The Potato Patch

24/12/2024

Well that's the last of my Christmas PP errands completed with a little joy spread ❤️

Yvonne was the winner of our hamper from the 27 Pigs of Christmas Fundraiser and very kindly wanted the hamper donating to a good cause. So it has just been delivered to the local food bank Isle of Axholme Food Share Project ✨

The last of our calendars have been collected from our stockists Oh Sugar Crumbs, Mojo Coffee Lounge and Albion Bakery. Collectively they have helped us to sell many additional calendars and raised around £70 which is just amazing - thankyou! Once the rest of the fundraiser prizes have been posted next week, the remaining 20 or so calendars are to be donated to for their residents and staff to enjoy 🥰

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm off to put the mulled wine on and enjoy our first Christmas with our little Artie potato🎄🐹

Mrs PP over and out 🫶🏻

23/12/2024

Just a little reminder of our Christmas closure 🥰
Our hard working admin team are now on their festive break until 3rd Jan and the messaging system is unmanned ❤️

For EMERGENCIES ONLY please email [email protected] (e.g. abandoned guinea pig or crisis situation)

Potato Patch Christmas Closure 2024 🎄❌

Please find below details of our working hours over the Christmas period. We limit our work over the season for two reasons; animal welfare to avoid pigs being rehomed straight into busy and stressful festive environments and also volunteer wellbeing to ensure we all get a well-earned rest 🥰 Thankyou for your cooperation!

❤️ We will not be accepting any new adoption enquiries now until after Christmas - to avoid guineas being given as presents. If you have already registered interest and been approved, be assured we are working to find you the perfect match!

❤️ 16th December is our last possible date for adoptions (for families already on our waiting list) or routine surrenders. Families are of course welcome to reserve their pigs but collect in January if this works best for them.

❌ The messaging system and FB account will NOT be monitored from 23rd December to 3rd January so myself and Vicky can have a breather 🥹

As always, the pigs in care will be loved as our own (we will introduce them to you after 16th Dec with an opportunity for supporters to send them a Christmas pressie) ✨

Please email [email protected] for EMERGENCIES ONLY (e.g. a guinea pig at risk)‼️

Thankyou! 🐹

20/12/2024

Well, that's not one I had on my bingo card for this week...

On Wednesday I spotted someone trying to re-home two wild house mice as pets on a local selling page. They had been captured and were being kept in an incredibly small hamster carrier and being fed chocolate. Once I'd established it was not a wind-up, I agreed to collect them to get them to a wildlife rescue with the agreement of the OP (no negative comments please). It is illegal to keep wild animals as pets in the UK without proper licensing. These mice would have been incredibly stressed with the level of human contact they had to endure, so I knew we had to step in to help, despite definitely not being guinea pigs!

Thankfully kindly agreed to take them for assessment and rehab with a view to release. They have had two days here at HQ in the quiet with some seeds, oats and dried fruit based snacks, and thanks to the kindness of our supporters Hayley & Jade, they are heading to Chirpy's tomorrow.

Happy Christmas little meeces 🐭

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/keeping-wild-birds-or-animals?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0cG-bA0irUncUscMRnupS3y4DsiWWUivBiuBGMNa9-_DVhzfzqjWh4zVs_aem_mlVaHAkmZjHgicMw6j1WAw

20/12/2024

TRANSPORT HELP NEEDED ‼️
For two little house mice needing help this Christmas 🎄 🐭

🚗 DN9 to DN12 🚗
🕐 Saturday 21st December Morning 🕐

Saturday 21st December morning (time flexible) from PP HQ at Belton DN9 to Chirpys Allies Wildlife Rescue at New Edlington DN12 for two house mice needing rehabilitation prior to release. Happy to give more details privately. They are safe with me but due to an emergency at Chirpys I was unable to take them over today as planned and I am booked up tomorrow.

Fuel paid ✔️
Please message if you can help 💜

19/12/2024

⭐ Pledge a Pack ⭐

Thankyou so much to everyone who sponsored a piggy through our 27 Pigs of Christmas campaign. All piggies now have Christmas sponsors, but we've had a lot of messages from lovely supporters who missed out on piggy sponsorship but still want to help us over the festive season! 🎄

If this is you, the graphic below shows the costs of some common items that we purchase from our suppliers DISCOUNT PET WAREHOUSE and Gravels Fruit & Veg. These companies kindly give us a significant discount on many items and we are so grateful for their support 🐾

If you'd like to help us out, consider donating the amount for either a bale of hay, bag of pellet or veggie delivery?

Bank details:
The Potato Patch
40-22-01
01541536

Or PayPal:
[email protected]

Thankyou so much, and Merry Christmas!
Love Team PP 💜

19/12/2024

💜💜💜ALL PIGGIES NOW SPONSORED THANKYOU SO MUCH 💜💜💜

The 27 Pigs of Christmas Lucky Dip! 🎄

Here it is folks, our Christmas mini fundraiser with a twist ✨

This year you can sponsor a piggy in our care (either at HQ or in foster care) over the festive period (please note some are reserved to be adopted in the new year 🥰). These pigs will all be with us until early January now, so your £8 sponsorship will cover pellet and hay for them during their time with us ❤️

You will also WIN a prize to be posted out to your home address! Everyone wins! (Please note prizes will be sent out after Christmas)

The prizes (see graphic) are randomly selected from:

⭐ Potato Patch fridge magnet

⭐ 2025 Potato Patch wall calendar

⭐ ONE STAR PRIZE of super Christmas hamper containing Potato Patch merchandise, panetonne, chocolate biscuits and candles 🤩

❓ How does it work❓

1️⃣ Read the list below and select an available piggy. Photos are viewable in the comments.

