Gold standard living for miniature donkeys

The new revamped paddock, which opened in October 2024, is home to an adorable herd of miniature donkeys including adoption donkeys Peanut and Maverick. They may be small in stature, but the herd of Mediterranean miniature donkeys are already proving to be firm favourites with staff, volunteers and visitors alike.

The area has been developed to provide its residents with plenty of space to roam, forage and play. Enrichment is very important to all our donkeys, and the minis are no different. The revamped paddock and brand-new shelter are equipped with plenty of play and sensory items, as well as custom-built whirligig browse holders, which give the donkeys a real challenge to get their toys or treats.

The paddock has also been designed with nature in mind, and our Ecology and Conservation team played a vital role in helping create a biodiverse environment that not only benefit the resident donkeys, but also the flora and fauna who share their home.

In creating the area, a restorative plant mix was sown into the grounds of the paddock before its completion. This thorough mix of plants has improved its diversity while breaking up soil compaction, which will help the ground drain during prolonged periods of wet weather.

There are also plans to plant donkey-friendly shrubs and tasty herbs, as well as semi-mature trees, and to sow a wider variety of donkey friendly grass and flower species to further build biodiversity, which will encourage more invertebrates and small mammals, such as voles and shrews.

Our Sidmouth sanctuary remains free for visitors, and people can walk around the perimeter of the new paddock to watch the minis exploring their surroundings. People are also welcome to bring their dogs on a lead with them, so the sanctuary is truly a day out for the whole family.

While the new barn currently houses a lively herd of minis, it has been purpose-built for The Donkey Sanctuary to accommodate all breeds of donkeys, meaning it will future proof the use of the paddock and be suitable for all donkeys in our care. 

While the construction of the new shelter and revamped paddock was imperative to improve the minis’ quality of life, it has also helped us to learn key lessons going forward. It provides us with a foundation for how to approach and enrich healthy living spaces for other donkeys and nature across our sanctuaries, to ensure that it’s not only our donkeys that benefit but also thousands more who are cared for by people across the UK and the world.

You can watch our herd of miniature donkeys in their new home on our miniature donkey webcam.