Thu. Oct 10th, 2024

The Mokes Return

Sunday, September 9th will be a day out for donkeys and their owners at the Rural Life Centre, Tilford. Visitors to the country life museum will also be able to join in the fun. During the day, the donkeys will explore some of the picturesque surrounding countryside and show off some of their skills to the visitors.

The Donkey Breed Society has, for several years, been the guests of the museum for this event. The gentle beasts of burden, a friens to mankind throughout history, do of course all have very individual characters and personalities and also have a reputation for being stubborn at times. The Porter family of Follyoak Donkeys, Farnham, who organise this event, will be on hand during the day to explain many aspects of the donkey nature and potential and their fairly simple care needs.

The public will be able to join the donkeys in a stroll or ride through some of the neighbouring countryside, including the RSPB Farnham Heath Reserve.

Although most of the donkeys at the event are pets, they will join in a parade to demonstrate some of their many capabilities such as ploughing, harrowing, raking, rolling, mowing and pulling some very up-market carriages. Examples of many of the typical implements and equipment which the donkeys traditionally used will come with them or are already on view in the museum’s collection.

Donkeys have been used throughout history, loaded with panniers or baskets to carry people and goods sure-footedly through often inhospitable terrain which would have been impassable to many other creatures or vehicles, and this day will be an opportunity to see how they managed to do it.

Donkey Day Out takes place from 10am to 5pm at the accredited museum which lies midway between Tilford and Frensham on Reeds Road just off the A287 three miles south of Farnham. For more information please call 01252 795571 or visit www.rural-life.org.uk/

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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