Newton Farm is a small farm of about 21 acres situated in Buxton, bordering the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire. The farm is managed by Chris Pile who has been working for the Sanctuary since 1991.

Chris first worked at Town Barton Farm as a tractor driver/groom, followed by a year working at Brookfield Farm. He gained most of his experience working for 9 years in our Isolation Unit working closely with the veterinary care team as well as gaining management experience when he joined our Farms Administration team. The first manager of Newton Farm was Ray Mutter, who is still involved with the Sanctuary.

The farm mainly makes hay and haylage for its own small resident group of donkeys and acts as a holding base for donkeys who have been relinquished to the Sanctuary. All the donkeys on arrival will spend six weeks at the farm where they will be given vaccinations, farriery and worming before they leave the holding base to travel down to Devon to join a group of donkeys that they are best suited to. Some of these donkeys may even be considered to join our Foster Scheme.

One of the resident donkeys is called Eddie who's turning out to be quite a star! Not only does he go along to Christmas nativities and other events throughout the year, he had a starring role in the English National Opera production of Carmen at at the Buxton Opera House in 2007.

Eddie is also one of the donkeys that is on hand during the Stage 1 and Stage 2 training courses that are run at Newton Farm.

Related links

Derbyshire Centre