Animal Sponsorship

After lots of requests, we've set up an animal sponsorship package! Sponsorship makes an ideal and original gift at any time of the year for an animal-loving friend or relative, and we can even post directly to them if you like! Or why not treat yourself? Not only are you treating the recipient, but our animals as well, as profits go straight towards caring for that animal. This can buy food, bedding, helps us to pay for important medications and veterinary treatment, plus enclosure renovations.

When you sponsor with us, you will receive:

• A certificate

• 2 A4 pictures of your animals

• A keyring

• An adult season pass

• A fact sheet about your animal

• Your name displayed on the sponsor's board by your animal

We'd like to say a huge thanks to all who have sponsored our animals so far, on behalf of us and the animals. After a few niggly problems (such as printers breaking down!) we got our first packages out in time for Christmas; one of our fantastic Volunteers and maintenance superman John hand-delivered them. But the result we had was well worth it!

Currently you can Sponsor:

• The Goats

• The Sheep 

• Duke the Donkey

• Callum the Welsh Mountain Pony

• Leo the Shetland Pony

• The Owls

And our Most Popuar Animal Award goes to...

Duke the Donkey - Most Popular Animal 2016!

Duke the donkey has been the most popular choice so far, which thrilled him to bits! Duke can be quite a shy donkey, but mischievous and sneaky, with Callum being his partner in crime! Callum loves to steal haynets from him, but Duke stands up for himself by letting out a high-pitched bray to say - "Oi, I need another haynet!".

"Invisible" Jobs

We are constantly working to improve the site, but a lot of our biggest jobs lately have been what we've come to call the "Invisible Jobs" here. These are the tasks that will make a big difference to us, but unfortunately aren't things that you can really SEE. For example, we are currently undertaking the enormous task of fixing and replacing old and broken pipework under a few of our paddocks. Though a huge job involving a lot of hard work, man power, and expense; once covered back up, this becomes "invisible" to you, leaving you wondering what we've been up to!

However, once completed this should help fix some of the flooding which has affected several paddocks for years now. With clay soil, in the dip of a valley, and many natural springs on site; wet ground and mud are things we've battled since Day #1, so broken and burst pipes on top of that are most definitely NOT wanted!

It's a bit of a mess at the moment (we've covered up the dug out holes with pallets for now, so Leo the Shetland doesn't accidentally stumble into one - we like to hope he's more intelligent than that, but you can't be too careful!) but we're working hard to have it all covered and fixed up by the time we re-open - and hopefully some drier paddocks, plus a re-instated footpath which we had to close due to its flooding and damage a couple of years ago! There is a lot more repair work needed for this, but we're on the case!

Leo surveying the chaos in his paddock before we moved him out.

It's all go here, and rest assured that though you cannot always see the work being done here, we are ALWAYS working to improve the site and make it great again!

If you think you could help us in any way, please don't hesitate to get in touch! Thank you.

Happy Year of the Rooster!

We would like to wish you a happy new year! But did you know that 28th January marks the Chinese Year of the Rooster?

There are 12 zodiac signs, animals, that the Chinese use to represent their years. They run over a cycle of 12 years, so if you were born in the years 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, and 2005... then this means you're a Rooster! Other zodiac animals include Rabbits, Rats and Monkeys. With 2016 being the Year of the Monkey, we have a big year to follow up on!

So, why and how do the Chinese celebrate such an exhilarating occasion? The Chinese believe the celebrations, which run from 28th January - 2nd February, will lead to a lucky year; it celebrates the previous year of hard work, also allowing for rest and family time! It also wishes for a lucky coming year.

Henry full of pride that this year is dedicated to him!

Celebration methods include:

• Using red to signify luck - decorating everywhere in red.

• Setting free lanterns.

• Festivals.

• Cyber-money and money gift-giving, usually in red envelopes.

• Dinners and other family time.

Fun Facts about the not-so-humble Rooster:

• Many Roosters struggle to get on with other Roosters, but they are intelligent animals nonetheless - Our Henry had a free-range period, where learnt to get on with our Goats!

• Roosters are the animals you hear being the village's personal alarm clock. A younger Rooster is called a Cockerel, and an adult Rooster is called a Cock.

• A Rooster will typically guard his set of hens close, and is usually the head of the 'pecking order'. Pecking order is a literal term where chickens are concerned!

• Roosters are omnivores, and will typically, in the flock, get first access to all food.

• While some Roosters can be aggressive, species such as Bantams are easy to tame and are usually quite friendly. 

• A large comb on the head, plus larger frame/build, are what identifies a Rooster from a Hen.

• They can sometimes be aggressive, yes, but can also be tamed; a lovely back-garden pet.

We at Brockswood wish all animals, not just Roosters, a happy new year - and our visitors too! Don't forget, we re-open on 8th April, and can't wait to see you!