I visited Brookfield Farm last week and had a wonderful time catching up with old donkey friends. I love visiting the donkeys I used to look after, and as I walk through the barns tons of happy memories come flooding back as the donkeys come up for cuddles!

Although I left Brookfield Farm, one of the Sanctuary's outlying farms, a couple of years ago, there are a few of the donkeys and mules who live there who will always have a special place in my heart.

Last week I attended the Sanctuary's Practical Mule Handling Course at Town Barton Farm run by Ben Hart our resident behavioural expert.

Last week I met a truly inspirational couple. It was a lovely sunny morning when I went over to the Visitors' Centre to meet Judy and Alan Bishop, where I found them busily stocking up on donkey goodies.

On a recent visit to Town Barton Farm I met an adorable little mule called Sadie. She is five years old and arrived at Town Barton in August 2009. On arrival she was nervous and very difficult to catch but once caught she was good to handle.

Snowy is 37 years old and she lives in the Oldies Group here at The Derbyshire Centre. All the donkeys are very happy that spring is finally here and they can go out and enjoy the sunshine. However for donkeys like Snowy, springtime brings with it the risk of laminitis.