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

A fun and educational day out for children of all ages

School farm visits offer an exciting opportunity for children to connect with nature, learn where their food comes from, and engage with animals in a hands-on, interactive environment that brings classroom learning to life.

Fun and Learning for Schools & Groups

The Rare Breeds Centre is a fantastic destination for school groups, offering a fun and educational day out for children of all ages. With acres of open space, farmyard animals, woodland walks, and engaging play areas, it’s the perfect place for hands-on learning outside the classroom.

Schools can choose to explore the site at their own pace or take part in one of our structured educational sessions, designed for Reception through Key Stage 1.

Our facilities

Whether you’re learning about farming, animals, nature, or simply enjoying time together outdoors, a visit to the Rare Breeds Centre is a memorable and enriching experience for all.

Places to eat

The Granary restaurant is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for hot drinks and snacks. Hot food is served from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options available. The Cabin, located within ‘Sammy’s Play Park’ is open seasonally -  April through November.   You can also enjoy picnic areas across the site – with our Benson Barn providing an undercover eating area.

More food & drink info

Gift Shop

Cuddly toy animals, toy tractors, keyrings and lots more to take home as a memory of your day on the farm!

Adventure Play Parks

We’ve got three fantastic adventure play areas, set in ourcountryside farmyard surroundings. Whether you’ve got a young group or teens in tow, there’s something here for everyone!

More play park info

Planning a group or school visit?

As well as schools, we also welcome groups of registered home educators, who qualify for our discounted school rate when booking for 10 or more paying visitors. Please note that proof of educational status may be required at the time of booking.

Whether you’re learning about farming, animals, nature, or simply enjoying time together outdoors, a visit to the Rare Breeds Centre is a memorable and enriching experience for all. Please find more information below to help you plan your day.

General information

Visits are usually self-guided, but additional educational activity sessions and trailer rides are available for an additional fee (booking is essential and both are subject to availability).
We are an outdoor attraction so you will be allocated an area of a barn/marquee to use as your base and to eat your lunch if it’s wet.
Outdoor picnic tables are available throughout the farm.
We have a gift shop and ‘goody bags’ can also be ordered to collect at the end of the day.
Food options are available across the site including our indoor Granary Restaurant serving hot 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.

Familiarisation visits

We allow two free adult visits per booking to allow you to conduct a self-guided familiarisation visit.

Once you have booked your visit, simply contact us on 01233 861493 x 221 or schools@rarebreeds.org.uk to arrange.

Group activities

Children’s Barn

Woodland walks

Butterfly tunnel

Discovery Garden

Aviary

Adventure play parks

Places to eat

Hill fort and assault course

Mysterious marsh trail

Trailer rides

Additional needs

Accessibility

Accessible minibuses can use the accessible parking bays outside the admissions gate/gift shop.

We have accessible toilets.

Wheelchair access around the main farmyard is good but some paths in the woods can be difficult to negotiate with a wheelchair.

Trailer rides can accommodate one wheelchair per ride.

The trailer has a 24-adult or 26-child capacity without a wheelchair, and a 22-adult or 24-child capacity when a person in a wheelchair is onboard.

More about accessibility on the farm

Your safety is our priority

Health & Safety for Schools

The safety of your staff and pupils is our primary concern so please read the following information:

Risk assessments

We have two risk assessments for school visits, these are available to download below.

We recommend that group leaders visit the farm prior to your visit to help with your own risk assessments.

The Access to Farm Code of Practice for Teachers which gives advice on how to avoid ill health on farms link to download is below.

Handwashing

We have handwashing facilities in several locations, including a welly wash station. These are all marked on the map.

Wash hands thoroughly after touching animals or their pens, before and after eating and when entering or leaving the farm.

Follow our Animal Contact Advice to maintain good hygiene while visiting the farm.

Alcohol gels are not a substitute for handwashing.

Animals

Animals should only be touched at the supervised ‘Meet the Animals’ sessions.

Outside the ‘Meet the Animals’ sessions, the animals should not be touched and people should not put fingers into cages, fences or wires.

Pregnant women should avoid contact with sheep and goats during lambing season.

Clothing

Ensure all group members are dressed appropriately for a visit to the farm and the weather of the day. Wellies are advisable!

First Aid

There are always trained first aiders on duty.

We have a first aid room available.

Farm machinery/Vehicles

The centre is a working farm so all group members must be aware of tractors and vehicles moving around the farm and car parks.

Do not allow children to climb on farm machinery/vehicles.

Health & Safety

Further information

Fire Procedure

In case of fire, please go directly to the nearest fire assembly point.

Supervision

It is the responsibility of the group leader and accompanying adults to ensure the supervision and good behaviour of their group throughout their visit.

The group leader is responsible for ensuring the correct ratio of adults to children.

Lost children

If a member of the group is lost, they must go to the Gift shop. Please ensure that all group members are aware of the meeting point.

Our Staff

Our staff and volunteers are all DBS checked.

Downloads and Resources

Educational activities

Schools are welcome to visit the farm and do their own thing but we do also offer educational activities:

For nurseries and pre-schools we offer an animal faces craft activity.

For School Reception and Key Stage 1 classes we offer animal talks, pond life (April – September) and bug hunting (April – September).

The educational activities must be pre-booked, incur an additional charge and availability is limited.

These activities have been developed by CEVAS (Countryside Educational Visits Access Scheme) trained staff and all staff are DBS checked.

Teachers are responsible for the supervision and good behaviour of their group throughout their visit and for ensuring the correct ratio of adults to children.

All activities last 20 minutes but please allow 30 minutes per session.

You must be on time. If you are late for your session it cannot be extended.

Get in touch today!

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