2️⃣ Please COMMENT on the photo to request your piggy of choice. Your name will be added to the post to confirm your sponsorship, and an admin will contact you to request your address and email.

3️⃣ Send your donation via the usual payment methods (details below)

4️⃣ Each piggy is allocated a number, these numbers will be placed into a draw to decide your prize.

5️⃣ Your prize will be posted to you (after Xmas) and you will also receive a photo and thankyou from your sponsored piggy via email!

Bank details:
The Potato Patch
40-22-01
01541536

Or PayPal:
[email protected]

Thankyou for your support!

✨ Sponsorship Pigs 2024 ✨

1 🩷 ✅ Habibi - Sponsored by Georgia Sitch ⭐

2 🩵✅ Dangerous Beans - Sponsored by Alison Marks ⭐

3 🩷 ✅ Elfe - Sponsored by Yvonne Scully ⭐

4 🩷✅ Gladys -Sponsored by Yvonne Scully ⭐

5 🩷✅ Marshmallow - Sponsored by Yvonne Scully ⭐

6 🩵 ✅ Caramel - Sponsored by Deborah Street ⭐

7 🩵 ✅Sprinkles - Sponsored by Alison Bardsley ⭐

8 🩵 ✅ Silly - Sponsored by Pamela Robson ⭐

9 🩵✅ Billy - Sponsored by Joanne Heeley ⭐

10 🩷 ✅ Biscoff - Sponsored by Yvonne Scully ⭐

11 🩷✅ Marshmallow 2 - Sponsored by Hazel Wilkinson ⭐

12 🩵✅ Milo - Sponsored by Karen Bettany ⭐

13 🩵✅ Buddy - Sponsored by Karen Bettany ⭐

14 🩵 ✅ Napoleon - Sponsored by Alice Eden ⭐

15 🩷 ✅ Sandy - Sponsored by Sandra Murray ⭐

16 🩷✅ Tink - Sponsored by Stephenie Fanshawe ⭐

17 🩵✅ Patch - Sponsored by Emma Sims ⭐

18 🩷 ✅ Clover - Sponsored by Kirsty Gallucci ⭐

19 🩵 ✅ Velvet - Sponsored by Rachel Capstick ⭐

20 🩵 ✅ Woody - Sponsored by Rachel Capstick ⭐

21 🩵 ✅ Cookie -Sponsored by Jo Stavert-Dobson ⭐

22 🩵✅ Wilbur - Sponsored by Lois Albans-Heseltine ⭐

23 🩵 ✅ Grinch - Sponsored by Lottie Kovac-Hutchinson ⭐

24 🩷 ✅ Cindy - Sponsored by Stephenie Fanshawe ⭐

25 🩷 ✅ Maxy - Sponsored by Rachel Taylor ⭐

26 🩷 ✅ Noelle - Alison Willstrop ⭐

27 🩷✅ Eve -Sponsored by Stephenie Fanshawe ⭐

17/12/2024

Last chance to purchase! 😱

We have just 20 calendars left 🎉 ...plus a few put aside for prizes for our upcoming mini Christmas fundraiser (keep your eyes peeled 👀)...Please can you help us reach our goal to sell all of our 2025 calendar stock? 🫶🏻

Now reduced to £6 and including a free gift 💜
Postage available (but not guaranteed for Xmas now, sorry!)
📧 Please message the page or email [email protected] to order

Thankyou to everyone who has supported us so far by purchasing a calendar, we are so grateful to every single one of you! 🥰

14/12/2024

Happy Adoption to Nutella 🌰

Our last planned adoption of 2024! Nutella came in as part of a trio, but she was being bullied so we made the decision to split her. She has found a lovely new home to hopefully mend the broken heart of Basil. Thankyou due to Vicky for completing Nutella's intensive parasite treatment over the last few months due to a severe infestation, and for loving her of course 🥰

12/12/2024

COME ON POTATO PATCHERS, WE NEED YOUR HELP! PLEASE HELP US TO SELL THE LAST REMAINING CALENDARS BY SHARING OUR POST 💜

😍 SPECIAL OFFER 😍 ORDER TODAY
THE MEGA DEAL WITH FREE GIFT! 🥳

If you were considering purchasing, this is your sign 🙌🏻

Order your calendar mega deal TODAY (Thurs 12th Dec) to not only take advantage of the deal but also receive a FREE SURPRISE Potato Patch gift (our newest piece of merch) in your order 🥳

Whilst stocks last!

Quote FREEGIFT when ordering 💜
📩 Please message the page directly to place your order
🪙 Payment can be made via PayPal or bank transfer
🐹 Remember, thanks to sponsorship, every penny goes towards our rescue piggies!

