The veterans from the Armed Forces Community Support Hub (Devon) have been volunteering at our Sidmouth sanctuary for over a year now, helping to improve the environment for the herd of donkeys in our Donkey Assisted Activities (DAA) centre. 

Their recent contributions saw them constructing bespoke whirligig enrichment frames using recycled wood. The team then gathered hazel from around the site and mounted it on the structures, which the donkeys wasted no time exploring. 

Donkeys are natural browsers, and this form of enrichment gives them the opportunity to express natural behaviours. Enrichment is very important for our donkeys and provides them with opportunities to interact with their environment, make choices and to be more mentally active. 

Stephy Studley, Centre Support and Equine Assistant, said: “The whirligig structures are brilliant, and our donkeys seem to love browsing from them. 

“The veterans’ team visit us every month and get stuck into any job we ask of them - from painting to weeding, and from yard maintenance to creating innovative storage solutions.