We are delighted to announce that we have recently been awarded accreditation from the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST).
This is first RBST accreditation awarded to an educational organisation and therefore Merrist Wood College is currently the only college in the country with this accreditation.
Our farm is situated on our 400-acre estate and is used primarily as a student resource for Animal Management programmes. However, there are opportunities to visit our farm and enjoy the farm animals we look after, such as special events hosted throughout the year, including our Lambing Weekend and the Festive Animal Fun Day. Or you could book a Merrist Wood Farm Birthday party, or an Education Tour for your school or youth group.
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) is the national charity that works to secure the future of rare breeds of native livestock and equines.
To become RBST accredited, the college had to fulfil a set of criteria, including being able to evidence participation in conservation breeding programmes and promoting the benefits of native breeds. The college’s rare breeds conservation programme already successfully supports Portland sheep, Wensleydale sheep, Gloucester cows , Golden Guernsey goats and rare breeds of poultry.
Goats: Pygmy, Golden Guernsey*, Anglo Nubian
Sheep: Welsh badger face, Speckled face Beulah, Portlands*, Wensleydales*, Polled Dorset, Lleyn, Manx Loaghtan, Castlemilk Moorit*
Cattle: Gloucester*, Hereford Crossbred
Poultry: Welsh Harlequin duck*, Crollwitzer turkey*, Dorking chicken*
Pigs: Oxford Sandy and Black
Donkeys: Miniature Mediterranean Donkey
Others: llama, Alpaca, Rhea
* Rare Breeds