Some of the beautiful artwork created by our talented students in Art at the Farm is now available for purchase at Ethel Loves Me, a vibrant shop in Rye celebrating all things creative!

Ethel Loves Me is dedicated to supporting local artists, emerging talent, and unique handmade products, making it the perfect home for our students’ work.

If you’re in Rye, be sure to pop in and explore the inspiring collection of art by our COT students, alongside a fantastic range of pieces from other local creatives.

How did the Butterfly Tunnel on our farm get started?

One of the most magical spots on the farm is our Butterfly Tunnel — and it all started over 15 years ago, thanks to the vision and passion of one of our brilliant volunteers, Anne Barnett. Since then, the tunnel has become a favourite for visitors of all ages, offering a close-up look at the fascinating life cycles, behaviours, and habitats of tropical butterflies.

Today, the tunnel is managed by Liz, a valued member of our farm team who has been running it for the past five years. With a background in farming and experience in the care sector, Liz first took charge of the Discovery Garden thanks to her love of plants. In 2020, she bravely took on the Butterfly Tunnel with no prior experience! After a hands-on visit to the Butterfly House in Stratford, she began learning the rest herself, building up years of knowledge and care along the way.

How do the butterflies get to the farm?

Each year, Liz orders butterfly chrysalises from Stratford’s Butterfly House. When they arrive, she carefully attaches them to sticks using a tiny dab of superglue (yes, really!) and places them in the hatching cabinet. The aim is for butterflies to eventually breed and lay their own eggs here, but because of their short lifespans, new pupae are ordered regularly throughout the summer to keep the tunnel thriving.

Smaller butterflies, like Swallowtails, often live just one week, while larger species like Owls can live for up to four weeks.

A tropical home, built specially for butterflies

Our tunnel is filled with lush, tropical plants chosen specially to support both butterflies and caterpillars. These include:

• Lantana
• Passion flowers
• Banana trees (with their huge caterpillar-friendly leaves)
• Dahlias
• Lemon trees
• Lilies

These plants provide nectar, shelter, and food, helping our butterflies live happy and healthy lives. We also receive fruit donations like bananas and citrus from our local Waitrose (thank you Waitrose!), which become delicious butterfly snacks for some of the breeds.

Why is it so warm in there?

The tunnel is kept at a warm 26°C with a high humidity of 70–80% — perfect conditions for tropical butterflies to thrive. Misters help to keep the air moist (and give the tunnel that rainforest feel), while fans and open windows help cool things down when it gets too hot.

If it gets too cold (below 18°C), butterflies can’t fly or feed. If it gets too hot, it can harm the pupae — so keeping the balance right is crucial.

Getting ready for the next season

The Butterfly Tunnel closes each October as cooler weather sets in. But behind the scenes, Liz stays busy. In February and March, she prunes back the fast-growing plants, clears the paths (bindweed is the biggest battle!), checks the misters, and gets the water feature cleaned and running again.

By early May, the first pupae arrive and the whole magical cycle begins once more. As the season kicks off, you may not see many butterflies flying just yet — but check the hatching cabinet to watch them slowly emerge. It’s a truly special moment!

Come and visit!

The Butterfly Tunnel is open every day in summer. It’s a wonderful place to slow down, look closely, and be amazed by nature. As Liz says:

“It’s always a pleasure to see people in the tunnel, discovering new butterflies and plants.”

Come and experience it for yourself — and keep an eye out for new arrivals!

Did you know? Our Soft Play is open and available to book separately every day!

For just £5 for the first child and £3 per additional child, your little ones can enjoy all the fun and excitement our Soft Play has to offer, without the need to pay the full farm entrance fee. It’s the perfect way to spend a couple of hours, rain or shine!

Don’t forget if you are visiting the farm and buying a farm entrance ticket, soft play is included in your ticket.

Adopt One of Our Beloved Animals Today!

By adopting one of our animals, you’ll directly contribute to their care, including food, medical needs, housing, and enrichment activities on our farm. Your support makes a world of difference!

What’s Included in the Adoption?

When you adopt, you’ll receive a Rare Breeds Centre Adoption Pack within one month of purchase, as well as a 6-month update on your chosen animal. Your adoption pack includes:

• A welcome letter
• A postcard
• An animal fact sheet
• A certificate of adoption
• A free day ticket to the Rare Breeds Centre, so you can come and see your adopted animal
• A soft toy
• An RBC pen

What animals do we have available?

Some of our visitors’ favourite animals are part of our adoption program! Such as, Huckleberry, our lovable Highland cow, Rhona, our gentle Shire horse. And for those who adore the smaller animals, we also offer Smokey and Bandit, our playful Netherland Dwarf Rabbits, and Flora and Dora, our charming Indian Runner Ducks. With many more to choose from, head to our adoption page to see them all!

How to Get Started?

Discover the animals waiting for adoption on our website or by visiting the Rare Breeds Centre in person and speaking to the team in our Gift Shop.

Celebrate International Day of Charity with Us!

On September 5^th we are celebrating International Day of Charity and the important work of Canterbury Oast Trust (COT) and the life-changing impact it has every day. COT became a registered charity in 1985 and has always been dedicated to empowering adults with learning disabilities, helping them take control of their lives providing training, housing, and work experiences.

Our founders, many of whom are still involved with the charity today, were mainly parents who wished for their adult children to have the opportunity to live their own independent lives. COT has grown steadily over succeeding years to become one of the most groundbreaking and respected providers of accommodation and support for people with a learning disability in Kent.

Our charity also operates the Rare Breeds Centre, a supportive environment for skills development and a beloved family attraction welcoming 130,000 visitors annually. Every visit to the farm directly supports our mission, with funds contributing to improving the lives of those we serve.

Currently, we care for and support 83 individuals in our accommodation services in Kent. We also offer 150 training placements for people with learning disabilities and/or autism, allowing them to thrive in programs that build both confidence and essential life skills.

To keep up to date with our charity, follow our Facebook page

When you visit the Rare Breeds Centre, you may notice our students around the farm, helping with the animals, assisting with events, or engaging with visitors. This is part of our Farm Life Skills programme, designed to teach individuals skills in animal care, customer service, and teamwork in a real-world environment.

Across our skills and therapeutic programmes and residential facilities, we are fortunate to have an incredible team of volunteers who are vital members of our organisation. From regular, committed helpers to those who volunteer occasionally, our work wouldn’t be possible without their dedication and passion.

We’re always seeking new volunteers! Right now, we have exciting opportunities available in our Granary Training Kitchen, where we particularly need some new volunteers to help our students to gain practical experience of food preparation and cooking. Level 2 food hygiene training will be provided. If this is something of interest, get in touch today! If your interests lie elsewhere, we’re happy to tailor volunteer roles to match your skills and provide training as needed.

If you’d like to join our team and make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. No experience is necessary, and all training provided. Just bring your enthusiasm, patience, and energy!

To learn more about volunteering with us, please contact Paul Harris at paul.harris@canterburyoasttrust.org.uk