Good Things, Hard Work and a Little Rain

One of the questions we're often asked is what happens behind the scenes at the sanctuary when there isn't a dramatic rescue taking place or a fundraising campaign under way.

The simple answer is: quite a lot.

The last few weeks have been incredibly busy, and much of that activity has come from a project that many of you will already have discovered: Tower Hill Textiles.

What began as a way of finding new homes for beautiful vintage textiles and household items has grown far more quickly than we expected. In just a couple of weeks, more than 90 items have found new homes, raising nearly £600 for the sanctuary. What makes it especially lovely is that every item has its own story. Some have been carefully sourced by Fiona because she spotted their quality and character, while others have been treasured possessions that are now helping the animals in a different way. Fiona's mum has also been busy cleaning, repairing and preparing items for sale, making it very much a family effort.

The response has been wonderful and serves as a reminder that there are many ways people can support the sanctuary. Sometimes it's through a donation. Sometimes it's through sponsorship. And sometimes it's simply by giving a second life to something that deserves to be enjoyed again.

Of course, while vintage textiles have been finding new homes, the sanctuary team has continued to focus on something rather less glamorous: hay.

After months of dry conditions, we have finally seen some rain, which has been very welcome. The sunshine has quickly returned, but the recent rainfall has at least brought a little relief after such a challenging growing season.

Unfortunately, the hay situation remains difficult. Additional supplies have recently been sourced from Oxfordshire, while further deliveries are being arranged from elsewhere in the country as we continue building reserves for the months ahead. Our local hay merchant, like many others, is finding it increasingly difficult to secure enough forage, which underlines just how important the 350 Bales for Winter campaign remains.

The encouraging news is that every bale secured now represents a little more certainty for the future. While the fields are still green in places and summer feels far from over, preparing for winter never really stops at a sanctuary caring for hundreds of animals.

As always, thank you for being part of our journey. Whether you've adopted an animal, shared a story, bought something from Tower Hill Textiles, contributed to the hay campaign or simply followed along with our news, your support helps make all of this possible.

And if you're wondering what the next few weeks will bring, the honest answer is probably much of the same: caring for animals, moving hay around, packing vintage textiles, keeping an eye on the weather and doing everything we can to make sure the sanctuary remains a safe and happy place for all who live here.