Farm sanctuaries do vital work rescuing animals from slaughter and factory farms, providing a haven for them to live out their natural lives in peace. However, weekly costs for food, vet care and staff can run to thousands of pounds and given the impact of Covid-19, many sanctuaries are currently struggling to survive. With that in mind, here are five UK farm sanctuaries that need your support now and how you can help.
Farm Sanctuaries in the UK
Wondering ‘is there a farm animal sanctuary near me?’ Here are five of the best spread across the UK, from Essex to Wales, Kent and Worcestershire. Most allow visitors (although may be temporarily closed due to Covid-19 or have restrictions in place) and run on donations and adoptions, with help from volunteers.
The Farm Animal Sanctuary
Location: Worcestershire
The Farm Animal Sanctuary website
The Farm Animal Sanctuary was founded over 25 years ago by Janet Taylor when she bought a discarded lamb for £1 at a livestock market in Worcestershire. Janet’s mission is to save animals from slaughter and farms where they’re abused and neglected, as well as raise awareness about the horrendous treatment farm animals suffer. In particular, Janet works to highlight the horrors of lambing season, which kills hundreds of ewes and lambs every year.
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Today, The Farm Animal Sanctuary is home to over 500 animals including sheep, cows, pigs, ponies and birds. Basic running costs like food, vet treatment and staffing come to around £2,500 a week and the sanctuary always needs improvements and maintenance. Right now, The Farm Animal Sanctuary is particularly in need of donations because on top of having to close to visitors due to Covid-19, they’re under threat of eviction.
How you can help: donate via Paypal, cheque or standing order or adopt an animal for £25 a year.
Dean Farm Trust
Location: Chepstow
Dean Farm Trust website
Dean Farm Trust is set in 62 acres of beautiful South Wales countryside. Founder Mary Frankland opened the sanctuary in 2016 after learning about the horrors of factory farming and today, it serves as a forever home for 130 animals. Many have been saved from slaughter, while others were unwanted pets or rescued from abuse. Dean Farm Trust also does some great educational work and outreach at vegan events and festivals across the UK.
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After closing during lockdown, Dean Farm Trust’s excellent open days have just resumed, with social distancing measures and increased hygiene procedures in place. Come to visit the resident donkeys, Exmoor ponies, sheep, pigs, and ex-battery hens. Bringing meat-eating friends along is a great way to promote compassionate living. The sanctuary relies entirely on donations, volunteers and the local community and is in extra need after having to refund open day tickets during lockdown.
How you can help: donate to their Coronavirus appeal, book a visit, shop in their online store or sponsor an animal.
Hillside Animal Sanctuary
Location: Norwich
Hillside Animal Sanctuary website
As one of the largest farm sanctuaries in the UK, Hillside provides a safe haven for over 3,000 animals and includes Hillside Shire Horse Sanctuary. It all began when founder Wendy Valentine started Redwings Horse Sanctuary in 1983 and then, after learning about the fate of battery hens, launched Hillside in 1995. Since then, the sanctuary has grown from 20 to 2,000 acres and now has a vegan café and hosts sponsored events and open days (these are currently cancelled due to Coronavirus). In addition, Hillside has become one of the most successful organisations in campaigning for animal rights.
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How you can help: make a donation, adopt a rescue animal or buy something from the gift shop.
Tower Hill Stables Animal Sanctuary
Location: Essex
Tower Hill Stables website
Endurance runner Fiona Oaks opened Tower Hill Stables in 1996 to provide care and permanent sanctuary for unwanted and abused animals. Fiona’s story is even more astounding because at the age of 14, after multiple knee surgeries, she was told she’d never walk properly again, yet she’s gone on to set marathon records across the globe. Fiona’s amazing story is told in the new documentary, Running for Good.
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Tower Hill Stables’ 600 residents include retired race horses, neglected farm animals such as pigs and cows and ex-fighting dogs. The sanctuary has no paid staff and running costs can reach £15,000 per month, so they’re always in need of donations. The sanctuary also runs campaigns such as Turkeys in Need, to save turkeys from slaughter at Christmas.
How you can help: donate to Tower Hill’s lockdown fundraiser, sponsor an animal or find out about other ways to help, from staying in their Airbnb, arranging a wedding on site or volunteering.
Friend Farm Animal Sanctuary
Location: Kent
The Friend Farm Animal Sanctuary website
Although it’s temporarily closed to visitors, Friend is one of the most popular farm sanctuaries to visit, home to almost 200 free-roaming animals rescued from abuse, abandonment and neglect. Residents such as chickens and geese, cows, sheep and even an alpaca enjoy 10 idyllic acres and there’s a huge pig paddock with wallows. The grassroots sanctuary aims to provide safety for its residents as well as promote veganism and permaculture.
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Friend Farm Animal Sanctuary is run with an ethical vegan philosophy by Mandy and Mark Wilkinson but was originally set up by Mark’s late wife Marion. Mark talks passionately about the sanctuary and veganism on visitor tours and at events like the Animal Rights March in 2019 while Mary is a former forest school leader who is particularly interested in education and permaculture.
How you can help: donate or befriend an animal, become a Patreon or shop their wishlist.
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