DYFI DONKEY CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

As the season approaches you may be stuck for ideas on what to buy your donkey loving relative .

Here at Dyfi Donkeys we can fill that present void.
To apply please email us at dyfidonkeys@btinternet.com marking your mail CHRISTMAS DONKEY PRESENT- to ensure processing before Christmas please apply by 20th December.

Choose from

A DONKEY EXPERIENCE DAY - half days start from £45 per person , full days are £85 per person. Digital tickets provided.


ADOPT A DYFI DONKEY - help to cover some of the ongoing costs that our non working donkeys incur just by living. These include recurring vet bills (vaccinations),winter feed ,farrier and dentist costs. It also helps towards any additional unforseen costs.

For a minimum donation of £25 a year you can Adopt a Dyfi Donkey. In return you receive a digital Adopt a Dyfi Donkey Certificate, a digital photo collection of your chosen donkey, a real birthday card, a digital Christmas card and a quarterly newsletter letting you know exactly what's going on at the Dyfi Donkeys. You also get the chance to come and visit your donkey to say hi - you just need to call to book.Donkeys to choose from are : 
Seren - our female 2 yr old half Poitou donkey- half sister to Dylan

 

 Dylan - our male 2yr old half Poitou donkey , half brother to Seren

 
Spot - our retired donkey
Since 2011 our oldest donkey Spot has been retired from active beach donkey duties.

Summer Days out at Dyfi Donkeys

Fancy a change from your group's normal summer outing? Looking for something a bit different?

How about a day out at Dyfi Donkeys? Suitable for wee ones or not so wee ones ; lets face it everyone loves a donkey! Its an old fashioned styled experience , we provide the space and animals you bring your imagination and energy. From May onwards you can visit Dyfi Donkeys by prior arrangement and during the summer months we hold public open days every wed and some sundays(check the events page for dates).

Come and see the donkeys in their natural environment and see what they get up to when they're not working on the beach. You can try to hunt them out in the woods; but they usually find you first and try your hand at grooming them in our woodland shelter.  Over 30 acres of wild natural reserve to explore with woodland, streams, meadows and riverbanks to wander along. Take part in our treasure hunt which changes with the seasons.We have a wealth of wild flowers and birds to spot and identify. Use the woods to build a den in .. group den building is addictive or maybe split in two and see who can build the best den.

While we don't have catering facilities on site it is the perfect place for a picnic. You can pitch up in Muffin's meadow which is in ht e donkey wood but donkeys are excluded or maybe find a spot down by the river.

A donkeytastic day out is waiting for you and your nursery group, school outing,seniors social club.. something for everyone.
( we have limited disabled access but we will ALWAYS get you up close and personal with a donkey).
Give us a call on 07717020344 or email at dyfidonkeys@btinternet.com : we'll give you donkey memories to cherish for years to come.
Visits also available on an hourly basis.

Easter with the Dyfi Donkeys - what are we up to ?

Easter activities at Dyfi Donkey Wood.

This easter there's more to donkeys than beach donkey rides-guided walks and open days too!!

As well as our usual return to the beach at Aberdyfi this Easter (our 10th since we began!) Dyfi Donkeys are offering other donkey experiences for you.

EASTER GUIDED DONKEY WALK - 6th April 2015 10.30am prompt
On Easter Monday you can join Spot and one of his friends as he guides you on a wlk around the Cwm Bychan forest which borders Dyfi Donkey wood. The walk takes us up through the forest and out onto the hills where on a clear day you can see Cadair Idris, the Arans and the Dyfi biosphere. Every one who comes along will get the chance to have a turn at leading one of the donkeys. The pace is always leisurely, the views are spectacular and the company is always engaging.
Adults £5 Children £3 - wellbehaved dogs are free. 
Booking is essential as spaces are limited : 07717020344/dyfidonkeys@btinternet.com

EASTER OPEN DAY @ DYFI DONKEY WOOD - SY20 8LL
8th April 2015 11am to 5pm

Come and meet the donkeys on their home turf.

Try donkey grooming and learn more about these fab animals.

Bring a picnic and stay for the day : explore the 30+ acres of woods, meadow and river; build a den; nature spot and run riot!

A great day out for all.

£4 adults £3 children . Well behaved dogs free.

Disabled access is limited but we WILL get you up close and personal to a donkey.

Both activities are available throughout the year check on our schedule page for this years dates.

WALKING with DONKEYS Sunday 19th October

Following the success of our donkey walk under the STEPtember walking festival banner Dyfi Donkeys will be providing a guided donkey walk once a month throughout the winter months of the year.

THE FIRST GUIDED WALK WITH DONKEYS is on Sunday 19th October at 10.30am prompt from Dyfi Donkeys in Commins Coch, Machynlleth, SY20 8LL 

£5  adults £2 children

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL  so that no-one is left behind and everyone who has booked doesn't have to wait for  

call 07717020344 or email dyfidonkeys@btinternet.com by saturday 18th pm and please remember to leave a contact number. 

Sunday's walk is approximately 4 miles long and is along quiet country lanes and forestry tracks. We should be walking for approximately 2 hours but as the donkeys will set the  pace that may vary slightly.
 

