Visiting the Sanctuary...
The Flicka Foundation is very much a working sanctuary and not a conventional "attraction". Although we are not a petting zoo for children, we do welcome visitors of all ages to the sanctuary free of charge to see our work and meet some of our donkeys and ponies who have been saved from cruelty, neglect or abandonment. We enjoy talking about our four legged residents to our visitors and hope our guests will donate to the charity during their visit - for this we are always extremely grateful. We were given a grant in 2012 for a tea room, so our visitors can enjoy refreshments whilst saying hello to the donkeys.
We welcome visitors to come and enjoy Flicka's beautiful residents, but only ask that you please remember why we, and they, are here.
We welcome visitors to come and enjoy Flicka's beautiful residents, but only ask that you please remember why we, and they, are here.
Trip Advisor and Online Reviews...
We must confess we are not huge fans of reviews for charities or working sanctuaries... We are fortunate that the majority of Flicka’s reviews are favourable and that many kind people take the time to write positive comments about our work, but sometimes even positive comments can be misinformed about the work we do. In this day of technology at our finger tips it can encourage us to be armchair critics, from the anonymity of our computer/smartphone we can make any number of comments with no redress and no-one to explain situations or defend unjust or unfair critique, often proffered by those who are unfamiliar with charity/sanctuary work.... Please read on for explanations of some of those situations here.
Signage to the sanctuary is unfortunately beyond our charity’s control; we understand it can be tricky to find us, but despite begging the council for eight years, we are still only permitted two road signs directing visitors to our sanctuary (which our charity had to pay a lot of money for!)
Car parking is also hugely expensive and it is incredibly difficult for a charity to raise funds for this sort of ground-works. Most people and grant funders would not donate for such a project and who could blame them - donations should be for donkeys in need and their care. The animals will always take priority, which is why we are here. Their living conditions are our main concern, the barns, paddocks and shelters; their comfort is what is important to us.
Judgements on the attitude of staff We ask that visitors please bear in mind that 90% of help at the sanctuary is from volunteers. Some are young, some more mature, some are here for therapeutic reasons and their mental or physical health. We embrace many groups at the centre; we hope they will always be friendly to visitors, but as we’re sure you'll understand, some people are shy, some are not confident, there are many reasons they may not be comfortable, or be able to engage, with people. Then there are days when we have lost one of the Flicka family and our hearts are breaking... it is really tough to smile through, when inside we are soaked with grief. Every day the sanctuary brings highs and lows, peaks and troughs of emotions.
The donkeys, as much as possible, are given free will. In the summer they may be two paddocks away, some may be in the barn, some may be close to the visitor walkway. They are not here to entertain us; they are here for sanctuary after the traumas they have endured. Our Twilight Herd are always close to the centre, but the main large herd could be anywhere! During the wet winter months they are always in the donkey playground or their barns. If a visitor wants to see a particular donkey, we will do our best to make it happen, but sometimes it is not always possible.
So please... before you make public judgements or comments online, speak to us if you were not happy with something, or if you have a question. Please, please remember that our sanctuary is not an attraction and the animals are not here to entertain us - we are here to ensure the life of horror they have endured can be eased in safe, comfortable, tranquil surroundings. We are their caregivers, our work is all about them and hopefully through education we can tell their stories and heighten awareness of the plight of animals around the globe.
The centre is manned 24 hours a day 7 days a week, a working day is 15 hours (and often more!) The work is gruelling and we do it, not for a pat on the back, but because our passion is the animals and animal welfare - that’s what drives us and that’s why we do what we do. If, in the course of our work, other people can enjoy the fruits of our labour – happy, safe animals – that is a bonus. Our rewards are the animals we have helped, can help and those already in our care, we are privileged to share their lives; we love them and hate animal cruelty in any shape or form – pure and simple.
Signage to the sanctuary is unfortunately beyond our charity’s control; we understand it can be tricky to find us, but despite begging the council for eight years, we are still only permitted two road signs directing visitors to our sanctuary (which our charity had to pay a lot of money for!)
Car parking is also hugely expensive and it is incredibly difficult for a charity to raise funds for this sort of ground-works. Most people and grant funders would not donate for such a project and who could blame them - donations should be for donkeys in need and their care. The animals will always take priority, which is why we are here. Their living conditions are our main concern, the barns, paddocks and shelters; their comfort is what is important to us.
Judgements on the attitude of staff We ask that visitors please bear in mind that 90% of help at the sanctuary is from volunteers. Some are young, some more mature, some are here for therapeutic reasons and their mental or physical health. We embrace many groups at the centre; we hope they will always be friendly to visitors, but as we’re sure you'll understand, some people are shy, some are not confident, there are many reasons they may not be comfortable, or be able to engage, with people. Then there are days when we have lost one of the Flicka family and our hearts are breaking... it is really tough to smile through, when inside we are soaked with grief. Every day the sanctuary brings highs and lows, peaks and troughs of emotions.
The donkeys, as much as possible, are given free will. In the summer they may be two paddocks away, some may be in the barn, some may be close to the visitor walkway. They are not here to entertain us; they are here for sanctuary after the traumas they have endured. Our Twilight Herd are always close to the centre, but the main large herd could be anywhere! During the wet winter months they are always in the donkey playground or their barns. If a visitor wants to see a particular donkey, we will do our best to make it happen, but sometimes it is not always possible.
So please... before you make public judgements or comments online, speak to us if you were not happy with something, or if you have a question. Please, please remember that our sanctuary is not an attraction and the animals are not here to entertain us - we are here to ensure the life of horror they have endured can be eased in safe, comfortable, tranquil surroundings. We are their caregivers, our work is all about them and hopefully through education we can tell their stories and heighten awareness of the plight of animals around the globe.
The centre is manned 24 hours a day 7 days a week, a working day is 15 hours (and often more!) The work is gruelling and we do it, not for a pat on the back, but because our passion is the animals and animal welfare - that’s what drives us and that’s why we do what we do. If, in the course of our work, other people can enjoy the fruits of our labour – happy, safe animals – that is a bonus. Our rewards are the animals we have helped, can help and those already in our care, we are privileged to share their lives; we love them and hate animal cruelty in any shape or form – pure and simple.