It had been a busy few weeks on the farm and we are so pleased to have good news all the way since our last update.
Three years ago we were left a bequest to purchase a new Shire horse, and after years of searching through advertisements, one of our volunteers Ros saw a tiny advert sounding promising. So Sally and I travelled to Cheshire to meet Daisy Mae.....and fell in love with her. Thank you Ros for seeing that advert. What’s more, we are delighted to say Daisy Mae will be joining the Miller’s Ark family this Sunday.
Huge thanks must also go to to Carole, who welcomes you all to open days at the front gate. She has tirelessly promoted our raffle tickets to win a cuddly toy Miffy (kindly donated by Ros) and to raise funds to contribute to our Mopsy and Miffy vet bill. All together with our GoFundMe campaign, we raised a magnificent £4736.52.
For the first time in 29 years, we have been trialling an Open Day morning each Thursday during term time. So far these have been well supported and the cafe is also open for those folk who would like to pop in for a coffee and cake or for a delicious brunch or lunch chef special.
Although the children have only just gone back to school, we are gearing up for October Half Term Open Days and will have the usual pumpkins for you to design and take home. Opening is by advance tickets only in timed sessions, observing social distancing to ensure the safety of both our staff and visitors.
Tickets must be purchased by visiting www.ticketsource.co.uk/millersark. In accordance with government guidelines a maximum of 6 tickets can be purchased. This is for everyone’s safety, so please do not try and beat the system. You will not be permitted to enter the farm in groups larger than 6, and following the government’s latest update, any one entering The Old Dairy tea barn will be required to wear a mask until they are sat at the table.
2020 has been a hard year for many of us, both on the business and personal front, and we have decided that everyone needs to be able to look forward to a cheerful Christmas.....so after a lot of discussion and planning, Miller’s Ark Christmas events WILL proceed if we are allowed. Our events page explains which events will take place, and more information can be found on our website www.millersark.co.uk
For the safety of other visiting groups and our staff, if you or any one in your group is unwell with Covid related illness on the day of your visit please do not leave home, as your group will not be allowed access to the farm. We will in this instance only (on receipt of a copy of your Covid test appointment) transfer tickets to a future open day.
Our Sponsor an Animal programme is still being enthusiastically supported, and makes an ideal birthday or Christmas present. Find you favourite farm animal and sponsor from £2 for a month up to £100 for a year. We can also offer a personalised gift certificate with your message and a photo of the chosen animal.
The amazing ‘’hatch and foster’’ programme is buzzing, and we have chicks ready to foster and plenty of eggs for the incubator as well as to eat! Thanks to all of you for the positive feedback and amazing photos and videos..... keep sending them in and we will feature them on our social media platforms.
We hope you are enjoying all our updates - on social media, in our Friends of Miller’s Ark newsletter and on our website.
Miller's Ark would not be surviving now without your amazing support. Thank you. But we must not sit back as there is a long Winter ahead, and we need to ensure the animals continue to be fed and well cared for. As many of you will know, we set up a GoFundMe page to be sure we could raise enough money to ensure their future with us and resume our Mobile Farm, Animal Touch Therapy Sessions and Farm Open Days after this crisis has passed. If you want to be sure to see them all again donate now or share our link with a friend.
The animals still need YOUR help. Please click here to donate. https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-miller039s-ark-from-sinking
£5 buys a bale of hay. £10 buys a bag of food. £20 pays the farrier to trim the hooves of one donkey. £45 pays a vet call out fee.£100 is awesome as it buys a week of baby goat and lamb feed or feeds our donkey mums and foals for a week
Lastly, can we say a huge thank you to each and everyone of you, who have contacted us with kind messages of support, and for your donations which really do make a difference making sure our animals are here for YOU when this crisis is finally over.
Please stay safe and healthy and look after yourselves and your loved ones.
Elizabeth and the Miller’s Ark team.
Animal Activity Licence number 19/00315/AWAAL
