Donkey Sanctuary

Celebrating National Meadows Day at The Donkey Sanctuary 

This Saturday is National Meadows Day, an annual celebration of the magnificent meadows the UK has to offer. It illustrates their importance in our landscape and acts to raise awareness of this vanishing habitat.

Thanks to the dedicated hard work of The Donkey Sanctuary’sEcology and Conservation team and their band of trusty volunteers – and the resident donkeys of course – several...

Gold-standard dining among the donkeys 

For the fourth year in a row, The Donkey Sanctuary’s on-site restaurant ‘The Kitchen’ has been awarded a Taste of the West Gold Award.

The venue at the sanctuary in Sidmouth picked up the Gold Awardin the café/tearoom category in the 2022 Taste of the West Hospitality and Retail Awards.

The judges looked at a number of categories, including the quality of service and food,...

Help save donkeys and win with The Donkey Sanctuary Lottery

A new weekly Lottery to help donkeys in greatest need in the UK and worldwide has been launched by international animal welfare charity, The Donkey Sanctuary.

The Donkey Sanctuary uses its funds to care for its 7,000 resident donkeys and mules in the UK and Europe. The charity also runs a donkey-facilitated learning programme that helps vulnerable children and adults develop life...

Top Trumps trail at The Donkey Sanctuary

This February half term, head to The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth and find out which donkey has the loudest bray, the longest ears, or who is the most playful in the Adoption Donkey Top Trumps Trail.

Follow the trail to find the giant Top Trumps cards located around the sanctuary and reveal which adoption donkey comes out on top in each round.

Each adoption donkey has been...

Easter Family Fun Day at The Donkey Sanctuary

Leap into Spring at The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge Easter Family Fun Day. The free to enter seasonal event, held on Good Friday, promises to be a great day out with activities for all the family.

Children will be able to help Lucky the Donkey find the Easter Bunny’s lost eggs in the all-weather Easter donkey trail. Follow the word trail and answer all the questions in the donkey quiz...

The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge’s Summer Open Day proved to be a great ‘bray’ out

The Mayor of Ivybridge, Councillor Anthony Khong officially opened The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge’s Open Day on Saturday 2 June. After cutting the ribbon at the main outdoor arena, Cllr. Khong welcomed families to the event and invited them to explore the world of donkeys in the new look interaction zones.

The Open Day is the centre’s main fund-raising event of the year and each zone...

Christmas comes to The Donkey Sanctuary

The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge is holding its Christmas Fair on Saturday 2 December.

Local traders will be selling unique Christmas crafts and goods while The Donkey Sanctuary handmade with love Christmas wreaths and table centre pieces will be on sale along with wooden reindeers that make the perfect Christmas gift.

There will be a tombola, games to play and visitors can...

Chris to run marathon for donkeys

Plympton martial arts teacher and ex-marine, Chris McKenna, is limbering up to run the Plymouth Half Marathon next month in aid of The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge.

He will also be holding a fundraising gig at the Westward Inn in Lee Mill on Friday 3 April from 8.30pm.

It will be the second time that Chris, 63, has run the Half Marathon for the Sanctuary. Last year he enjoyed it...

Mad Dog McRea

Plymouth folk band Mad Dog Mcrea are playing at The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge on Saturday 28 March from 7pm to raise funds for the centre’s donkey assisted therapy work.

The gig at the centre in Filham Park includes support act Alex Hart with her unique ‘Westcountry Country’ vibe.

Doors and bar open at 7pm. Proof of age ID will be required.

Centre manager Bob Venn says: “Join us for a wonderful night of folky, country, jazz! Mad Dog Mcrea are such a fantastic band and it’s always been a great evening in the past. And this year it will be even better with Alex Hart’...