Kewstoke Farm Project Shortlisted for National Design Award

A pioneering outdoor recovery project at Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke has been shortlisted for a national award, recognising its innovative approach to mental health care.

The hospital, on Beach Road, has been named a finalist in the Outside Spaces Award category at the Design in Mental Health Awards for its farm project, a unique initiative transforming unused land into a thriving therapeutic environment for patients.

The project has seen an eight-year disused, overgrown on-site farm transformed into a vibrant horticultural hub designed to support recovery, wellbeing and skill development.

Rather than a traditional redevelopment, the farm has been co-produced with patients, staff and Experts by Experience – people with lived experience of mental health services – ensuring the space reflects what individuals need to feel safe, empowered and supported.

Patients have played a hands-on role in bringing the space to life, helping to clear the land, plant crops and shape how the farm is used. Today, it provides a range of activities including gardening, food growing and cooking sessions using produce grown on site.

The first harvest, including onions, lettuce and cauliflower, marked a significant milestone and the farm is now used for structured occupational therapy sessions as well as informal wellbeing activities, helping patients build confidence, learn new skills and reconnect with a sense of purpose.

There are also plans to strengthen links with the local community, including partnerships with local education providers and opportunities to donate produce to food banks.

Hospital manager Josh Tapp explained: “We are incredibly proud to see the Kewstoke Farm Project recognised at a national level. The project reflects a growing recognition of the role outdoor spaces and nature-based activity can play in supporting mental health recovery.

“What sets the Kewstoke Farm Project apart is its strong focus on co-production. From the earliest planning stages, patients and Experts by Experience have helped shape the design and purpose of the space.

“Their input has ensured the environment feels therapeutic rather than institutional, a place where individuals can feel comfortable, valued and motivated in their recovery journey.”

“This project shows what can be achieved when we truly listen to the people in our care and work together to create environments that support recovery in meaningful ways.

“The farm has become a place of growth in every sense, not just for the produce, but for the confidence, skills and wellbeing of the people who use it.”

Winners of the Design in Mental Health Awards will be announced in June this year.