Giving disabled people a brighter future is at the core of the success of the Rare Breeds Centre. As it celebrates its 20th anniversary, Chris Price was tasked with mucking out the sheep, cows and pigs.

So there I am, ankle deep in animal poo but with a smile as big as barn door. It may all sound all a bit crazy but when you are surrounded by the happy faces at the Rare Breeds Centre in Woodchurch, shovelling pigs’ mess seems like a whole, load of fun.

The farm is celebrating its 20th year of inviting visitors to see unusual creatures like its alpacas or Hungarian white curly-haired Mangaltiza pigs. Yet behind the scenes, the attraction quietly continues its two decade story of caring for people who might not otherwise be given a chance to work in life.

The centre is owned by Canterbury Oast Trust, set up in 1985 by a group of parents unhappy with the care offered for their disabled children at the time.

To deal with the issue, they bought a house and surrounding farmland in Woodchurch and in 1992, the Rare Breeds Centre was born. Ever since it has changed the lives of people with learning and physical disabilities by allowing them to work at the farm, giving them precious independence. The board of trustees who run the farm is still largely made up of parents.

“Sometimes it has me pulling my hair out but that is the nature of the beast,” said farm manager Davy McColm with a tongue-in-cheek smile. “Like kids you cannot help but love them.

“There are not many jobs where you can come in and there’s someone waiting to give you a cuddle in the morning. That sums it up really. We are like a big family. It beats the hell out of any city job.”

A tough Scotsman, Davy wastes no time in getting me to work with James Fincham, 34, who lives at the Canterbury Oast Trust’s Forge Hill home in Aldington. James is quickly putting me through my paces sweeping out the pigsty and his enthusiasm for his work is infectious.

“I like everything,” said James. “I especially like the piglets. They make me laugh sometimes. I also look after the horses and the lambs. The horses are my favourite.

“Sometimes it is very smelly. My girlfriend always says I need to have a shower when I get home but I don’t mind getting mucky. It is all part of the job.”

Davy adds: “It gives them a sense of self-worth and they are doing their accredited City and Guild training which gives them something tangible in the real world. It helps build social skills and self-confidence. At the same time, being here is therapeutic.”

As well as looking after animals, many of the workers are based in Rainbow Nursery, a garden growing more than 200 perennial plants and 50 varieties of vegetable, which are sold at the plant shop by the farm entrance.

“They get a huge sense of satisfaction to grow something from a tiny seed to a plant,” said assistant manager of horticulture Lyn Hope.

“They grow vegetables and take them home for their dinner. Everyone is involved and they do something very useful.

“A lot of visitors are surprised at how much everyone can do and achieve. We try really hard to explore people’s potential. A lot of people don’t realise what they are capable of.”

Lyn turns to a user called Al, who has come over to show us a pathway he has just swept.

“Al has amazing initiative but he cannot speak. It is all in there but sometimes he has a job to get it out because he is not good at verbal communication.”

Davy added: “We don’t get enough recognition for the work with the residents and external users. With councils closing so many day services there are fewer and fewer opportunities for the disabled. This is truly worth it.

“There are so many best bits about this job. You are working in beautiful surroundings with nice people for a worthy cause. You get to play with children and I get to be a child myself. No two days are ever the same. It is very rewarding.”

Farm friends

Farmyard animals, an exotic butterfly tunnel, two play parks, a tube maze and an indoor soft play barn await families heading to Rare Breeds Centre.

Daily falconry displays and pig racing are two of the main attractions at the 100-acre site.

Children can get up close to snakes, beetles and spiders in Creepy Crawly World and meet tortoises in the Discovery Garden.

Greenfingers can take a look at the vegetables and plants being grown at the Rainbow Nursery.

For a quiet moment, meander through the carpets of flowers and foliage on one of the woodland walks.

Win a horse!

A rocking horse is the star prize in a raffle to mark the Rare Breeds Centre’s 20th anniversary.

Made by craftsmen Stevenson Brothers of Bethersden, the horse is worth £2,000. Tickets cost £1 and are available all year until the draw on Saturday, December 8.

Even the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has pledged his support by buying a few tickets when he met Canterbury Oast Trust chief executive Gill Gibb at a service St Peter & St Paul in Charing.

Tickets can be bought from the Rare Breeds Centre, or from Stevenson Brothers in Bethersden.

The Rare Breeds Centre in Woodchurch is open daily from 10.30am to 5.20pm. Admission £9.95, seniors £8.50, children £8, families £28. Call 01233 861493 or visitwww.rarebreeds.org.uk.