It is triple success for The Donkey Sanctuary after scooping three awards against the county’s best attractions.
The charity struck gold at the 2018 Devon Tourism Awards in the Large Attraction of the Year category as well as two prizes at the Primary Times’ Reader Star Awards.
It is the first time the popular attraction has entered the tourism awards and faced stiff competition from Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway, Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery and Exmouth’s World of Country Life.
John Crouch, visitor engagement manager at The Donkey Sanctuary previously told the Herald of the charity’s plans to go for national recognition over the next five years - including the coveted Visit England award.
Mr Crouch said: “This is the first year that we have entered the awards and to come away with a gold is truly amazing.
“Devon is in an enviable position of having many quality family attractions so winning our category is something I am immensely proud of and reflects the hard work and efforts of all our staff and volunteers.”
The award followed off the back of the Primary Times ceremony in which the attraction won the Favourite Family Attraction (half day) and Free Local Family Event categories.
Fans of the attraction will be able to catch the sanctuary not once but twice on television after camera crews have filmed for shows on CBeebies and Channel 5.
Rory Crawford of the children’s show Ferne and Rory’s Vet Tales spent the day at the charity’s Brookfield donkey hospital near Honiton to film veterinary staff at work.
Taking a leading role will be Paddy the donkey who was filmed going to the dentist and six month old foal Ben K who has been hand reared by staff after his mother was unable to feed him.
The first episode featuring Paddy will air today (Tuesday), with Ben K’s story set to be screened on Wednesday, December 5.
The Donkey Sanctuary will also appear on Channel 5’s Help the Animals at Christmas on December 21.
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