A cherished family farm hopes to raise £300,000 to carry out urgent repair work.

Kent Life Heritage Farm near Maidstone is asking visitors to donate through Gift Aid so it can complete restoration work on one of its thatched roofs.

Time has taken its toll on the roof which now requires work to preserve its historic significance.

The charity is asking visitors to donate via the government scheme which allows Kent Life to reclaim 25p for every £1 given.

The general manager at the farm, Rob Bracken, said the funds will help preserve the Kentish history on the site.

He said: "Kent Life has always been about families, driven by our passion for providing the best possible experiences for all who visit.

"With the generous support of our community through Gift Aid, we can rebuild the thatched roof and continue to preserve the beauty of Kent Life.”

To view Kent Life website click here.

The 28-acre working farm and visitor attraction has 200 farmyard animals, indoor and outdoor play areas, gardens and orchards.

Sir Tyrwhitt Drake originally owned the farm but when he died childless in 1964 it was passed onto Kent County Council and Maidstone council.

The councils reopened the farm in 1985 as ‘The Museum of Kent Life’ on the site of the old Sandling Farm.

Planning Solutions, a tourism and leisure company, has run the farm on behalf of the councils since 2005.

Fast forward to today and the farm offers a place for a day out, as well as family-friendly events, suchas ice cream and beer festivals, fireworks displays and visits from Father Christmas.