On a bright and blustery spring day in March, our Isle of Wight team were joined by staff from the head office to spend the day volunteering.
There are 110 donkeys and equines at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, rescued for a variety of reasons, including abandonment, homelessness, and loss of grazing, and from around the UK and France too. Each animal is given a bespoke welfare regime to match their needs, including medical care and integration into the herd. New arrivals are quarantined to ensure all the residents are kept safe, and when allowed into the herd, matched in pairs for company.
Our day began with a health and safety briefing with Community Engagement Officer Tracy, who gave us a fascinating insight into the sanctuary during a guided tour of the site.
The Fresh Air Herd lives outside year-round in a large, grassy paddock with shelters. Poo picking is required to keep the areas clean, with bedding replaced with fresh shavings. We supported the sanctuary before our visit with a donation of equipment, including poo pickers, yard brushes, scratch brushes and bedding forks, so it was great to be able to use some of this equipment to clean the paddocks. The Shetland Herd are quite a bunch of characters, and they, too, needed a paddock clean, which we were only too happy to help with.
After a hearty lunch in Grazers Café of warming winter soups and freshly baked cakes, we watched staff weigh the donkeys to help monitor their health. It was fascinating seeing an insight into their BCS (body conditioning scores), which helps assess a donkey’s fat and muscle coverage to maintain optimal health and nutrition. Other afternoon activities included soaking hay, cleaning feed bowls, and grooming, which the donkeys love and was definitely the highlight of our day!
The Classic team agreed to adopt a donkey, which is a great way to support the sanctuary, and gorgeous Daphne is now our unofficial mascot!
Open daily, the site is beautifully kept by staff and a team of 100 volunteers. As well as the donkey paddocks, there’s a courtyard with seating and the excellent “Grazers” Café located in a lovely, rustic barn. You can wander around, say hello to the donkeys, mules, and Shetland ponies and even bring a picnic to enjoy in the Wildlife Meadow. Dogs on leads are very welcome, and there is also a shop selling delightful donkey-inspired gifts. Parking and admission are free, with donations gratefully received.
As a voluntary organisation, The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is entirely dependent on donations and fundraising. There are several ways to support them, including Adopt a Donkey or making a purchase from the Amazon wish list.
Take a look at their website for further information and, if you live on the Island or are visiting on holiday, they are open seven days a week, the perfect way to spend the day and inspiring for all the family.
