End of an era......
After delivering shopping for nearly 5 years, Anna and the donkeys have decided to take a break from their weekly shopping delivery.
The donkeys will be very missed in the village on Saturdays.....
Watch this space.
Monday, 11 February 2013
Friday, 2 March 2012
Saturday, 5 November 2011
The Chalford donkeys are featuring in the Christmas edition of the country living magazine which will be out on November the 10th 2011.
If you have read this article and would like to donate to our project please send cheques payable to the Chalford Donkey Project to:
The chalford donkey project,
c/o Chalford Community Stores,
High Street,
Chalford,
Stroud,
Glos.
GL6 8DH
Your donations will be much appreciated and help with the running costs of the project such as vet bills, feed, harnesses, etc.
Thanks,
Anna Usborne
(Chalford Donkey Project founder and co-ordinator)
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Saturday, 26 February 2011
welcome
Hello and welcome to the Chalford Donkey Project.
The Chalford Donkey Project was set up 2008 by a group of residents from Chalford, England. We run a weekly donkey delivery service transporting groceries from the local village shop direct to villagers' houses.
Why does Chalford need a donkey?
Chalford is a beautiful and unique village set in the heart of the Cotswolds with houses perched high on a steep valley side. Some of these dwellings cannot be reached by car and are accessed by a winding network of 'donkey paths'. Donkeys were used in the village as late as the 1930's to make deliveries, carrying bread, coal and many other household items to people's doorsteps. In seemed timely that in 2008 the Chalford donkey should return, bringing a real focus to community life and a chance for people to have contact with animals and to think about alternative ways of transporting local goods.
How do the deliveries work?
Teddy and Chester, the Chalford donkeys live at a smallholding on the outskirts of the village and are looked after by the project co-ordinator and other volunteers. Every week they are taken into the village to make deliveries from the local, community run shop. People who want a delivery can contact the shop with their order which is placed in the donkey delivery book. On delivery day the donkey is loaded up with bags and goes round to the different houses dropping off the shopping. The Chalford Community Stores plays a key role within this project. All the shopping deliveries originate from this shop which is a real hub of the community. It is a really special shop run mainly by volunteers and selling a lot of unusual and organic produce. It is from the community spirit of the shop that the Chalford Donkey Project has grown.
What about the welfare of the donkeys?
Donkeys really enjoy working and being around people. The Chalford Donkeys are well cared for and only carry weights within their capabilities. The Donkey Sanctuary, one of the UK's main donkey welfare charities, have visited and declared their support for the Chalford Donkey Project.
The Chalford Donkey Project was set up 2008 by a group of residents from Chalford, England. We run a weekly donkey delivery service transporting groceries from the local village shop direct to villagers' houses.
Why does Chalford need a donkey?
Chalford is a beautiful and unique village set in the heart of the Cotswolds with houses perched high on a steep valley side. Some of these dwellings cannot be reached by car and are accessed by a winding network of 'donkey paths'. Donkeys were used in the village as late as the 1930's to make deliveries, carrying bread, coal and many other household items to people's doorsteps. In seemed timely that in 2008 the Chalford donkey should return, bringing a real focus to community life and a chance for people to have contact with animals and to think about alternative ways of transporting local goods.
How do the deliveries work?
Teddy and Chester, the Chalford donkeys live at a smallholding on the outskirts of the village and are looked after by the project co-ordinator and other volunteers. Every week they are taken into the village to make deliveries from the local, community run shop. People who want a delivery can contact the shop with their order which is placed in the donkey delivery book. On delivery day the donkey is loaded up with bags and goes round to the different houses dropping off the shopping. The Chalford Community Stores plays a key role within this project. All the shopping deliveries originate from this shop which is a real hub of the community. It is a really special shop run mainly by volunteers and selling a lot of unusual and organic produce. It is from the community spirit of the shop that the Chalford Donkey Project has grown.
What about the welfare of the donkeys?
