An urgent note from Hayley

I am Hayley Blundell, founder of Lotus Lamb and Animal Sanctuary. As many of you know, our sanctuary is more than just a farm; it’s a lifetime promise of safety, dignity, and love for animals who were unloved and unwanted, neglected, abused, or had nowhere else to go.

But today, that promise needs your help to stay standing. After an extremely challenging 2025 where failed grass growth forced us to buy thousands of pounds worth of extra hay to feed our residents throughout the whole year, we are again facing a mountain of costs to secure the next full year of care. To keep our sheep, pigs, ponies, alpacas, chickens and turkeys healthy and happy throughout 2026, we need to raise at least £54,690.44 (see below for details of where this will be spent). This amount is for feed and bedding ONLY, and doesn't take into account any treatment, vets bills, equipment, fencing, water bills or other day to day running costs or emergencies.

Why this matters right now

The "unseen" cost of running a sanctuary is the sheer volume of food and bedding required to keep our animals thriving. When the grazing grass fails, the pressure shifts entirely to our hay stores. We currently go through 15 bales of hay every single day. That’s a cost of £120 a day just for hay alone. Over a 30-week period (and keeping our tightly fingers crossed for at least 22 weeks of good grass for grazing), that total climbs to £25,200. Without these funds, our barn stays empty, and our animals go without the nutrition they depend on.

Whilst we are doing everything we can to find new land which can provide proper grazing, the reality is that we urgently need to raise funds to ensure our residents continue to be fed now, and throughout 2026.

Help us keep helping them

When you donate, you aren't just "buying a bag of feed or bale of hay." You’re providing a morning meal for a rescued pig , a warm bed for a tired sheep , and peace of mind for those of us who care for them 365 days a year.

Where your donation goes

Transparency is vital to us. Every penny of this fundraiser goes directly toward the bellies and the bedding of our residents. Here is how that yearly total breaks down:

The Big Eaters: £25,200 for hay and £8,860 for pig feed.

Warmth & Comfort: £8,845 for Bed Down bedding and £5,200 for straw to keep the pigs snug.

Specialised Care: From "Happy Hoof" pony feed (£435) and alpaca mix (£715) to our sheep Badminton Mix (£1,378), Readigrass (£2,990) and sugar beet (£697).

The Little Ones: £369 to feed our chickens and turkeys.

No donation is too small. If you aren’t in a position to give financially, please consider sharing this appeal. Your voice helps us reach the people who can help us fill the barn.

Thank you for being the safety net our animals deserve. We couldn't do this without you.

With love and gratitude,

Hayley & the residents of Lotus Lamb and Animal Sanctuary