Text Box: All animals are accessed in some way by the majority of farm helpers. The care of the animals is undertaken by the students and the support team under the supervision and guidance of staff. These activities can include everything from mucking out the horses to handling the rabbits and guinea pigs and everything in between. Occasionally some students will be invited to help take part in animal health checks and may help in the administering of medicines where it is safe to do so. Text Box: The animals on site include: Rabbits Guinea Pigs Ducks Chickens Pygmy Goats Dairy Goats (including British Saanen, British Toggenburg, British Alpine and Anglo-Nubian breeds) Dexter and Jersey Cows Shetland, Ryeland and Grey-faced Dartmoor Sheep Kune-Kune Pigs Shetland, Connemara and Dales Ponies Labrador, Saluki and Huntaway dogs Farm Cats Our small animals (the ducks, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs) all live in a purpose built enclosure where they can have space to exhibit natural behaviours and access to clean water, fresh food and vegetables throughout the year. One of our rabbits and one of our guinea pigs live in the classrooms so they can be accessed by students who, for whatever reasons, cannot access the small animal enclosure. Text Box: Our grazing animals (the cows, sheep, pigs and pygmy goats) have continuous access to grazing, with shelters set aside for the winter months as well as calving, lambing and kidding season. The horses live on grazing which is carefully monitored and we ensure that the horses are brought into the stables for half of the day and regularly checked over by staff. The dairy goats live in a specially built goat barn where they live naturally as a herd. Hay and water are continuously available and wherever possible fresh green vegetation is offered to supplement their diet and reflect natural behaviours. Text Box:

“Tell me and I'll forget; Show me and I might remember; Involve me and I'll understand.”
Butterfly Lodge Education Centre