Northamptonshire animal charity calls for more volunteers as they're gifted more land
Animals In Need Northamptonshire have been given the land by a long term supporter.
An animal charity say they're in need of more volunteers after a gift of more land from a long term supporter.
Animals In Need Northamptonshire says they're 'so very thankful' after friend June Barratt gifted them the extra space of 23 acres of her farm.
The charities Annie Marriott says June's late partner Sharon taught her everything she knows about animals:
"June and Sharon have been long time friends of mine, and I used to work for them and taught me everything about farm animals."
Sadly Sharon passed away from Motor Neuro disease on Boxing Day in 2023.
June knew the charity had outgrown Pine Tree Farm at Irchester and gifted them her land at Near Turn Farm near Guilsborough.
They have over 300 animals across the 2 sites, with pigs, sheep, goats and donkeys at Near Turn, with pens for poultry being put in soon.
It now means the charities husband and wife team of Annie and Roy live separately, with one at each of the farms.
Annie tells us the charity is how she met husband.
Her parents adopted a dog from the charity nearly 30 years ago, and after that she started dog walking for the kennels Roy ran with the charity.
"I got offered a job working in the kennels and me and Roy got thrown together, moving dogs, home checks, rescues and we ended up morning noon and night."
They inevitable happened and Annie tells us they got together:
"And although now we are living apart, one on one farm and one on the other, we are still very much in love, well I speak for myself I am, he might say different of course!"
The new space is an amazing gift the charity says was much needed and a long time coming. It does mean they need more helpers to join them working with their animals:
"You don't necessarily need to have experience because we can always train them. At the moment we would really like someone who is horse experienced. But the most important thing is kindness and reliability. That's absolutely essential. An unreliable volunteer is worse than no volunteer."
If you're over 18 and interested you can find out more by emailing [email protected].