Donkeys at our Donkey Assisted Activities centre in Leeds are benefitting from hedging constructed from recycled natural plant material.
The idea came from one of the centre’s equine assistants Sarah Murray, who was keen to reuse the material that remains when pruning and coppicing the trees and shrubs on the site in Eccup.
The material is used to fill in gaps between larger trees, and over time helps to form a secure barrier between public footpaths and the resident donkeys’ enrichment area.
Wooden stakes fixed into the ground hold the structure together, with smaller branches from trees and shrubs woven between to provide the barrier that the deadwood hedge will eventually become. New plant life growth is also encouraged as the hedge becomes established.
As the hedge is built up, it also provides the perfect habitat for insects, small mammals and birds in its tangled maze of twigs and branches. The donkeys also benefit from the extra foraging the areas of new growth around the hedging provides.
As well as being one of the most environmentally friendly ways of using up surplus natural materials, the pruning also helps regrowth of the existing willow and costs nothing.
Sarah said: “I like to recycle and reuse, as well and finding new things that will benefit the local wildlife and our resident donkeys, and our new hedging is a great example of this.
“It improves the working environment for staff, volunteers, clients and people in our community, while providing an area of conservation for local habitats and helping to boost staff wellbeing through learning a new skill. It also showcases what can be achieved from using natural goods."
The staff at Leeds work in close collaboration with our Ecology and Conservation team to discover new ways to improve conservation in their local area, which they also share with colleagues throughout The Donkey Sanctuary.
