We were very pleased when an article appeared in a national magazine, Land & Business, recently. They had heard about the things we were doing in the community, and wanted to let others know. We told them the story of how we came to a small patch of land in Knockholt in 1978, and added to it so that it now consists of 52 acres of fields and ancient woodland, where we have over the years helped many children and young people. In the beginning we welcomed local youngsters to enjoy the countryside and see deer, badgers and rare birds in their natural setting – but that was only the start….

Here’s some of what Land & Business had to say –

“Over the years, Marion Layberry OBE and her husband James have fostered, housed and helped countless children, adults and animals on their 52 acre farm near Sevenoaks, Kent.

They fostered first one child and then others, later founding one of the earliest independent fostering agencies. They also set up an agency focused on social enterprise lines, which currently has 50 fostering families on its books, and established the Layberry Foundation, a charity that mentors young people who face difficulties in their lives – particularly those who are leaving or have left the care system. In addition, Marion and James have taken in rescue animals, and have helped adults in need.

Post-pandemic, they are looking forward to welcoming youngsters back onto the farm, with plans to convert an outbuilding to serve as a learning area, with a kitchen and office space. They also want to create a wheelchair friendly path through ancient woodland, add alpacas and put a model of a Spitfire on top of a wind turbine as a nod to the nearby Biggin Hill airfield. “The pandemic halted a lot of our plans, but it’s now an exciting time,” says Marion, a social worker and special needs teacher who previously sung backing vocals for David Bowie. “People say the big thing about this place is its special atmosphere of tranquillity – it has calm vibes, and it’s nice for us to share it and offer a sense of belonging.” James is keen to expand their facilities to help children. “We want to get kids growing, picking and cooking produce, to help give them skills and live sustainably. It’s good for them to know where food and energy come from.”

Earlier this summer, the couple helped Safe Haven Animal Rescue when it was asked to vacate its old home; the charity has moved its horses, and other animals to the place. “The future looked incredibly bleak, but luckily the Layberrys kindly invited us to use their land,” says a Safe Haven spokesperson. “We are immensely grateful, and looking forward to joining the local community.”