Kent-Based Agricultural Charity Provides Free Educational Day For Over 2,500 Primary School Students
On Wednesday 6th May, more than 2,500 children from 53 primary schools across Kent attended Living Land at the Kent Showground. Run by registered charity, the Kent County Agricultural Society, Living Land provides a free day of education in food, farming and the environment for school groups in Years 3 & 4 and over the last 22 years, the event has now educated over 60,000 children!
This annual event offers primary school children an introduction to the topics of agriculture, horticulture and the countryside through hands-on activities, engaging displays and the chance to talk directly to experts from across the agricultural industry and rural community.
Joined by the Kent Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, children had the opportunity to meet a range of farm animals including sheep, pigs, goats, cows and alpacas, learning about how livestock are reared for food and animal-based products. The Animal Zone also saw dog displays and heavy horses, as well as a sheep shearing demonstrations and a performance from the much-loved Sheep Show, offering both education AND entertainment!
A visit to the Touch & Taste Zone saw exhibitors including Chambers, N2 Sweet Lab, Biddenden Vineyard and Plurenden Farm give children the opportunity to learn about local produce and take part in a range of activities such as smoothie making, fruit tasting and a poly tunnel containing strawberry plants kindly supported by Driscoll’s to explore.
The Moving Machinery display returned for Living Land 2026 and saw local agricultural contracting business Hope Contractors, put on a display of large agricultural machinery including tractors, a combine harvester and a crop sprayer to a delighted audience! Meanwhile, in the Discovery & Machinery Zone, visitors had the opportunity to marvel at agricultural machinery and learn about farming practices both old and new, with exhibitors including FGS Agri, WaterAid, Kent Wildlife Trust and Wonder Lab, to name just a few.
Nikki Dorkings, General Manager at the Kent County Agricultural Society reflected on the day, saying “We are delighted to have welcomed over 2,500 pupils and their teachers to the Kent Showground again this year! Living Land, now a cherished tradition in Kent, offers Year 3 and 4 classes an immersive opportunity to delve into the agricultural industry, discover the origins of their food, and explore rural traditions within their county.”
The one-day event is free for Kent-based primary schools, aiming to give children experiences within farming and the countryside, as well as educating them in where food comes from and the importance of preserving wildlife and the environment. Living Land is part of the Kent County Agricultural Society’s wider initiative to encourage education and development in farming.
Matthew Cullen, Society Chairman said:
“This event highlights the importance of agricultural education and its impact on future generations. It inspires us to see so many young minds eagerly engaging with the wonders of our countryside. Living Land is just one part of the Kent County Agricultural Society’s commitment to supporting education in agriculture and the next generation of our farming industry, a commitment which has led to the creation our educational area at the Kent County Show, our Kent Rural Scholarship for those studying land-based subjects at degree-level and our ongoing support of the Kent Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs.
“I also want to say a huge thank you to our kind sponsors, The Rochester Bridge Trust, as well as all the exhibitors and volunteers who so generously offer their time and resources to introduce thousands of young people to the rural world around them. Without this generous support, the event simply wouldn’t be possible.”
Having celebrated the event’s 20th anniversary in 2024, the organisers behind Living Land were delighted to catch up with a former visitor, Ashleigh Yates, who attended the event as a Year 4 student. Now studying for a degree in Agriculture with Animal Science at Harper Adams University with funding from KCAS’s Kent Rural Scholarship, Ashleigh told us “Living Land opened my eyes to the rural world around me and gave me the opportunity to get hands on with different aspects of agriculture. It kick-started my interest in the industry, a passion that has carried throughout the years and massively influenced where I am now, from joining young farmers and showing livestock at the Kent County Show to beginning my degree in agriculture and hopefully I can go on to massively contribute to the industry once I graduate”.
Ashleigh went on to say “I truly believe Living Land is a unique out-of-classroom experience that teaches young children the provenance of their food and could inspire our next generation of farmers!”.
Success stories such as Ashleigh’s highlight the lasting impact of an event like Living Land on both the young people it welcomes through it’s doors and on the future of the agricultural industry!
Living Land 2027 will take place on Wednesday 5th May 2027 and invites for schools to attend will be sent out later this year. If you are a teacher and are interested in finding out more about attending this event or if you are a rural business owner and would be interested in exhibiting, please email [email protected] for more information.
