Troubled children in Oxfordshire could soon be able to work through their issues by growing and selling produce on a farm.

Nyasha Gwatidzo, who is a qualified child psychologist and has run a foster agency for many years, is hoping to run an organic, therapeutic farm for vulnerable teenagers.

She said: "I am really trying to work on a farm with children who are disadvantaged, who are in trouble with the police or in trouble with school. I think farming might be a good way for them to heal themselves."

Ms Gwatidzo has bought a farm in Ludgershall, near Thame, and is hoping to transform the fields at the back for youngsters to work on.

She said: "I have always found gardening therapeutic. I used to take some of the kids I worked with to my allotment and now I want to do it on a bigger scale.

"I read an article about a woman who used to work with victims of torture in a similar way and I thought it might work for children as well."

She is planning to have up to 20 teenagers coming to the farm on a day-to-day basis from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire on referral from social services, schools and the Youth Justice Team.

She said: "I would have adult volunteers to come and work with the children and I was thinking of having referrals from family centres."

A mother and toddler group could run alongside the farming project and Ms Gwatidzo is also keen to set up an animal corner, a vegetable area and a herb garden.

She said: "It's going to be really child-centred and child-focused. We are hoping we will sell our produce in Oxford and Bicester markets.

"I'm going to get a group of volunteers together and form a management committee to help me.

"It's quite a big project to take on and I would really like to have a farm worker appointed by the spring so they can come and start planning the farm itself."

She hoped the first children could be referred by the school summer term.

Anyone who would like to know more can find out about the farm project at the Vana Organic Therapeutic Farm website on www.vanatrust.org.uk/ therapeutic_farm.

John Mitchell, assistant to the director for children, young people and families at the county council, said: "The children, young people and families directorate of Oxfordshire County Council has received no formal approach in relation to this project, nor would it have to.

"As an independent agency, it would be answerable to the Commission for Social Care Inspection."