The Russell Memorial Garden is named after the life-sized bronze donkey in its centre. The sculptor, Ray Gonzalez, needed a perfectly-proportioned donkey as a model, and Russell was chosen. Russell was the son of Angelina, the second donkey taken into care by Dr Svendsen. At the time the sculpture was made he was working at The Slade Centre, providing riding therapy for children with special needs for The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST), our sister charity.

The Garden, complete with its bronze statue, was officially opened in May 1997. Since then other bronze donkeys have been produced from the original mould, and have pride of place at each of EST's other centres in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Ivybridge.

Russell, the "model" donkey, ceased working at The Slade Centre in 1999 and spent the remainder of his years in happy retirement until his death in 2006.