New Adoption Club
We are excited to tell you that the NEW LOOK Adoption Club has now been launched and we are thrilled with how it looks! We are also pleased to tell you about our brand new ‘Online Adoption’. This is where you receive a year’s worth of access to your chosen horse’s ‘Nosebag’, which features its exclusive diary plus loads of photos, videos and wallpapers for you to download. Also the exciting part is that you get to look after your chosen horse, pony, donkey or mule in the interactive stable section. This is where you can groom, feed and water your horse and in return for completing it correctly you win yourself rosettes. It is very enjoyable and the staff here at Redwings have been enjoying experimenting and joining in on all the fun. We are hoping this is going to be a great hit, as there is something for everyone. If you would like to find out more, please visit our adoption page on the main website. We hope you like it as much as we do!
Esther's Rescue
On 9 January, Redwings was involved in a large rescue of horses, ponies and donkeys from Buckinghamshire and we took in 21 equines that day for veterinary care. This was an RSPCA-led case involving local Police and other charities including the ILPH and the Blue Cross. All organisations concerned worked as a team, and Redwings was pleased to involve 30 of its staff and eight horseboxes.
We took in 21 equines including 13 ponies and eight donkeys and amongst them was Esther a two month old cute donkey foal. Esther was rescued alongside her mother Martha and is doing very well. She is full of character and enjoys playing around in her field which is a very good sign. As you can see from the picture Esther is adorable and extremely popular with everyone who meets her!
We are also very pleased to tell you that one donkey who we have named Mary, who was heavily pregnant on the Wednesday when we took her, gave birth the following night to her brown and white foal, who we have named Timothy. Both Mary and Timothy are doing well and are being closely monitored. It’s lovely to think that this new life has arrived in the safety and care of our sanctuary.
If you would like to help Timothy, Esther or any of their friends you can visit our fundraising pages to read about ways you can help, or you can drop us a line to fundraising@redwings.co.uk
We would love to hear from you!
Did you see us on Newsround?
Sonali, a presenter for Newsround, came to visit us to see how some of the rescued animals are getting on. The team arrived in the morning and before she could go and see the lovely donkeys she had to dress up in special overalls and dip her wellington boots in disinfectant. Sonali had to do this because some of the donkeys are still poorly and this stops the spread of any horrible illnesses that they may have.
The team met Esther, a two-month old donkey foal and her mum Martha and fell in love with them and the other donkeys. All the donkeys in the field are quite nervous but they did come over to say a quick hello. Esther is playful but still very shy at times and the other donkeys looked after her when the team from Newsround was in the field. How sweet!
They also met our new arrival Timothy and his lovely mum Mary. Timothy is much more sociable than Esther and the other donkeys so he was not camera shy at all. He was extremely cute and playful, the team fell in love with him straight away. It was fantastic having Newsround here and if you would like to see our feature on Newsround then please visit www.bbc.co.uk/newsround. Hope you enjoy!
Our Caldecott centre is open for visitors and everyone's welcome!
The horses, ponies and donkeys have spent the Winter at one of our closed centres in Norfolk, but they have returned to their home at our Caldecott Visitor Centre in Norfolk ready to meet their adoring public!
Caldecott is now open every day until October 28th, from 10am to 5pm, and everyone's welcome!
Entry to all Redwings' visitor centres remains free of charge. Last year we were delighted to welcome to more than 70,000 visitors, who enjoyed making friends with our rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules and finding out all about how we take care of them.
Our Caldecott Visitor Centre near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk has over 70 acres of paddocks and is home to some very special rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. The site includes an information centre, gift shop, education centre and a café serving hot and cold snacks. Adopters of Darcey, Denise, Icky, Muffin, Oliver, Rusty, Sampson, Sydney, Tufty and Victor will be able to meet up with their beloved equines for plenty of cuddles!
Don't forget, we also have visitor centres at the Ada Cole Rescue Centre in Harlow, Essex and Oxhill in Warwickshire, which are open all year round!
To find out more about visiting Redwings, go to the Visit Us pages of this site or telephone our visitor helpline on 0870 040 0033.
We hope to see you soon!
Our famous trio make a huge impression!
The end of May saw a busy week for our trio of miniature Shetlands Zac, Samuel and Moses as they went to both the Suffolk Show and to Jimmy’s Farm (as seen on TV)! This was their first time visiting the Suffolk Show and they were very good boys. They got a prime spot next to the walk way, where they could see all the other animals walking to the main ring. Our three little stars seemed to find this highly exciting especially when the mounted police went past. Bless them!
They then stayed in Suffolk and visited Jimmy’s Farm for a 'Farmily Fun Day'. The sun was shining and we saw crowds of people turn up to enjoy the day. Once again our three little chaps enjoyed meeting everyone and they even got so relaxed they decided to have a nice snooze!
Zac, Samuel and Moses became famous at an early age, after their birth at Redwings, two years ago, sparked lots of excitement in the local media. Why? Well, simply because when they were born they were so tiny (barely 18 inches tall)! As a result, all three of these little cuties appereared on Anglia TV! The ponies' mums were part of a large rescue Redwings carried out a few years ago. All three are now so friendly that they were the perfect choice to be our special Education Ponies. They will soon be off to the Norfolk Show on June 25th & 26th and then back to Jimmy’s Farm on 26th July for another Farmily Fun Day.
Bracken and Bramble put their hooves up!
We’re very excited to be able to tell you that after the Summer we’ll be giving a home to two gorgeous Shires, who have been owned by and working for Bracknell Forest Borough Council for 16 years. They will be retiring to Redwings in September for a well-deserved rest!
Bracken and Bramble are about to embark on a ‘farewell Summer’ as they are much loved by the general public in Bracknell who see them most days. But we are sure our supporters will join us in assuring the people of Bracknell that Bracken and Bramble will be much loved at Redwings, and we hope people will make the journey to come and visit them next Summer. A big welcome is promised!
So who are these big-hearted horses who are looking forward to life in Norfolk? Well, Bracken is a 17.3hh bay gelding who is 22 years old. Bramble is a little younger, at 19, and is also a 17.3hh bay gelding.
Redwings is hoping to give Bracken and Bramble a few months’ rest over the Winter before they go to our Caldecott Visitor Centre in Norfolk next season. The Shires will then be able to meet the public and perhaps even keep their ‘hooves in’ by taking visitors for gentle horse drawn tours of the site.
As soon as they arrive - we’ll let you know, plus update you as to how they are settling in. In the meantime, we wish them a lovely Summer when we know they will get lots of pats and fuss - they deserve it!
