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.

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!

Donkey Portraits

Teddy!

Chester!