Welcome to Freshfields Donkey Village, home of The Michael Elliott Trust.... where children and donkeys help each other.
This unique charity not only rescues and cares for donkeys which have been abandoned, mistreated or neglected but also provides a holiday centre where children with special needs can choose a donkey to help take care of during their visit. Invariably, child and donkey form a close relationship of trust and affection which is of great therapeutic value to them both.
Freshfields is managed by John and Annie Stirling who, in 1988, found themselves bidding for two sad, neglected donkeys (lots 73 and 74) at a livestock market. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, born of compassion and a determination to save these noble animals from further mistreatment - even though they had nowhere to keep them and no idea how they were going to look after them.
18 years later, more than 600 donkeys have been cared for by the Trust and thousands of children have benefited from the experience of grooming, feeding and making friends with one of these gentle, sensitive creatures.
We hope you enjoy viewing this site and that you will choose to visit Freshfields when you next spend time in the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District.