News stories
Happy Christmas from Redwings!
On behalf of everyone here at Redwings, (people and ponies too!) we would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
We would also like to say a huge thank you for all your support over the last year. Our Silver Jubilee year has been really special and we just couldn't do what we do without your help and support. Thank you and a very Happy Christmas to you all!
Redwings resident Bruiser is the star of our Christmas card!
Way back in April we started celebrating 25 years of caring, with a unique ‘Tufty’s Tea Party’ for retired adoption donkey Tufty at Redwings HQ. Many Tufty fans and donkey enthusiasts came along to make a fuss of the star of the day himself and meet lots of our other resident donkeys, who loved all the attention! Then in May we held the first ever Redwings Show, packed full of showing and showjumping classes and now set to become an annual event, and in July it was time for the annual Summer Open Weekend at Hapton, where we welcomed over 1000 visitors!
In August and for the first time in several years there was also a special Open Day at our Hainford site, north of Norwich, which is a closed site that is home to many of our more nervous residents, a partially sighted group and many special care residents. Then in November came the real highlight of the year with our Silver Jubilee Auction, which was hosted by the BBC's Paul Martin and which raised over £9000 for the charity! Finally, we had our Christmas Open Weekend here at Hapton and more than 700 of you came along to support us, thank you!
Santa makes an appearance at our Christmas Open Weekend!
Outside the Sanctuary, we have also attended even more events than usual this year, appearing at the North Norfolk Show, the Royal Norfolk Show, Suffolk Show, Holkham Country Fair and the Aylsham Show, as well as the London International Horse Show at Olympia, Your Horse Live and the Horse of the Year Show.
Chief executive Lynn Cutress says: “This year has been both very exciting and very challenging. We have had a jam-packed programme of events to celebrate 25 years of caring for horses in need, and as if to illustrate that point we have also been called upon to rescue more horses in need than ever! With more than 250 arrivals since the start of 2009, there is never a dull moment and all our time is devoted to giving each and every one of them a caring home and whatever treatment, handling or special care they need.
"We could not do any of it without your help and support, so thank you. We look forward to what the next 25 years may bring!"
Please note: Our offices will be closed from 2pm on Christmas Eve until 8am on Monday 4th January. If you have an urgent welfare case to report over the Christmas period, please telephone our welfare helpline 01508 481008 where the answerphone will give details of how to reach us. Otherwise we will of course respond to any enquiries on our return. Happy Christmas!
