Sebastian, Dennis and Ned were three lucky donkeys chosen by Jackie, Abbey and Katie to join their 'hen party' here at the Sanctuary to help celebrate the forthcoming wedding of Jackie and Jamie on Saturday 28th August 2010 at Christchurch Priory, Dorset.

It's always lovely to hear why people chose to make a donation to the Sanctuary, like Paula and Martin who married on Friday 11th June 2010 at Bowood Hotel in Wiltshire. Instead of wedding gifts, they requested their family and friends to give a donation in lieu of any wedding gifts. I asked Paula why donkeys?

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.

Judy and Alan Bishop from Colchester in Essex made a special visit to the Sidmouth-based Donkey Sanctuary on Judy’s 60th birthday to hand deliver a donation of £150.00 to help donkeys worldwide.

It was all smiles for Wendy, Jo, Elizabeth, Simon, Kathy, Iris, Joanne, John and Denise today as they each walked a donkey around the Sanctuary as part of their "Donkey Carer Experience Day".

This morning the donkey carers spent time finding out about donkeys before being given the chance to "muck out", feed and groom their donkey.

The Donkey Sanctuary is being supported by the kind landlords of a pub near Great Bromley in Essex, who have organised a Donkey Day fundraising event on Sunday 2nd May from 11am to 3pm.

Later this month a Bedfordshire lady is running the London Marathon in aid of two charities, including The Donkey Sanctuary, based near Sidmouth in Devon.

33-year-old Natasha Blott, from Leighton Buzzard, is looking forward to running the 26 - mile race on Sunday 25th April to help donkeys.

The sun may not be shining, but that hasn't dampened the spirits of our first group of supporters this year who have joined us today for their "Donkey Experience Day".

Our knitted donkeys are proving so popular... sign up below to receive a copy of Woolley's pattern.

We're looking for keen knitters to turn their needles towards creating a herd of knitted donkeys to sell through our Visitor's Centre and online Gift Shop.

Our knitted donkeys are proving so popular, we need extra help!

We're looking for keen knitters to turn their needles towards creating a herd of knitted donkeys to sell through our Visitor's Centre and online Gift Shop.