Plea for volunteers

VOLUNTEERS in Sidmouth are being sought to help with the planting of a new orchard at The Donkey Sanctuary later this month.

The charity has invited residents to take part in the project, on Sunday, January 22, when a morning of wildlife conservation activities are staged its Nature Centre woodland from 10am.

The group will meet in the venue’s main car park and make their way down to the woodland in the company of the sanctuary’s events and activities manager, James Chubb.

The group will plant a small orchard of local apple varieties before removing protective mulch and tree guards from the woodland fringe.

Mr Chubb said: “Regular visitors to the Sanctuary will know what a fabulous location it enjoys, and this is a chance to make a fantastic contribution to the local environment.

“We’ve been enjoying visits from songbirds all winter who have been feeding amongst the recently-planted saplings on the woodland edge.

“We’ll be spending part of the morning cleaning up this area and completing planting to re-establish an apple orchard of local varieties in the adjacent meadow.”

The activities will involve gentle exercise, but the steep slopes of the site mean that people with mobility problems will not be able to participate.

The event will end at 1.30pm.

Booking is not necessary, residents can just turn up and join in.

For more information contact The Donkey Sanctuary’s events team on (01395) 573156.