Today, 28th July, marks World Nature Conservation Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the vital importance of protecting our natural resources and preserving the environment for future generations.

We’re excited to welcome our new Environmental Conservation Officer, Mark, who joined the Rare Breeds team last week. Below, Mark shares insights into his role, his passion for the environment, and his hopes for the future of conservation on the farm.

Mark, right with Howard, our Director of Commercial Operations

Mark’s ethos

As Environmental Conservation Officer at Rare Breeds Centre I am responsible for managing and improving the biodiversity of the woodland, wildflower meadow and ponds at Highlands Farm. My background in forestry, primarily working sweet chestnut and hornbeam coppice in semi-natural ancient woodland in Kent, and relying on traditional methods such as using heavy horses for timber extraction, has laid the foundations for my woodland ethos that now guides my approach in all the management and conservation work I do.

Managing woodlands

The demand for the woodland products that gave rise to the managed woodlands we are surrounded by in Kent has waned over the last couple of hundred years or so, meaning many woodlands have been neglected and are now in poor condition. If these woodlands are managed in a similar way to in the past, which means the maintenance of open rides and pathways, the periodic felling of coppice and the thinning of new plantations, then the increased light levels and resulting regrowth are what drive the biodiversity gains we are after. For it to be a truly effective and holistic approach then we need to find uses for absolutely all the product as well. Specifically, here, the wood and any cut hay. Conservation for the sake of conservation will only get us so far.

A holistic approach

All the work we do here at Rare Breeds Centre needs to subscribe to this holistic ethos of informed management, minimal damage, zero waste and disciplined and timely interventions. This will result in a sustainable and biodiverse landscape that can be enjoyed by everyone who visits the farm and surrounding countryside, because a healthy and biodiverse landscape is a beautiful one. Ultimately, it’s about simply having a kind and considerate relationship with the natural landscape that surrounds us.”

Learn more about Conservation around the trust. Our conservation projects involve a great deal of dedicated work. If you’re interested in sponsoring one, learn more here.

Don’t miss your chance to savour a delicious afternoon tea at the Granary Restaurant on the farm! Our talented culinary life skills students are not only baking all the fresh treats (everything except the sandwiches and drinks), but they’ll also be serving up the teas. As with all offers at the Granary, you don’t need to enter the farm to enjoy an afternoon tea.

You will need to book in advance as our afternoon teas are made fresh to order.

What’s included

Enjoy a selection of scones with jam and clotted cream, biscuits, finger sandwiches, mini quiches, mini tarts, chocolate dipped strawberries and more! Plus unlimited refills on tea or coffee.

When it’s available

Afternoon teas are available by prebooking online Tuesday – Friday during term time between 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm.

If you’ve visited the Granary Restaurant at the Rare Breeds Centre recently, you may have spotted some eye-catching new artwork brighteningup what was once a very empty wall.

We’re thrilled to be showcasing a beautiful series of animal prints created by our talented artists from Art at the Farm available for purchase!

Whether you’re exploring the Rare Breeds Centre or simply stopping by the Granary Restaurant for a cup of tea and a slice of cake, be sure to take a moment to enjoy these fantastic pieces. You can find more unique, hand-crafted art  by our students in our gift shop, so make sure to pop in there too!

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.

We thrilled to announce that we are finalists in the Large Charity of the Year category in the Kent Charity Awards.  On Monday, supported people Jon and Rachel greeted the judges when they arrived to meet with Sarah, Howard and Michael.  

We shared some of the achievements of COT over the last year as well as some of our plans for the future.  We also took the opportunity to showcase some of the great work by Art at the Farm and shared our Mindful Bee collaboration.

We are excited to announce we are partnering up with the team at Mindful Bee and Friends, who have published a brand-new children’s mindfulness book series.

We kickstarted our partnership by welcoming the team from Mindful Bee to our Christmas Gift Market in November 2024 where their wonderful books were available to purchase, and visitors had the chance to meet the team behind Mindful Bee and Friends. On the same day, they also hosted 3 storytelling sessions in the Discovery Zone on the farm, offering each family 1 free book to take home, with 50 books up for grabs!

At Easter, we hosted the launch of their new book: On the farm with Buzzy Bee and friends. Visitors met Buzzy Bee in mindful movement sessions for children.

