If you have not been able to book some festive magic for you and the family, seek out the Winter Wonderland Barn at Rare Breeds Centre, their Christmas experience is guaranteed to put a big fat smile on all the family’s faces!

TICK TOCK, Christmas is coming and if you have not been able to book some festive magic for you and the family, seek out the Winter Wonderland Barn at Rare Breeds Centre as their Christmas experience is guaranteed to put a big fat smile on all the family’s faces plus it’s socially distanced to ensure everyone is happy and healthy.

THE WHERE? 

If Rare Breeds Centre is not on your radar, this 100-acre farm is located just outside the pretty village of Woodchurch (by Tenterden) and is the home of rare and native breeds of farm wild stock, with pigs, cows, cattle, horses, poultry, goats, birds of prey all living within the grounds. This is the place to go to pet furry friendly animals, including cuddly rabbits, hamsters, new-born chicks, goats and horses.  

It is also famous in our family for its mighty range of outdoor activities and if Floor is Lava is as coveted in your house as much as ours, then the Aerial Assault Courts as Mysterious Marsh will keep them occupied for a good hour. Plus, there’s three play parks, Trailer Rides, Zip wires, Hill fort, brass rubbing trails through Rainbow Wood and a Tube Maze that NEVER ceases to amuse my children as they try to locate each other in a jungle of tube tunnels. Each to their own.

THE EXPERIENCE 

For 8 Days Only, the Winter Wonderland Barn has been created at Rare Breeds so you can tick off the Father Christmas meet-and-greet but with a creative spin on things.

This is a goodie for grandparents and vulnerable adults who are rightly concerned about large get-togethers but still do not want to miss out on any festive fun. You can pre-book family booths (4-8 people) so you are sitting apart from others and a socially distanced Father Christmas even shoots gifts down a slide as a neat and memorable way to deliver the goods.  

We won’t spoil the surprises but there are more characters to ‘meet’ along the way, interactive games, singing competitions and a big bag of goodies to greet each child plus the twinkly Christmas setting does provide that money-shot backdrop for your family festive photos.  

Granted it’s not as all singing and dancing as the larger commercial Christmas ventures in London but it so much nicer to know you are putting your money into somewhere local and you don’t have to travel far and wide to get there either. What’s more, the centre looks after adults with learning disabilities to develop their skills and knowledge so you supporting a good cause too.  

NEED TO KNOW 

The other good news is that you can linger on at Rare Breeds Centre for the whole day (access from 10am to 4pm) to roam around its vast space with picnic spots for the hardy. 

You can pick up burgers and hot chocolate at restaurant spots around Rare Breeds Centre and if you want to push the boat out, you are in a hot-spot for great family foodie favourites with Muddy top tips being The Heritage Garden Kitchen in nearby Biddenden, Pig & Sty in Bethersden, Unita 4 in Ashford and for damn-fine burgers, you have Hoof & Hook in Tenterden.  

Booths cost £100 (4 persons), £150 (6 persons) and £200 (8 persons) plus EVERY CHILD receives a gift from Father Christmas and it’s running from Sat 11 Dec until Thurs 23 Dec. Book in quick – Father Christmas and his elves await… 

Rare Breeds Centre, Highlands Farm, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3RJ, rarebreeds.org.uk, 01233 861493, help@rarebreeds.org.uk