Think of young farmers and many might picture chaps in Tweed jackets driving around in Land Rovers.

But a community farm on the Isle of Sheppey is bucking the trend.

Curly's Farm at Bayview has broken through the stereotype barrier by forming what is believed to be the Island's first Young Farmers' Group.

Farm founder Kyle Ratcliffe said: "We had been thinking about doing this for a while. But when we met members of the Kent Farming Group at the Kent County Show in July they encouraged us to go ahead. As far as we know, this is the first Young Farmers' group on the Island."

Members held their first meeting at the farm yesterday (Tuesday) (Oct 11).

Kyle said: "It was quite an historic event. We are breaking down stereotypes. There is an understanding that most young farmers are driving around their country estates in their Land Rovers. We are completely breaking that myth.

"Hopefully, we will be training the farmers of the future. We are getting people from Dover to Dartford to become young farmers and opening their eyes to a whole different way of employment. They can learn every life skill you can imagine when dealing with livestock."

The self-funding farm, which began in the back garden of Kyle's bungalow in Brambledown four years ago with a couple of pigs, now works with 36 schools, four colleges and two universities and costs £300,000 a year to run.

A year later, it moved to its present 11 acres where it boasts 500 animals and employs 23 staff, all qualified tactile signers who can communicate with many types of students. One is deaf and blind. Kyle says nowhere else could cope with his condition. Several arrive in wheelchairs.

The working farm – which is open seven days a week, 365 days of the year – gives hands-on experience to 305 youngsters a week from across Kent. Their ages range from four to 70.

Kyle said: "Margaret is our oldest farmer. She is 70 and has learning difficulties. The one thing we say at the farm is that you never stop learning."

The farm looks after a number of children with special education needs. Kyle and his husband Garry have adopted four of their own, three of which have severe learning difficulties. They soon recognised there was a pressing need for additional help for parents like them.

The farm, voted Children's Charity of the Year, is named after their youngest Curtis, known as Curly, who they adopted when he was just 12 weeks old. He was not expected to reach his first birthday. His two dads have set up Curly's Legacy for him.

Garry – who is executive head teacher of The Galaxy Trust, a multi-academy trust of four primary schools in Dartford –said: "If you’ve been chucked out of school, you’re given a fresh start at Curly’s Farm. If you are on to your sixth foster home in a year, Curly’s Farm will give you the consistency and security you need. If you are working hard to understand your gender or your sexuality, Curly’s Farm will offer you a place of reflection and safety."

Children and young people end up with their hands dirty, their boots full of mud and worse but all learn to take full responsibility for the jobs down on the farm, feeding, cleaning, shearing, grooming and even helping with calving and lambing.

Kyle says: "The rest of Kent is experiencing the ripple effect. The stone was thrown on Sheppey but we have people now coming from Medway, Meopham, Dartford and beyond."

The farm made its debut at the Kent County Show at Detling this year but is already planning to return in 2023 when the show celebrates its centenary.

It is now home to many rare breeds including a pedigree herd of short-legged Dexter cows, Dorset horned sheep and Golden Guernsey goats plus 150 chickens, two emus called Sonny and Cher, several pigs, nine cats – which keep down the rat population without using poison – and seven dogs.

Kyle said: "We are hoping to have the largest stand at the show with our own show ring, right at the main entrance. We expect there will be at least 17,000 people a day walking past us."

He is seeking sponsors to help fund the display. If you are interested, email him here. admin@curlyslegacy.co.uk

The Ratcliffes first made national news six years ago today (Wednesday) when they returned to see what Nick Knowles and the DIY SOS team had done to their bungalow. It was the first time the production had demolished a property and rebuilt it entirely from scratch.

The couple had moved to Sheppey in February 2012 but their three-bedroom bungalow with one bathroom had proved completely unsuitable. Kyle recalled: "We ended up with one of the best equipped homes with five bedrooms and two bathrooms to bring up our family. Viewers saw me cry when I saw the state-of-the-art toilet!"

More than100 traders and suppliers helped with the project by working or providing materials for free.

Youngsters, who can pick up qualifications, also learn the hard facts of farming, too. The farm sells its own sausages and visitors can pick up two fillet steaks for a fiver.

Kyle added: "Moving to Sheppey was the best thing we ever did. We wouldn't live anywhere else now."