News stories
Bracken and Bramble are on their way!
Two beautiful Shire horses from Bracknell will be retiring to Redwings next week.
As you may have seen in the press, Redwings have offered a home to two gorgeous Shires, who have been owned by and working for Bracknell Forest Borough Council for 16 years and who will be retiring to Redwings next week for a well-deserved rest!
Bracken and Bramble are are much loved by the general public in Bracknell who see them most days. They will do their last public engagement on Tuesday, September 16 when they will spend their last day giving rides to children around Bracknell town centre.
During their Farewell Summer, they appeared in Portsmouth’s Heavy Horse Show, took the borough’s Britain in Bloom judges of a tour of Lily Hill Park, attended various school and village fetes and even appeared on ITV’s local news bulletin Thames Valley Tonight.
It is clear from the response that Bracken and Bramble will be greatly missed by the local community, 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 see visit them next Summer. A big welcome is promised!
Bracken is a 17.3hh bay gelding who is 22 years old. He was one of the lead horses when Colin Horler of Radford Shires broke the world record when one man drove twenty horses! Bramble is a little younger, at 19, and is also a 17.3hh bay gelding. They were purchased by Bracknell Forest Borough Council and on their arrival, a competition was held in a local newspaper to name them. Since then Bracken and Bramble have become local celebrities, regularly appearing in the local press. They love people and fuss, as you’d expect!
They have become a common sight around the Bracknell Forest area since they started working for the borough in May 1992. Their work included collecting landscaping waste, pulling grass-cutting equipment and watering the town centre’s floral displays. At weekends ‘the boys’ regularly attended school fetes and fun days and at Christmas they have given even Father Christmas a ride to his grotto!
After an initial assessment period, 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. It’s open every year from April to October so the Shires will be able to meet the public in 2009 and perhaps even keep their ‘hooves in’ by taking visitors for gentle horse drawn tours of the site.
In the meantime, we will keep you up to date on all their 'big news!'
Do you live in Bracknell and have fond memories or pictures of Bracken and Bramble from the last 16 years? We’d love to know! You can send your emails to nmarkwell@redwings.co.uk, or write to us at: Communications Team, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Hapton, Norwich, NR15 1SP. (We may wish to publish your words or photos to share your experiences on this website or in our newsletter.)