Remember our free prize draw is still running until calendars are sold out. See the below link for details of how to win a CASH prize and PP goodie bag 🥳

https://www.facebook.com/100061153250653/posts/1065513508830414/

Thankyou ⭐

10/12/2024

A Christmas Wish ✨

⭐ Are you already approved to adopt from us?
⭐ Are you looking to add to an existing herd?

If so, please drop us a message. All of our foster homes are currently full we have a sow pair, boar/sow pair, and various single neutered boys plus more sows likely arriving soon. If you can offer a home to any newbies before Christmas please drop us a message 💜

Please note, due to time constraints and the upcoming festive season we will not have time to assess new applications until January. Thank you for your understanding!

08/12/2024

Our beautiful old lady potato Habibi is poorly at the moment. A very severe bout of cystitis. Thankfully, due to previous issues with bladder troubles, she is very used to having her meds, and actually enjoys them! Makes medicating very easy as she runs to the front of her pen to grab them 💓

Get well soon Beebs 🐹

07/12/2024

Thankyou to everyone who came out to support us tonight. The weather was horrid 🌪️☔ but we prevailed! Thanks especially to Mandy, Vicky, Alex & Rach who braved it with me. Mr PP and Baby PP even made a VIP appearance 😂

Watch this space for our final bits of 2024 fundraising before Christmas 👀

07/12/2024

‼️ CHRISTMAS FAIR TONIGHT ‼️

Please come down to Belton All Saints Centre TONIGHT Saturday 7th December 4-7pm for the light switch on. Indoor event and lots of lovely stalls to browse. Hannah, Vicky, Alex, Rachael and Mandy are here to greet you!

Support your local community at Christmas time ❤️✨🎄

06/12/2024

Potato Patch Christmas Closure 2024 🎄❌

Please find below details of our working hours over the Christmas period. We limit our work over the season for two reasons; animal welfare to avoid pigs being rehomed straight into busy and stressful festive environments and also volunteer wellbeing to ensure we all get a well-earned rest 🥰 Thankyou for your cooperation!

❤️ We will not be accepting any new adoption enquiries now until after Christmas - to avoid guineas being given as presents. If you have already registered interest and been approved, be assured we are working to find you the perfect match!

❤️ 16th December is our last possible date for adoptions (for families already on our waiting list) or routine surrenders. Families are of course welcome to reserve their pigs but collect in January if this works best for them.

❌ The messaging system and FB account will NOT be monitored from 23rd December to 3rd January so myself and Vicky can have a breather 🥹

As always, the pigs in care will be loved as our own (we will introduce them to you after 16th Dec with an opportunity for supporters to send them a Christmas pressie) ✨

Please email [email protected] for EMERGENCIES ONLY (e.g. a guinea pig at risk)‼️

Thankyou! 🐹

06/12/2024

Happy Adoption to the last of the Halloween Babies 🎃

🤍 Mona (the Vampire) left earlier in the week to be a friend for bereaved boy Fred who sadly lost his lady friend Creamcake recently.

🩶 Sabrina (the Teenage Witch) is tomorrow morning leaving us with a lovely returning adoptive family to join bereaved PP boy Cooper after losing his wife Cookie.

Perfect homes found for all 6 of the pups, we are so thrilled to see them go off to their happy new lives 🥰

05/12/2024

🎄 Belton Village Christmas Lights Switch On & Market 🎄
This weekend ‼️

Please come down to Belton All Saints Church Centre to support us. Their Christmas market is running 4-7pm this Saturday 7th December. The Potato Patch Team will be there (including small human potato, Artie 🥔)

We have a range of goodies for you...
🗓️ CALENDARS
🎁 CHRISTMAS CARDS
🛍️ TOTE BAGS
🎰 and of course our MEGA TOMBOLA!
..and new for this event, SUPER LUCKY DIP - PRIZE EVERY TIME! 🍀

We will have the calendar deals running too...
⭐⭐ £10 ⭐⭐
For Calendar & Card Pack OR Calendar & Tote Bag (but only whilst stocks last) 🤩

We would love to see you all there to support this fantastic local event! 💕

Join FB event for further details:
https://facebook.com/events/s/christmas-lights-switch-on/1511556569747390/

05/12/2024

Handsome Woody (complete with his hay hair accessory) would like to say a BIG THANKYOU to our lovely chief guinea keeper, Lucy, who came to do the cleans yesterday, like most normal Wednesdays. However yesterday, she spent extra time tidying, wiping, washing up all the bottles and bowls and catching up with the bedding washing.

Mr PP & I have been away a bit over the last few weeks so I've had no spare, child free time and the shed was was desperately needing some TLC, but now it looks amazing!

Thankyou Lucy 💕

03/12/2024

✅ SORTED THANKS ALL ✅

Transport Help Needed! 🚗
📍 SCUNTHORPE DN15 to BELTON DN9
🗓️ 5:30pm approx this Wednesday 4th December

Pig Taxi needed from Ashcroft Vets back to sanctuary HQ for Woody pig post castrate/lump removal. Can anyone help please? Thanks! 💜