Buttons and I were telling Algernon about the
Raystede Rescue, where our Slave's son works. He was very interested in the quarterly magazine, one issue of which featured a lovely rat on the front cover.
We thought that a visit to Raystede might make a good day out and Algernon agreed." If we are quick," I said, " we might catch a ride with Kevin as he is off to work soon." I asked Buttons if he was coming but he said that he lived at the rescue when he was a piglet and that, although they took very good care of him, he would prefer to remain here at Piggyfriends.
I said that I would take lots of pictures for everyone to see and went to find Slave's camera. " Where did you leave it, Copper?" I asked. Soon we were ready to leave.
When we arrived at Raystede, Kevin parked the car and I asked him if I could take a picture of the entrance. The sign is rather high for us little rodents so I asked Kevin to lift Algernon up so that he could be in the photo.
Then Kevin took us to his office. As a result of a generous legacy, there is a lot of building work going on at the moment. A new kennel block is taking shape as well as new stabling for the horses and some improved roads. Kevin told us that this work should have been finished before Easter so as not to hamper visitors but, due to the unprecendented snowfall this past winter, all the work was delayed for months. Some of the grounds are, therefore, out of bounds to visitors but we would be allowed to accompany Kevin through the building site as long as we wore hard hats.
We stayed in the office and Kevin went to fetch some hats. Algernon mended a computer while he was waiting and then played with some mice.
Then Kevin came back with the hats and we set off through the building site to see the donkeys. Lots of people enjoy visiting them and are disappointed that they cannot now reach the paddocks.
After that we set off for the area called the Sanctuary. There are several large lakes, which are home to wildfowl like ducks and geese.
During the winter, these lakes are packed with migrant birds, who stop off for a free feed before continuing on their way south but the birds that we saw today are residents. Wild birds are free to come in for a meal and to stay or leave as they please. Two geese stopped by for a chat and laughed when Algernon told a joke.
The lakes, which are home to many carp, can be deep so the lifebelts are there for the safety of visitors. I took Algernon's photo when he jumped up onto one of them but I stayed firmly on the ground. Piggies are not built for climbing like rats.
Next we returned to the area where the visitors are still allowed.
We heard a lot of barking. I am used to dogs but Algernon was unsure so we decided not to visit them and he definitely did not want go near the cattery so we went to see the poultry.
There are many rescued birds here, often as a result of being dumped in the car park or as rescues from battery farms but Kevin told us that most of them soon find new homes with people who have smallholdings. New owners are very carefully vetted to make sure that they are only taking these birds home as pets, with the bonus of a few eggs sometimes, not for the dinner table.
Kevin unlocked the gate into the Rabbitry. It was a sunny day and all of the rabbits were asleep. I expect that they were glad to be outside after the bad winter.
To be continued..
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