We are currently operating on summer opening hours, open 7 days a week

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COT’s Rare Breeds Centre

Registered Charity No. 291662

Canterbury Oast Trust

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COT’s Rare Breeds Centre

Registered Charity No. 291662

Canterbury Oast Trust

Schools & groups

Overview

Set in 100 acres of beautiful Kent countryside, the Rare Breeds Centre is a working farm and visitor attraction with a range of rare breeds farm animals, aviary birds, rabbits, ferrets and butterflies mid-May to mid-October. If you are bringing a group with additional needs, please check out our accessibility page.

Educational programme video

Attractions on the farm

As well as our farm animals, birds and butterflies (seasonal), the following attractions are available to school groups at no additional cost:

  • Meet the Animals sessions in the Children’s Barn
  • Woodland Walks
  • Wildlife and Discovery Garden
  • The Mysterious Marsh adventure trail
  • Hill Fort and Assault Course
  • Trailer rides (must be prebooked)
  • Pig Racing (April to October)
  • Outdoor Play Area

Explore our attractions

Meet our animals

Mysterious Marsh
Children learning about chickens on the farm
For schools only

Educational activities

Our educational activities are available for nursery through KS1 and KS2 and can be adapted for later key stages. They are led by our knowledgeable farm team, who bring experience and enthusiasm to every visit. As a proud registered farm member of LEAF Education, we’re committed to delivering high-quality, hands-on learning.

More about educational activities

For home education groups only

Monthly home education groups

Monthly home education group sessions on a Thursday morning (term time only) which include:

  • Day entry to the farm
  • A private tractor ride at 12pm
  • Educational session at 10:30am – with a different session each month!

Tickets can be purchased at the discounted, group booking rate and must be pre-booked online.

Book tickets

Children learning about chickens

Farm facilities

  • Visits are self-guided, but additional educational activity sessions are available for an additional fee (booking is essential and subject to availability).
  • We are an outdoor attraction so you will be allocated a barn area to use as your base and to eat your lunch if it’s wet.
  • We have a gift shop and ‘goody bags’ can also be ordered to collect at the end of the day.
  • You can bring your own packed lunches to eat at our picnic areas and food options are also available for preorder from our Granary Restaurant serving hot and cold food, drinks and snacks.
  • We have a free car and coach park.
  • Our toilets have baby changing facilities and accessible toilets.
  • School rates are available during KCC term times only.

School and group testimonials

It was a lovely, safe environment for our families and had comments from so many families- one particularly noting how nice it was to be away from tech/gaming for the day. We loved the walking trails and meeting the animals! The packed lunches were great and the team at the Granary were lovely

Ashford Family Hubs – 30th July, 2025

Suitable balance of hands on educational & fun activities. How fab our trip was – Thank you.

Sandhurst Primary School

A safe place with something to do all day whatever the weather

Chilham St Marys Primary School

Due to the nature of our children, the environment is perfect for their complex needs

Heathfarm School

We wanted somewhere that could cater for a variety of ages

Kingswood Preschool

We had an amazing day!

Torfield Primary School

It’s a lovely place to visit where the staff are helpful, lots to do

Little Acorn Preschool