The Donkey Sanctuary

Take a walk on the wild side at the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary

With spring just around the corner, visitors to The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth can discover some of the wildlife that live in and around the sanctuary with Drizzle’s Green Guardians Trail.

The sanctuary is home to thousands of insects, animals and plants, and they rely on donkeys like Drizzle and his pals to boost biodiversity on the land. Whether they are grazing the meadows or...

Role reversal: Sidmouth donkeys provide wellbeing for equine welfare officers  

A group of dedicated professionals, who spend their working lives protecting the welfare of horses, donkeys and mules, were treated to a wellbeing session with a difference at The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth.

The frontline equine welfare officers spent a day at the Sanctuary’s Donkey Assisted Activities centre, giving them the opportunity to take time out of their busy roles to...

Donkeys enjoy festive enrichment

Donkeys at The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth have been enjoying some festive enrichment this week and are pictured munching on some specially made Christmas wreaths

The garlands were carefully crafted by staff at the sanctuary using willow, herbs and selected pieces of cut up fruit and vegetables.

Enrichment is very important for the resident donkeys and provides them with...

Candlelight Service alongside Sidmouth donkeys 

The Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary was illuminated by thousands of LED candles on Friday evening as the charity held its annual Carols by Candlelight service.

The main walkways around the sanctuary were lit up with twinkling lights, creating the perfect seasonal atmosphere for the hundreds of visitors to the event.

Hosted by celebrant and BBC Radio presenter Emma Britton, the...

Donkeys in their barn at The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth

A festive bray out with the Sidmouth donkeys  

The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth has the festive season all wrapped and is the perfect winter’s day out for the whole family.

With a new winter trail, free admission and parking, an award-winning gift shop and restaurant, the sanctuary in the heart of the East Devon countryside is open every day except Christmas Day. There is lots to see and do, both indoors and outside, and dogs on...

Donkey Sanctuary Gift Shop scoops top Devon award 

The Donkey Sanctuary’s on-site Gift Shop has won the Best Devon Attraction Retail Shop of the Year award.

The venue at the Sidmouth sanctuary has been named as the overall Devon winner for its best range, choice, appropriateness, local sourcing, display and pricing in the Devon’s Top Attractions’ 2023 awards.

The Gift Shop, in the heart of the Sidmouth sanctuary, is stacked...

Gold-standard dining at The Donkey Sanctuary 

The Donkey Sanctuary’s on-site restaurant ‘The Kitchen’ has picked up a Gold Award in the 2023 Food Drink Devon awards.

The venue at the Sidmouth sanctuary picked up the Gold Award in the Hospitality Awards’ category at the ceremony which was held at the Exeter Chiefs’ ground at Sandy Park in Exeter.

The Gold Award is a great achievement for the team in The Kitchen...

VisitEngland Gold award for Devon donkeys  

The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth has been awarded VisitEngland’s highest accolade – ‘Gold’ - in its prestigious Visitor Attraction Accolades for 2022-2023 – one of only four attractions in the South West to do so.

The accolades recognise high-quality visitor experiences on offer across England and only all-round top scoring attractions are awarded the Gold accolade.

Free to...

Spooktacular trail at The Donkey Sanctuary this October

This October, visitors to The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth can explore the sanctuary with the Haunted Hay Bales Halloween Hunt.

By following clues on their trail sheet, people will be able to search for the hidden Neddie characters around the sanctuary, while meeting some of the friendly resident donkeys along the way.

Perfect for all the family, and a great excuse to get...

New roles at The Donkey Sanctuary will help reach more donkeys 

International animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary has announced the appointment of two key new Executive Director roles that will help drive its recently launched five-year organisational strategy and reach more donkeys in need across the globe.

Niall Duffy joins the organisation as Executive Director of Policy and Profile, and Cheryl Martin has been appointed Executive...

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