31 January 2024

Celebrate 40 years of Redwings!

A picture of a pony's ears with the Redwings 40th anniversary logo

Did you know Redwings began following the rescue of a single pony called Sheba in 1984?

From small beginnings, we have become the largest horse welfare charity in the UK, responsible for over 2,000 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules and using our extensive knowledge and experience to benefit the lives of many more outside our sanctuary gates every year.

From rescues to veterinary rehabilitation, expert sanctuary care to rehoming, educating children on equine care and providing invaluable insights and advice for horse owners and equine professionals, we do what we can every day to create a world where no horse faces fear or neglect.

Of course, nothing we have achieved over the last 40 years would have been possible without you, our kind supporters. Everything we do is 100% funded by donations and we simply can’t thank you enough.

That is why we are delighted to invite you to join in our year of special anniversary celebrations! Please keep these dates in your diary and make sure to check back for latest details on all upcoming events!

The Great BIG Ruby Tea Party - Wednesday 24th April
A supporter pours a cup of tea at a table with biscuits ad

Invite your friends and loved ones over for a slice of cake and a cuppa, and raise funds for Redwings at the same time!

Whether it’s at home, in the garden, at work or the local village hall, we would love for everyone to come together on Wednesday 24th April for the Great BIG Ruby Tea Party! Anyone joining in is welcome to simply make a donation, or perhaps you can make some delicious bakes to sell?

You can download your FREE Great Big Ruby Tea Party pack here, including bunting and posters to print at home. (PDF 1,011 KB)

We would also love to see photos from your party so please upload them to social media with the hashtag #greatbigrubyteaparty so we can share them!

On the day, our staff at our sanctuary sites across the country will also be hosting their own parties and three of our visitor centres – Redwings Caldecott and Redwings Aylsham, both in Norfolk, and Redwings Oxhill in Warwickshire – will be throwing their own exclusive events for supporters.

The visitor centres will be serving up delicious pastries, sandwiches, scrummy scones and plenty of cake during a special Great BIG Ruby Tea Party in their cafes and you can buy your tickets now!

You can choose between two sittings during the day with their own unique menus; lunch at 12pm – 1.30pm and afternoon tea at 2pm – 3.30pm. All dietary requirements catered for upon request.

Tickets cost £20 per person and can also be purchased here or by calling 01508 505246.

For those celebrating at home, there is also the chance to purchase one of our limited Tea & Treats boxes, priced at £20 for one person or £40 for two, to be delivered at your door full of local tasty produce including Norfolk Tea, our exclusive ruby anniversary jam, marmalade and chutney, and shortbread.

Redwings Book Festival - Saturday 18th May
Nicola Knight with Suzie Fletcher

Having dipped our toes in the publishing world with the success of our special edition of Black Beauty, released in November in collaboration with the UEA Publishing Project, we thought ‘Why not host our own book festival?’!

Redwings Caldecott, in Norfolk, will host the first ever Redwings Book Festival on Saturday 18th May celebrating an array of local and national authors, from non-fiction, fiction and children’s literature, who all tell moving and inspiring stories about animals, and especially horses.

Those attending include best-selling author Elly Griffiths, television personality Suzie Fletcher (pictured above), writer and Anna Sewell expert Dr Celia Brayfield, celebrated children’s author Joyce Dunbar and specialist in 19th century literature Professor Thomas Ruys Smith, among many others!

The festival is open to all ages, and tickets will cost £10 for adults with free entry for children aged 16 and under. Every adult ticket includes a free Redwings Book Festival tote bag. 

Tickets are already available and can be booked here.

Monarch Meet and Greet (invite only) - June
Young horse Monarch grazes in his paddock.

Hainford is one of our private sanctuary sites in Norfolk, and is not normally open to the public. 

But as part of our celebrations, we will be hosting a special, invite-only opportunity at the site, which is home to over 200 of our rescued residents, to celebrate the achievements of our equine carers who work tirelessly behind-the-scenes to ensure our four-legged friends stay happy and healthy.

Hainford is also the home of Adoption Star Monarch! If you already sponsor Monarch, or adopt him by the end of April, you will receive your exclusive invite in the post soon! We would love to welcome you and provide the chance for you to meet this very special boy.

Redwings Show Online - entries open Monday 1st July
A small dog watches on as their owner works at a desk.

During the pandemic we launched our first Redwings Show Online, open not just to horses but all your beloved and crazy pets! It proved so popular we thought we would bring it back again.

There will be a wide range of fun classes to enter, in exchange for a donation, with rosettes going to all those that place. And there’s no need to travel to a venue – all you’ll need to do is submit a photo or a video online.

Entries will open on Monday 1st July. Pop the date in your diary and check back nearer the time for all the details on how to take part!

Over to you - throughout August
Fundraisers Izzy and Richard took on a sponsored tandem bike ride for Redwings, pictured setting off at Redwings Mountains.

Our supporters are fantastic at coming up with fun, inspiring and somewhat zany ways to raise funds for Redwings.

This month we would love for you to pick an activity – be it a sponsored run, cycle or hike, bake sale, car wash or even skydive – to help raise some much-needed pennies for horses in need.

In the run-up to the summer, we’ll be offering lots of ideas online and through our social media channels, as well as sharing inspiring stories like that of young supporter Izzy, pictured above, who tandem-cycled between all of our visitor centres in 2023. 

Plus we have a brand-new fundraising pack which offers plenty of support and top tips for organising your own event. You can request a copy here and start your planning now, or call 01508 505246.

Behind-the-scenes at Redwings HQ - Saturday 21st September
A visitor to Redwings enjoys a cuddle with a grey horse in his stable.

We couldn’t let such a special year go by without opening the doors to our headquarters in Hapton, Norfolk.

Normally closed to the public, this site is home to almost 300 rescued horses and donkeys as well as our Horse Hospital and largest Rehoming Centre.  

On Saturday 21st September, we’ll be welcoming supporters for the first time since the pandemic, offering exclusive tours showcasing what goes on behind-the-scenes and what we are able to achieve every day thanks to your donations. There will be plenty of opportunities for lots of pony cuddles too, of course!

Tours will be free, but places will be limited and must be booked in advance. Keep an eye on this page over the summer for details on how to secure your entry! We can’t wait to see you!

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Redwings Press Office

For all enquiries please contact lplumtree@redwings.co.uk

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Two horses greet each other warmly over the fence.

Support Redwings

At Redwings we are responsible for over 2,000 rescued horses, donkeys, ponies and mules, no matter their care needs. However, we are only able to do this thanks to the generosity of our supporters!

Whether you have supported us for 40 years or 40 minutes, thank you for providing horses like Snuffles with a safe home for life.horse

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