Sanctuary for Sheep with Special Needs Sustains Storm Damage

The Smallest Flock Sheep Sanctuary, situated near Shaftesbury in Dorset, experienced partial destruction during Storm Bert, according to its owner. The sanctuary, which provides care for sheep with additional needs, was severely impacted by strong winds and heavy rain on Saturday night. The storm resulted in over £1,000 worth of damage, including the collapse of a field shelter and hay intended for the sheep becoming unusable after being saturated by the rain. Charlotte Reynolds stated that, despite the adverse conditions, the sheep managed well during the severe weather. She quoted: “We’ve got an old blind ewe. We also have a sheep within the flock that has no eyes. She was born that way so her friends wear bells so she knows where they are but she’s been with us for the last seven years.” Ms. Reynolds established the sanctuary in 1997, and it currently provides a home for 42 sheep, each originating from diverse backgrounds. The sanctuary’s team had dedicated the summer to preparing for winter, having previously experienced the loss of a shelter due to inclement weather. Although efforts were made to reassemble the polytunnel and dry the hay, the total damage amounted to £1,200. A significant portion of the herd consists of older animals, those with additional needs, or sheep rescued from slaughter. Ms. Reynolds elaborated, stating: “We have some with smaller needs, with under shocked jaws and things like that so, they’re all different, it’s not just a commercial flock of young sheep to look after”. A volunteer has initiated a fundraiser to assist with covering the costs of the necessary repairs. Ms. Reynolds indicated that the group attempted to repair the damage, emphasizing the herd’s need for a dry place to shelter in anticipation of further severe weather. She added: “They do like somewhere to go when it is heavy rain but, obviously where it’s been raining again, we’ve had to just try and recover it. A lot of the hay will go to waste because it’s just too wet, all the way through, and we won’t be able to feed it to them.” BBC Dorset is available for following on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC holds no responsibility for the content of external sites. Further information on the BBC’s approach to external linking is available.