A new home at Hart’s Barn 

For over 50 years, The Donkey Sanctuary has had a single focus across the globe, putting all our effort and ingenuity into creating a better world for donkeys.

In the UK, with over 3,000 donkeys in our care our sanctuaries are more than just places of refuge - it is our aim that they provide the donkeys who live here with the best lives possible- from expert veterinary care to innovative facilities that offer world-leading welfare.

Woods Farm is the largest of our eight UK sanctuary farms, home to over 400 donkeys. Nestled near our Sidmouth headquarters, the farm spans an impressive 212 acres. However, a busy main road dividing the site meant that access to some grazing areas was restricted.

To address this, our team envisioned a new facility thoughtfully located to make the most of previously underutilised grazing areas - enhancing access and creating additional space. The result is a thoughtfully designed environment that provides donkeys with enhanced opportunities to roam, rest, and thrive in surroundings that support their natural behaviours and wellbeing.

Introducing Hart’s Barn

Hart’s Barn is a new generation of barn design that we established in Spain and then Italy. The improvements were made based on years of changes to buildings and international research projects to understand the health and wellbeing of donkeys in medium to larger group sizes.

Thanks to generous help from our incredible community of supporters, we’re excited to introduce Hart’s Barn - a groundbreaking new facility that will take full advantage of the pastures at Woods Farm.

Located on the underused east side of the farm, Hart’s Barn is adjacent to 16 acres of carefully managed, species-appropriate grazing known as Lily’s field. The space offers a permanent, purpose-built space where 50 donkeys can live, rest, and play all year round. 

Custom designed for donkeys

Watch how every inch of the barn has been thoughtfully designed to promote health and comfort for all of the donkeys residing there: 

• Bright, spacious and comfortable accommodation, there is plenty of space for donkeys to feed, relax and sleep.
• Freedom of movement in and out when donkeys choose, with lots of large exits which are left open.
• Donkeys, whose coats are not waterproof, can stay dry no matter what the weather due to the large, covered feeding passageways. They also have fresh air and light while they are feeding thanks to ventilated wall sheets.
• Provision of suitable, non-slip flooring to ensure optimal underfoot conditions.
• Donkeys can enjoy fresh water whenever they need it, with multiple mains-fed water troughs available throughout the area.

A great location for donkey health 

The barn’s elevated position, away from others, means viruses will not spread easily.

Free to roam 

The facility also allows the donkeys to graze and browse freely, encouraging natural foraging behaviour, as well as providing opportunities to rest in the barn or play and interact in the fields, supporting a full range of natural behaviours.

Pastures new – providing plenty of exercise and enrichment

The new barn will be just next to Lily’s field, a large, sloping, southwest facing pasture with well-draining soil, suitable for donkeys to enjoy year-round. This will provide opportunities to exhibit natural behaviours and exercise, hedge browsing and enrichment.

A lasting legacy  

Hart’s Barn is not just a solution for today- it is a commitment to the future. With the whole of Lily’s field now able to be utilised, Hart’s Barn will benefit hundreds of donkeys for years to come.

This project would not have been possible without the generous help of our kind supporters. Thank you for helping us continue to give donkeys the space, comfort and care they truly deserve.