Suffolk Punch Trust
When did you last make a difference while out on a camping weekend?  South Suffolk DA has teamed up with the Suffolk Punch Trust to carryout conservation work for this worthwhile charity who have very limited funds. 

The trust took over the Stud at Hollesley Bay from the prison service in 2006, with 200 acres of parkland to maintain and improve the trust relies on volunteer groups for support.  South Suffolk DA have just held the first of three working weekends at the stud.

Not only is the trust preserving the Suffolk Punch breed of Heavy Horse but also has a flock of Suffolk black faced sheep.  It also carries out a retraining programme for ex racehorses that might otherwise land up as pet food.  Once retrained the horses are re-homed either with families or as riding horses for the disabled.

See what the trust is about at WWW.suffolkpunchtrust.org

When I decided to go along to South Suffolk’s first weekend and give support to the project little did we realise what was in store for us.  While being shown round on Saturday morning we spotted that one of the sheep had started to give birth to the first of the lambs of the year.  We were soon lending a hand with the separation of the expectant ewes and the first pair of lambs were born. Two Suffolk Punch foals have been born at the trust this year with two others expected anytime.  After working Saturday and Sunday morning we were taken down to Hollesley bay prison to their raptor centre where we were able not only able to see the falcons, hawks and owls, but were able to handle and be shown how to fly four types of falcon, and hawks. You can see some of the new friends we made over the weekend in the photos.

South Suffolk DA will be running the next working weekend 23rd to 25th March and a further one over the August bank Holiday weekend (August 24th to 27th) Camping is free but you are expected to lend a hand.  In August I understand that entertainment and a barbeque is being laid on (a charge will be payable for the entertainment and barbeque)

If you are interested in lending a hand please contact Harry on 07796795774 or E-mail him on pankhursts48@btinternet.com