does not always have to take place in a clinical room or behind a desk. Sometimes it can look like moving your body while your children play nearby, sharing a cup of tea, feeding a donkey or spending an hour somewhere that allows your nervous system to settle. 
Rooted in its community
The development of Fields Farm has also been supported by local generosity.
A donated caravan has been transformed into a Tea Bar with help from local individuals and businesses, while other supporters have contributed time, materials and practical expertise. The result is not simply a service operating from within a community, but a space being built with the community around it.
Fields Farm continues to broaden its offer through collaborations, educational programmes, wellbeing activities and creative projects. Its first children’s book, Johnny the Lamb, extends the farm’s story beyond the smallholding while celebrating one of the animals who became part of its journey.
As demand for accessible and preventative wellbeing support grows, the farm demonstrates the value of combining professional expertise with community assets that already exist: land, animals, relationships, creativity and the restorative qualities of nature.
Looking ahead
Kate and Charlotte’s ambition is to continue developing Fields Farm as an inclusive place where people can learn, recover, build confidence and feel connected.
They also deliver accredited courses for home education, alternative provision and individuals who maybe out of employment or looking for further training. We currently deliver ASDAN short courses and will soon also be delivering AQA award scheme courses too.
For LVET members, there are opportunities to refer people to activities, arrange visits, explore commissioned or funded programmes, collaborate on community wellbeing projects or organise a tailored session for staff, volunteers or service users.
Fields Farm Nature Play & Therapy CIC shows what can happen when lived experience, professional knowledge and a strong connection to place come together.
It is a farm, but it is also a classroom, a therapeutic environment, a community meeting place and a space where people are given permission to breathe.
Find out more
Fields Farm Nature Play & Therapy CIC is based at 1 Fields Farm, Spalding Gate, Whaplode, Spalding, PE12 6UF.
Kate: 07969 472087
Charlotte: 07584 045836
Email: fieldsfarmcic@hotmail.com
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