Princess Christian's Farm
Encyclopedia
Princess Christian's Farm is an educational facility geared towards people with learning disabilities. The farm is run by a partnership with Kent County Council Social Services for the benefit of adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, the overall aim of the partnership is for the individuals to learn new skills and develop opportunities to move into employment.
(near Tonbridge
, Kent), Princess Christian’s Farm was first purchased in 1910 by Princess Christian, the third daughter of Queen Victoria, as a home for people with learning difficulties.
It was intended that the farm would be self supporting - growing vegetables, keeping cattle and poultry. In the early days a milk round was started which was done initially on foot and then later by pony and milk float. This practise continued until around 1935.
In 1948, with the advent of the National Health Service
, the Farm became a subsidiary of Leybourne Grange and admissions were through a Regional Board. The Farm still served as a place where those with learning difficulties could work and contribute to the community. This continued until 1984 when the Health Authority thought it was inappropriate for it to be running a farm. Following negotiations with Kent County Council
Social Services, 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) of land and the farm buildings were taken over by KCC in 1987, with the remaining 96 acres (388,498.6 m²) let out to local farmers through grazing agreements. These agreements usually ran for a period of less than one year, however due to the lack of maintenance since 1984 the fields were run down with minimal fencing and weeds dominating pasture. In 1990 the final farmer with a grazing agreement left and the land became redundant until, in 1991, Princess Christian’s Farm took back the land with a grazing agreement agreed between Kent County Council and the Health Authority.
This additional land proved to be a great asset to the Farm, enabling them to keep up to 200 sheep, make hay and build a nature trail which is accessible to people with learning disabilities.
In October 2009, Hadlow College
– the local land-based college – took over the running of Princess Christian’s Farm. Run in partnership with Kent County Council Social Services for the benefit of adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, the overall aim of the partnership is for the individuals to learn new skills and develop opportunities to move into employment.
Within the glasshouses and polytunnels the horticulture department grows a range of plants, herbs and vegetables for sale in the Farm Shop alongside planters and hanging baskets. The farm kitchen provides hot lunches for the students and produces cakes and pastries for local farmers’ markets.
These values are designed to demonstrate a commitment by Hadlow College and its staff to ensure that the education fulfils the needs of the students as well as acknowledge to the student their need to be challenged and supported.
During the student’s first month at Princess Christian’s Farm, they will each have an initial assessment which includes a one-to-one interview, tasters and staff observations as well as talking with the key agencies involved.
By working with Hadlow College
, the students at Princess Christian’s Farm will benefit from a much wider access to different activities and qualifications in animal management, horticulture, conservation and agriculture. They will also be able to find different work placements.
It is the College’s aim that all students progress to their maximum possible level of independence so that they can become active in their communities and in employment.
Origins and History
Situated on the outskirts of HildenboroughHildenborough
Hildenborough is a village and rural parish in the District of Tonbridge and Malling, Kent. It is two miles north-west of Tonbridge and five miles south-east of Sevenoaks...
(near Tonbridge
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30,340 in 2007. It is located on the River Medway, approximately 4 miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 29 miles south east of London...
, Kent), Princess Christian’s Farm was first purchased in 1910 by Princess Christian, the third daughter of Queen Victoria, as a home for people with learning difficulties.
It was intended that the farm would be self supporting - growing vegetables, keeping cattle and poultry. In the early days a milk round was started which was done initially on foot and then later by pony and milk float. This practise continued until around 1935.
In 1948, with the advent of the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
, the Farm became a subsidiary of Leybourne Grange and admissions were through a Regional Board. The Farm still served as a place where those with learning difficulties could work and contribute to the community. This continued until 1984 when the Health Authority thought it was inappropriate for it to be running a farm. Following negotiations with Kent County Council
Kent County Council
Kent County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Kent in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are 12 district councils, and around 300 town and parish councils. The county council has 84 elected councillors...
Social Services, 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) of land and the farm buildings were taken over by KCC in 1987, with the remaining 96 acres (388,498.6 m²) let out to local farmers through grazing agreements. These agreements usually ran for a period of less than one year, however due to the lack of maintenance since 1984 the fields were run down with minimal fencing and weeds dominating pasture. In 1990 the final farmer with a grazing agreement left and the land became redundant until, in 1991, Princess Christian’s Farm took back the land with a grazing agreement agreed between Kent County Council and the Health Authority.
This additional land proved to be a great asset to the Farm, enabling them to keep up to 200 sheep, make hay and build a nature trail which is accessible to people with learning disabilities.
In October 2009, Hadlow College
Hadlow College
Hadlow College, located at Hadlow in Kent with satellite sites in Canterbury and London, is a Further Education and Higher Education college. The curriculum primarily covers land-based subjects including agriculture, conservation and wildlife management, animal management, fisheries management,...
– the local land-based college – took over the running of Princess Christian’s Farm. Run in partnership with Kent County Council Social Services for the benefit of adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, the overall aim of the partnership is for the individuals to learn new skills and develop opportunities to move into employment.
About the Farm
As a traditional working farm, Princess Christian’s Farm comprises approximately 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) of pasture and woodland. It produces its own pork, lamb and beef as well as oven ready chickens and over 1,000 eggs a day. Each Christmas quality turkeys are reared for local customers. Much of the produce is sold through its own farm shop and local butchers.Within the glasshouses and polytunnels the horticulture department grows a range of plants, herbs and vegetables for sale in the Farm Shop alongside planters and hanging baskets. The farm kitchen provides hot lunches for the students and produces cakes and pastries for local farmers’ markets.
About the Curriculum
There are currently places for up to 25 individuals a day at Princess Christian’s Farm. Underpinning the curriculum are the following values:- Respect for self and others
- Self determination so that people take responsibility for what happens in their lives
- Inclusiveness
- Development of relationships with people at work
These values are designed to demonstrate a commitment by Hadlow College and its staff to ensure that the education fulfils the needs of the students as well as acknowledge to the student their need to be challenged and supported.
During the student’s first month at Princess Christian’s Farm, they will each have an initial assessment which includes a one-to-one interview, tasters and staff observations as well as talking with the key agencies involved.
By working with Hadlow College
Hadlow College
Hadlow College, located at Hadlow in Kent with satellite sites in Canterbury and London, is a Further Education and Higher Education college. The curriculum primarily covers land-based subjects including agriculture, conservation and wildlife management, animal management, fisheries management,...
, the students at Princess Christian’s Farm will benefit from a much wider access to different activities and qualifications in animal management, horticulture, conservation and agriculture. They will also be able to find different work placements.
It is the College’s aim that all students progress to their maximum possible level of independence so that they can become active in their communities and in employment.