It's been loved by generations of Manc kids - soon it could be gone

Frustrated parents are battling to save a beloved family attraction in Manchester.

Since the opening of the Donkey Sanctuary at Debdale Park almost 20 years ago, families have flocked to the site to interact and visit with the animals they had adopted and loved, but since May 20 that has no longer been possible.

The charity that runs the sanctuary announced that it was entering a consultation over the future of the site, which is still ongoing nearly a month later. The Manchester sanctuary, along with others up and down the country, have been closed ever since.

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On it's website, the Donkey Sanctuary says: "The Donkey Sanctuary is proposing the closure of four of our Donkey Assisted Activity (DAA) centres in Manchester, Ivybridge, Birmingham and Leeds, and for Belfast to become a small sanctuary and re-homing centre. This is subject to a consultation process, which begins week commencing 20 May.

"The changes are being proposed to ensure we can continue to deliver our core mission to improve the welfare of donkeys in the UK and around the world. Throughout the consultation period, all centres involved will be closed to visitors and we will be in touch with all those who have booked visits. Our main site in Sidmouth, Devon, remains open to visitors."

Many members of the Gorton community are furious about the plans and have already launched a campaign of opposition.

An action group, led by Gorton councillor Julie Reid and Labour candidate Andrew Gwynne, was formed to offer a community-led alternative, amidst the consultation process, after feeling questions from the public are being ignored. They fear that losing the sanctuary will have a devastating impact on the school children who visit the site, a key community asset in the area.

Rev. David Gray, a member of the action group, compared the closure to the Belle Vue Zoological Gardens in 1977. He said: "We do not want another generation of Gorton children growing up with a sense of uncertainty as to their worthiness to access stimulating educational and recreational resources."

Campaigners are concerned that a decision to close the sanctuary is simply a formality, pointing out that calls to the Manchester branch are already forwarded to the Donkey Sanctuary's HQ in Sidmouth, Devon.

The group has also set up a petition opposing the sanctuary closure, with other communities around the country doing the same. Volunteers at the Devon sanctuary took their efforts to save their site a step further by writing to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer.

A spokesperson for the Donkey Sanctuary said their consultation was a legal process and they are unable to comment on certain matters until it is completed.

Several residents have also voiced their concerns over the future of the donkeys themselves.

When the MEN approached the charity, they would not comment on what will happen to the animals. However, a representative of the Manchester sanctuary did provide some clarity in a previous post to Facebook.

They said: "If, at the end of this process, the decision is made to close any of the centres, the donkeys will be found suitable new homes. Donkey welfare is always our highest priority, and we will ensure donkeys are re-homed in their bonded pairs. This could be at one of The Donkey Sanctuary's many other sites, or at a private home through our Guardian scheme."

In response to the claims and worries of the action group the Donkey Sanctuary press office said: " There are millions of donkeys in the UK and around the world who desperately need support and it is our responsibility to use our precious resources to benefit as many donkeys as possible, in line with our mission to improve donkey welfare,"

“Like many other charities and businesses, we face rising costs, and must adapt if we are to continue making the biggest possible difference with our available resources,"

“The Donkey Sanctuary is therefore proposing the closure of four of our Donkey Assisted Activity (DAA) centres in Manchester, Ivybridge, Birmingham and Leeds, and for Belfast to become a small sanctuary and re-homing centre. This is subject to a consultation process, which began week commencing 20 May,"

“During this time, all centres involved are closed to visitors. We continue to offer DAA services at our main site in Sidmouth, Devon, which remains open to visitors.”

The press office went on to confirm that no decisions will be made until the end of the consultation process.

You can sign the action groups petition here