Donkeys really enjoy working and being around people. The Chalford Donkeys are well cared for and only carry weights within their capabilities. The Donkey Sanctuary, one of the UK's main donkey welfare charities, have visited and declared their support for the Chalford Donkey Project.
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Summer Walk with Donkeys and Artists
The Chalford Donkeys were involved in an exciting project last summer called 'As I walked Out' Organised by Fairgame Theatre and funded by Gloucestershire County Council, we walked 400 miles around Gloucestershire over 8 weeks. A group of artists joined us and created artworks that responded to the landscape and the unique walking experience. The public were invited to participate through art workshops, weekend camps and guided walks . The donkeys had the important role of carrying all the kit and imparting their calm and steady attitude to life!
Check out this article on the BBC website about our project.
Check out this article on the BBC website about our project.
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Welcome
Hello and welcome to the Chalford Donkey Project.
The Chalford Donkey Project was set up 2008 by a group of residents from Chalford, England. We run a weekly donkey delivery service transporting groceries from the local village shop direct to villagers' houses.
Why does Chalford need a donkey?
Chalford is a beautiful and unique village set in the heart of the Cotswolds with houses perched high on a steep valley side. Some of these dwellings cannot be reached by car and are accessed by a winding network of 'donkey paths'. Donkeys were used in the village as late as the 1930's to make deliveries, carrying bread, coal and many other household items to people's doorsteps. In seemed timely that in 2008 the Chalford donkey should return, bringing a real focus to community life and a chance for people to have contact with animals and to think about alternative ways of transporting local goods.
How do the deliveries work?
Teddy and Chester, the Chalford donkeys live at a smallholding on the outskirts of the village and are looked after by the project co-ordinator and other volunteers. Every week they are taken into the village to make deliveries from the local, community run shop. People who want a delivery can contact the shop with their order which is placed in the donkey delivery book. On delivery day the donkey is loaded up with bags and goes round to the different houses dropping off the shopping. The Chalford Community Stores plays a key role within this project. All the shopping deliveries originate from this shop which is a real hub of the community. It is a really special shop run mainly by volunteers and selling a lot of unusual and organic produce. It is from the community spirit of the shop that the Chalford Donkey Project has grown.
What about the welfare of the donkeys?
Donkeys really enjoy working and being around people. The Chalford Donkeys are well cared for and only carry weights within their capabilities. The Donkey Sanctuary, one of the UK's main donkey welfare charities, have visited and declared their support for the Chalford Donkey Project.
The Chalford Donkey Project was set up 2008 by a group of residents from Chalford, England. We run a weekly donkey delivery service transporting groceries from the local village shop direct to villagers' houses.
Why does Chalford need a donkey?
Chalford is a beautiful and unique village set in the heart of the Cotswolds with houses perched high on a steep valley side. Some of these dwellings cannot be reached by car and are accessed by a winding network of 'donkey paths'. Donkeys were used in the village as late as the 1930's to make deliveries, carrying bread, coal and many other household items to people's doorsteps. In seemed timely that in 2008 the Chalford donkey should return, bringing a real focus to community life and a chance for people to have contact with animals and to think about alternative ways of transporting local goods.
How do the deliveries work?
Teddy and Chester, the Chalford donkeys live at a smallholding on the outskirts of the village and are looked after by the project co-ordinator and other volunteers. Every week they are taken into the village to make deliveries from the local, community run shop. People who want a delivery can contact the shop with their order which is placed in the donkey delivery book. On delivery day the donkey is loaded up with bags and goes round to the different houses dropping off the shopping. The Chalford Community Stores plays a key role within this project. All the shopping deliveries originate from this shop which is a real hub of the community. It is a really special shop run mainly by volunteers and selling a lot of unusual and organic produce. It is from the community spirit of the shop that the Chalford Donkey Project has grown.
What about the welfare of the donkeys?