Mindful Mondays

In May, starting on 5th May and continuing on the 19th; Mindful Bee will be running Mindful Mondays as part of the Rare Breeds Centre’s “The Great Outdoors” initiative which promotes mindfulness and the positive impact of being outside! There will be 3 sessions per day, in the Discovery Zone:

• 11:00 am
• 2:30 pm
• 4:00 pm

The collaboration between Mindful Bee and Friends and COT represents a joint commitment to foster a supportive and nurturing community where children and families can experience the benefits of mindfulness and creativity.

Mindful Bee book range

Their range of books and resources are dedicated to creating safe, engaging and educational content that supports both parents and children. And providing tools that help children manage and sustain their mental health from an early age.

Mindful Bee offer a monthly subscription service which children receive a box full of delightful books, fun activities and all the tools to help children thrive emotionally.

Their series of books involves the characters Bee and her friends, where every moment is an opportunity for mindful learning and development, encouraging a sense of calm, compassion and curiosity.

Come along, join in the fun, and get a glimpse into the heartwarming tales Mindful Bee and Friends has to offer!

Mindful Bee Video

Watch the video below featuring Steph, one of the co-authors of the Mindful Bee book series, talking about the launch of Book 2, On the Farm with Buzzy Bee and Friends. Here she describes the ethos behind the book series and explains the concept of mindful movement.

The Rare Breeds Centre is primarily a farm attraction, however, with 100 acres of woodland, wildflower meadows and ponds, there is much more wildlife at our site than our visitors may realise. So, we asked our conservation officer to provide an update in celebration of  World Wildlife Conservation Day!

As we approach winter, much is changing in the wild world, as the weather drops, and daylight closes in. Winter berries are appearing onsite, such as hawthorn, blackthorn, spindle and holly, which birds and mice will rely on in their search for protein-rich foods. Many animals will be growing their thick winter coats ready for the changing weather on our site – these animals prepared for the cold include badgers and polecats.

 Getting ready for hibernation

It is time for the Kent Mammal Group to clean and close our dormouse boxes for the winter, as dormice head to the understory to hibernate under leaves and log piles. Other animals hibernating on our site include bats, such as the Daubenton’s bat and soprano pipistrelle which have previously been found on the site. Toads, frogs, great crested newts, smooth and palmate newts are all hibernating underneath rocks, in cracks and below the frost lines until spring; some great crested newts will even hibernate in the pond if conditions are perfect. Grass snakes, adders, lizards and slowworms will also join in the winter hibernation. Most butterflies and moths will also enter a dormant phase in the cold weather, similarly, the Butterfly Tunnel on our site is also shut down for the winter as they struggle to survive in the cold temperatures.

Bumblebee news

The Bumblebee Conservation Group have concluded their BeeWalks for the year, as the colonies die, and the new queens hibernate beneath the ground, ready to emerge next year and create a new colony. The BeeWalks occur once a month from March to October, when bumblebee activity is at its highest. Despite an overall decline in the UK bumblebee population, the Rare Breeds Centre site has still hosted a wide variety of species this summer, including Buff tailed bumblebees, Common carders, and the rare, Ruderal.

Fungus is among us!

All the autumn rain brought huge influxes of mushrooms of all kinds, from Turkey tails and Jelly ears to Sulphur tufts and Amanita. As we say goodbye to autumn and the winter rolls in, most fungi stop producing mushrooms but are very much still alive below the ground. The rain has also meant that ponds have filled back up, and streams around the site are flowing again after drying out in the summer months.

Preserving habitats

Winter is a great time of year to top up dead hedges after cutting back and clearing branches from the woodland floor. Hedges can be trimmed now that nesting season is over, and leaves swept from paths to prevent animals hibernating in areas where they may be harmed. The ground conditions in the woodlands will vary greatly over the winter months, with hard ground in the frosts, and much softer ground and mud when the frosts melt. Habitats will be carefully maintained and managed to ensure successful hibernation for our resident wildlife, and to ensure a suitable environment for emerging in spring.

If you visit the Rare Breeds Centre in the winter months and venture to the woodlands, be sure to be mindful of log piles and fallen leaves and keep an eye out for animals feeding on winter berries and sheltering from the wind.

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