South of England Rare Breeds Centre, Woodchurch Ashford, Kent

Nature & Wildlife

Family

The Rare Breeds Centre is a working 100-acre farm and tourist attraction based in Woodchurch, Kent. Surrounded by the beautiful Kentish countryside, The Rare Breeds Centre is home to many rare and native breeds of farm livestock and is approved by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, with everything from pigs and sheep to horses, chickens and cows.

The Rare Breeds Centre is a well-known attraction and there's so much to do, with visitors young and old coming to enjoy the exotic butterfly tunnel, the Discovery Garden, the woodland walks, the Secret Lake, the outdoor playgrounds and assault courses. Pig racing and tractor-trailer rides run throughout the day, featuring a new accessible trailer with space for one wheelchair. As well as 'Meet the Animal' sessions in the Children's Barn.

The Granary Restaurant is open every day (except Mondays and Tuesdays during the winter months) offering tasty, freshly cooked food at great prices, including burgers, paninis, jacket potatoes and a kid's menu, with vegan and vegetarian options available too. There are also catering kiosks in other areas of the farm where families can purchase ice cream, coffees and snacks.

The centre runs special seasonal events throughout the year which are always great fun and hugely popular, including Halloween, Christmas and Easter, so it's worth keeping an eye on their social media pages to see what's on.

The Rare Breeds Centre is run by The Canterbury Oast Trust, which is a charity based in Kent that supports adults with learning disabilities. Many service users and life-skills students work and live on-site at the Rare Breeds Centre, and your visit helps them to continue their work.

As an attraction, the Rare Breeds Centre is an autism-friendly site so if you are planning to visit and have specific requirements, feel free to get in touch with the staff in advance and they will be happy to try and help.