SIDMOUTH’S The Donkey Sanctuary has branched out into wildlife and conservation events and held its first wildlife ramble this month.

Charity chiefs say that, while donkeys remain the star attraction, many visitors are unaware of the wealth of flora and fauna also on offer.

James Chubb, events and activities manager, said: “Our first wildlife ramble provided an ideal opportunity for visitors to discover the incredible variety of plant and animal life.

“Key spots of the day included woodpeckers, buzzards and some tell-tale signs of a colony of scarce lesser horseshoe bats, not to mention an impressive selection of edible and not so edible vegetation.

“For me, the star discovery was a glow-worm larvae, very exciting, as the species is very sensitive to change, so if we look after their habitat they should be here to stay.”

James said the charity intended to combine donkey welfare with improving and protecting habitats for wildlife in the future.