sidmouth

Donkey and mother and daughter

Spring into the new season at The Donkey Sanctuary

With spring just around the corner, The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth is the perfect day out for all the family this half term.

The sanctuary is free to visit and is set in the heart of the East Devon countryside, overlooking the world-famous Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

For those looking to combine exercise and brainpower the ‘Stories of Sanctuary Spirit’ trail is a...

£2 million boost for Sidmouth's coastal defences

Sidmouth’s coastal defences have been given a boost after almost £2 million was made available to protect the town from eroding cliffs and high tides.

In 2020, glass ‘splash walls’ were installed on the seafront to see how they would fare against the waves, but many people didn’t like them and they were soon vandalised.

Now East Devon District Council has chosen a new scheme...

Making Christmas sparkle at The Donkey Sanctuary

The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth has it all wrapped this Christmas and is the perfect festive day out for all the family.

The popular Carols by Candlelight service kicked off the festive season on Friday evening. Thousands of candles illuminated the heart of the sanctuary, creating a truly magical atmosphere for visitors, as the service returned as a live event at its international...

Connaught@Christmas from above

Light displays bring festive delight to Sidmouth

Connaught@Christmas had a magical opening weekend with perfect weather, clear and cold. As darkness fell, the gardens became alive with enchanting light displays.

The lighting enhances the plants and architecture of Connaught gardens: the bandstand jam-packed with the prettiest sparkling Christmas trees; tall trees and feature plants beautifully enhanced with colour, stunning light-...

Police appeal for help to identify body found on coastline at Sidmouth

Police are appealing for the public’s help to identify a man who was found deceased at Sidmouth this week.

Officers were called at 2.20pm on Thursday 24 November after the man’s body was found on rocks at The Esplanade, Sidmouth.

Detectives are now working to establish who he may be and to locate his next of kin. They have eliminated any known local missing people from their...

Conservation grazing in the 21st century: No Fence project at Dunscombe, near Sidmouth

The National Trust and a local grazier are working together to bring conservation grazing at Dunscombe, near Sidmouth in east Devon, into the 21st century - and it’s all thanks to GPS technology.

Unlike conventional methods of containing livestock that use fences and gates, the project will see virtual fences created and controlled through a mobile app. The app is linked via GPS...

Family sitting on bench

Illuminated trail Connaught@Christmas reveals a very special ambassador

This year’s illuminated Christmas trail at Connaught Gardens in Sidmouth this December will be welcoming an important VIP to officially open the event’s new ‘sensory sessions’.

Coraline Troy is attending Connaught@Christmas as an ambassador for visitors with sensory considerations. Coraline, who is just 5, has Down’s Syndrome. She will be the first to try out the sensory sessions,...

Half Term Hide and Treats at The Donkey Sanctuary

Visitors to The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth are in for a spooktacular treat this October half term with the Hide and Treat Halloween Hunt.

Hidden around the sanctuary are Halloween character ‘Neddies’, which people can discover following the clues on their trail sheet.

This fangtastic activity combines family fun, exercise and brainpower. Trail sheets cost £5 each and...

Lions Club donation to help refurbishment of much-loved local shop

The Lions Club of Sidmouth has made a big donation to the Samaritans shop on the town’s High Street - just in time for a major refurbishment in the new year.

Quite appropriately, the big donation came in the form of a big cheque, which a pride of Lions handed over to Samaritans volunteers at a ceremony in Sidmouth.

The shop - a former bank - was opened as a fund-raising...

Marianne Steele announced as new Chief Executive of The Donkey Sanctuary

The Donkey Sanctuary today announced the appointment of Marianne Steele as the charity’s new permanent Chief Executive following a thorough, rigorous and competitive global search.

Marianne joined the charity in 2010 as Director of Fundraising and Communications where she oversaw a period of rapid growth.

More recently she stepped into the role of acting CEO, successfully...

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