Come along and meet a variety of animals at Chiddingstone Castle this Easter! Amazing Animal Encounters provide an incredible, uplifting, educational, personal experience. You'll learn lots and come away appreciating the natural world even more.

Amazing Animal Encounters are based at a private animal sanctuary and smallholding in the Kent Weald which is the family home of head handler Maria Harle, who has worked with animals and young people for the last 20 years. They look after farm animals, domestic pets, exotic creatures and rehabilitate wild animals. Maria is a former rescuer for The National Fox Welfare Society and teaches about animal care, conservation and wildlife weekly, in local settings including Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls, Bethany Independent school and within the local home educated community. Maria has been featured in Kent Life Magazine, appeared several times on BBC Radio Kent and was a stakeholder advisor for DEFRA during the formation of the Animal Welfare Act 2018.

Typical animals for this kind of encounter, might include miniature sheep, rabbits, chickens and maybe the odd giant tortoise, guinea pigs, bearded dragon, tarantula, stick insects, hissing cockroaches, African pygmy hedgehog. This list isn't exhaustive and subject to change and may vary depending on the age range/ability of the participants. Maria will try to include lots of the "farm" or "Easter" theme animals as much as possible.

The animals in attendance will be dependent on health and welfare checks performed on the day, and the weather conditions/temperatures. Whilst baby animals can come along during the Spring period, Amazing Animal Encounters can bring them where appropriate but they never breed animals in order to supply them for encounters and unweaned animals and their mothers cannot be transported under the Animal Welfare Act 

First session – 11.30am (littles 3-8yrs)

Second session – 12.15pm (biggys 8yrs up)

Third session – 1.45pm (SEN)

SEN - We are a safe space where you can be yourself. Tell us your child's individual requirements and needs so we can let Maria know, helping to reduce anxieties before or during your visit. 

Tickets are non-refundable. In the event of us cancelling the event, we shall provide a full refund excluding booking fee.