 Walking with donkeys is a unique oppurtunity to view the world around us at donkey pace; we walk in an unhurried manner ,taking breaks as and when the donkeys (or walkers) see fit.  Donkeys have a different way of viewing their environment and this is both interesting and amusing to witness and share.

 Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the unique experience that is walking in the company of donkeys but this walk is classed as moderate ; including some short sharp inclines and declines. It is probably not suitable for toddlers or pushchairs.

 The next guided donkey walk will be Sunday 16th November if you cant make the October one.

FREE GUIDED WALK WITH DONKEYS along Glyndwrs Way

INTRODUCING our first guided walk with Donkeys as part of the STEPtember walking festival in the Cambrian Mountains.

When: Monday 29th September 2014 
Where: Leaving from Dyfi Donkeys , Commins Coch, Machynlleth 10am
 Cost: FREE - please book with Louise on 07717020344/dyfidonkeys@btinternet.com
 BOOKING is ESSENTIAL - spaces limited

What's it all about?
 STEPtember is a month long walking festival highlighting the wonders of the Cambrian Mountains - all walks are free and guided you just need to book.

Walking in the company of  a donkey is a unique walking experience. Both meditative and leisurely. We will travel at the natural pace of the donkeys, taking in the environment from a different perspective, taking the natural breaks the donkeys will instigate and drawing our focus to the things that the donkeys find interesting. Donkeys have the ability to instill us with a sense of peace and calm which bring a new dimension to the way you experience a walk in the beautiful Cambrian mountains.

The route follows parts of the Welsh national trail known as Glyndwr's Way and offers spectacular views of the Dyfi valley , Cadair Idris and area surrounding Dyfi Donkey Wood. While only approximately 7 miles in length the walk may take about 3.5 hours due to the leisurely pace the donkeys will set. This is considered a moderate walk on an established trail but with some short sharp ascents and descents.

During the walk you will be able to really understand the characters of the donkeys that accompany us and Louise will be available to answer any questions you may have about these wonderful creatures. It may even be possible for you to lead one of the donkeys on the walk.

This walk launches the new Dyfi Donkey Guided Walks .. be one of the first to experience them

If you would like more information or wish to book your place call Louise on 07717020344 or email dyfidonkeys@btinternet.com

Overnight accomodation can be found in the local area and Machynlleth is easily reached by rail and road. Call for more info.

For more information about STEPtember 2014 walks contact www.walkcambrianmountains.co.uk

OPEN DAYS now running Twice Weekly

DYFI DONKEY WOOD is now open every wednesday and Sunday throough to the end of August.

Come and meet mid- Wales' Friendliest donkeys in thier natural habitat.

We have 30 acres of wild nature reserve open to the public on the open days; residents include squirrels, rabbits, buzzards, chickens!, donkeys, horses and otters.

You may be luck enough to see a newt or a dragonfly.

Bring a picnic and spend the day.

 Come and groom some donkeys sessions run at 12 and 2pm

We are open from 11 am to 5 pm .

Why did we have Dylan gelded?

Many of you may have seen on facebook that Dylan had a little operation yesterday to prevent him becoming a dad.

I felt it would be good to let you know why this is always the sensible option to take whether it is a donkey,horse,dog or cat or any other pet.

Most animals will always follow the call of nature and it is their natural instinct to want to mate. The consequences of this are more animals. Now as anyone who had the pleaseure of seeing my foals knows baby animals are really cute; however they GROW UP. Donkeys can easily live over 35 years, so a foal now will still be needing care and attention in 2050... think about how old you would be then.
Having baby animals has loads of unseen costs such as extra food, vet costs and uncalculatable anounts of time in care and training, and those cost continue throughout their lives; often getting more expensive as animals get older. Even if you don't intend to keep your baby animals you need to be able to find homes for them, for someone else to take the costs on. This is extremely hard in the current economic environment and often people take on an animal only to have a change of circumstances and these animals then end up in the animal rescue industry which is already overloaded. Even the best intentioned breeder has no control over what happens to their animals once they leave their care.

Therefore unless you are prepared to take on the offspring of your jack donkey/stallion/dog/cat/etc for life or you are a really experienced breeder with specialist knowledge it is unkind to encourage more young animals into an overloaded system. There are two ways to prevent this ; ISOLATION or CASTRATION. Most animals are sociable so to isolate them from their fellow species can lead to lonely unhappy animals, which will often develop bad habits or behaviours due to unfulfilled sexually urges. The EASY alternative is a simple operation ; castration. This means that there are no risks of accidental breeding; both sex of animal can live happily together in their normal social environment and there is a decreased burden on welfare organisations. It is the kindest option for your male pets  and they will be much happy and contented for it.

Here at Dyfi Donkeys we run a no breed policy and strongly encourage you all to think very carefully before you . Remember we only have foals because we rescued two pregnant mums; who were accidently breed due to an oversexed Jack donkey seeking them out. Castration makes mens toes curl but it is always the best option. The biggest myth is that you can make money from breeding; it will always cost you more.