Our ecology and conservation team, along with their band of trusty volunteers have been busy employing traditional country skills to create secure enclosures for our donkeys and provide added enrichment for the herds.
The group have used the method of hedge-laying across many areas of our farms and have most recently been working on those around our New Arrivals Unit at Sidmouth.
Hedge laying is a skill that has been practised for centuries, and not only provides a living fence that benefits wildlife, but it also creates a secure natural barrier to keep our donkeys safe.
As an added bonus, cuttings from the work, such as hazel and willow, have also been enjoyed by donkeys in the unit as part of their enrichment.
Laying a hedge is a sympathetic management of a hedgerow, and provide a vitally important refuge for wildlife, as well as a strong secure natural fence when established.
Pascal Bisson, Apprentice Ecology and Conservation Officer said: "Hedge laying regenerates a hedge, giving it greater density and a robust base. This provides a more substantial windbreak for our donkeys and an ecological benefit to wildlife.
“The thickly-woven branches of a well-laid hedge offer an excellent habitat for birds, small mammals, insects and reptiles. Hedges grow back incredibly quickly from hedge laying. After a year a hawthorn hedge can send up stems two-feet tall!"
Hedge laying is a seasonal job and carried out over the winter months when shrubs and trees are dormant, and birds have finished nesting. Hand tools are used to partially cut existing shrubs and small trees through their stems at an angle several inches above the ground.
The plants are then laid over in the direction of the hedge, weaved together and secured with stakes. This soon encourages new growth to be produced, which regrows from the base to fill the gaps and create a beautiful strong and dense hedge.
Creating such hedges around our New Arrivals Unit also help with our biosecurity while enhancing the area with a natural barrier.
Over January and February of this year, our conservation team and their volunteers laid around 300 metres of hedges across our sanctuary sites.
Marianne Steele, CEO of The Donkey Sanctuary added: “This is a great example of how our conservation work supports our native wildlife, while creating safe secure enclosures and enrichment for our donkeys.”