Donkeys really enjoy working and being around people. The Chalford Donkeys are well cared for and only carry weights within their capabilities. The Donkey Sanctuary, one of the UK's main donkey welfare charities, have visited and declared their support for the Chalford Donkey Project.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Monday, 26 January 2009
Monday, 15 December 2008
Christmas Eve present deliveries by donkey with Santa!
We are planning a very special delivery on Christmas Eve for the lucky children of Chalford! Between 1pm and 4pm the donkey will we going round Chalford with his panniers packed with presents accompanied by Father Christmas.
We supply the present and the experience!
The route and times for this delivery will be:
1:00 Chalford Community Stores (for those people who want a present but don't live on the route).
1:00-2:30 Chalford High Street and Rack Hill.
2:30-4:00 Chalford Hill
For more information go to the Chalford Community Stores or email chalforddonkeyproject@hotmail.com
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Delivery day!
The Chalford donkey did his first delivery on Saturday 27th September. We took bread, papers, milk, bacon and eggs to some very happy Chalford residents. Teddy the donkey did a grand job of carrying everything safely and I think he actually enjoyed himself! He didn't complain once and was happy to go up and down and round and about the streets of Chalford.
We were accompanied by Paul Glendell, a free-lance photographer who is hoping to sell a pic to the national press of the donkey's first delivery. I think it was a surprise for some residents to have a camera waiting for them as they stepped out to pick up their delivery in their dressing gowns! Hope nobody minded!!
Friday, 3 October 2008
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Chalford Donkey Project visits the Donkey Sanctuary and Clovelly
We visited two important donkey related places last weekend. First we went to Clovelly, a small fishing village on the north coast of Devon which is famous for its donkeys that still work the cobbled streets carrying things up and down for the tourists and local people. We met Sue and Bart who run the whole donkey operation and were shown around the stables where their 15 donkeys live.
The Donkey Stables at Clovelly
Next we went to the Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth which is the opposite end of Devon. We were shown around by Lionel Ford, our main contact at the Donkey Sanctuary. We saw the indoor riding centre for special needs children, the hospital area where there was a donkey getting his head x-rayed and of course we had a look round the gift shop! The Donkey Sanctuary is set in the most beautiful place by the sea and there are fields full of donkeys which are very picturesque. Everything is done to the highest standards with no expense spared. Lots of happy donkeys and happy people!
A field of donkeys
Jan and Siobhan with a Donkey Sanctuary vet showing us a poor donkey with foot problems.
Jan and Lionel Ford with a very hairy Poitou donkey.
The Donkey Stables at Clovelly
Next we went to the Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth which is the opposite end of Devon. We were shown around by Lionel Ford, our main contact at the Donkey Sanctuary. We saw the indoor riding centre for special needs children, the hospital area where there was a donkey getting his head x-rayed and of course we had a look round the gift shop! The Donkey Sanctuary is set in the most beautiful place by the sea and there are fields full of donkeys which are very picturesque. Everything is done to the highest standards with no expense spared. Lots of happy donkeys and happy people!
A field of donkeys
Jan and Siobhan with a Donkey Sanctuary vet showing us a poor donkey with foot problems.
Jan and Lionel Ford with a very hairy Poitou donkey.
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Donkey panniers
The Donkey Sanctuary have been a great help to us over the recent months setting up the project. Lionel Ford and Liz Ellis came to visit with a couple of pannier options in order to do a trial run. This one is a very ethnic woven type which looks pretty but wouldn't hold much.
These panniers are the business! They are designed to hold things piled onto the donkey's back and round the sides. This will enable Teddy to go up narrow paths with a load of logs no problem!
Sunday, 17 August 2008
chalford donkeys at the village shop
The Chalford donkeys have been down to the village quite a lot recently. On Saturday 16th of August they mooched down to the village store to hang out for a while and were much admired by passers-by. Its great that we can finally get the donkeys down to the village so that people can see the whole idea is actually getting to be a reality!
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