Work is pressing ahead to expand a school’s community farm and make it home to even more animals.

Northfleet School for Girls ran a farm from 1950 until the last goat left in 1986, but a resurgent interest in horticulture led to the school reestablishing its farm in 2015.

The project has gathered momentum since and new additions so far include a farm classroom, a state-of-the-art 36ft polytunnel, a tool shed, raised vegetable beds of various heights and large ground level crop beds.

The already established fruit orchard, large wildlife pond, wooded walkway and grazing pasture, have also been improved and the school canteen has benefited from fruit and vegetables harvested by pupils.

But the school now plans to press ahead yet further and is raising money to increase its range of animals.

Ten chickens, two guinea pigs – named Rolo and Caramel – and four degus (a type of Chilean rodent) are the only resident animals so far, but the young farmers want to raise £5,000 to build homes for rabbits, rats, hedgehogs, quails and tortoises, including a spacious walk-in enclosure on the side of the farm classroom.

Alongside the pupils from Northfleet School for Girls, the community farm provides an opportunity for service users from the Kasbah charity, which supports people with physical and/or learning disabilities, to work on site each week learning new skills.

Ifield School, for pupils with special needs, is a farm trustee and its pupils have been working hard to clear and build a large compost area.

Another farm trustee Groundworks, which supports community projects, supported the building of the footings for the polytunnel.

As the farm expands, the school hopes to attract more visitors and volunteers from other organisations such as local hospices and care homes.

Visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/northfleet-community-farm to find out more about the project and donate to the cause.