What’s on at Ferne

Upcoming Events…

Lucky Ducks

Lucky Ducks

After our last Lucky Ducks auction went so swimmingly, we’re back this year for another round of quack-tastic mystery prizes!

We’re offering you the chance to bid on one or more of our 12 unique Rubba Ducks, kindly provided by JustDucks UK.

Each is hiding a mystery prize, and the most egg-citing part is…you won’t know which prize is under which duck.

Click here to see the full list of prizes and link to our auction!

Parent & Toddlers Group

Parent & Toddlers Group

Join our new Parent and Toddlers group running here at the Sanctuary, activities available Wednesday – Sunday 11am – 2pm each day

Make any purchase in Nina’s cafe and use your valid receipt for 50% off entry into the Sanctuary where there will be a variety of activities for your toddler to get involved…held from 11am onward.

Entry must be made on the same day as purchase and any additional guardians must pay the appropriate ticket price.

Reopening

Reopening

We have some exciting changes afoot at Ferne this spring and we can’t wait for you to see, as we get ready, we will be closing our gates to visitors from the 20th March till 30th March. But don’t worry Nina’s Café will remain open throughout this time!

We will celebrate our reopening on the 31st March with a members day, and welcoming all visitors from 1st April.

Spring Fayre

Spring Fayre

Ferne would like to invite you to our Annual Spring Fayre, there is fun for all the family. Join us for children’s activities, fundraising fun and support local traders along with lots more fun @Ferne! Bring your friends and family and make a day of it. Of course, do not forget to visit Nina’s Café while you are here. For these 2 days, Ferne will have a reduced rate of £5 entry.

We will be running Easter Egg hunts throughout both days with 3 different categories:

Children 5 and under – 10:30 – 11:15

Children 6+ – 11:45 – 12:15

Adults only – 12:45 – 12:55

£2 to enter with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize for children and a cash prize for adults!

To book a stall please click here

Thank you to everyone who has booked a stall with us:

Buttercup Buttons

Cherry Tree Drawings

Coastline Soaps

Eileen Downton

Glitter Girl

Karen Felt Fantastic

Nikki Jones

Ollie Dog and Friends

Puppy Love Gift Store

Sandra Munday

Solitaire Accessories

Dog First Aid Training Course

Dog First Aid Training Course

Are you a dog parent, trainer, walker, groomer, boarder or other pet professional?

We will be hosting a Dog First Aid Training Course with Allwinds Dog First Aid. This dog first aid course runs for six hours (including refreshment breaks) and is delivered by director Amanda Williams who is a qualified veterinary nurse. Included is your certificate of attendance which is valid for three years from the date of completion and fully complies with the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and The Animal Welfare Act 2006.

To book click here

Kings Coronation

Kings Coronation

Ferne will be holding celebrations on 8th May, keep your eyes peeled for more information

Calling all daredevils…

Calling all daredevils…

Have you always wanted to do a skydive or ride on the wing of a vintage Boeing Stearman?! Well great news, you can do either of these and raise money for the animals in our care at the same time!

Join our fearless fundraisers on Saturday the 3rd of June 2023.

Raise the minimum amount and skydive or wing-walk for free! For more info visit our Fundraise for Us page and get in touch!

Summer open day

Summer open day

Ferne will be hosting an open day and we will be providing more information closer to the time

Ferne Dog Show

Ferne Dog Show

Our favourite event of the year, Ferne’s annual dog show returns on Sunday 3rd September with fun classes, have-a-go agility, stands, fundraising activities and delicious food and lots more. All funds raised go straight back to Ferne Animal Sanctuary, so please come along with your furry best friend and support Ferne.

We will also be joined by the fantastic Fuchsia Photography who will be here to take snaps of all the action!

Legacies at Ferne

Legacies at Ferne

Keep this day in your diary, we will be posting more information closer to the time

Christmas Fayre and Animal Blessing

Christmas Fayre and Animal Blessing

We will be holding our annual Christmas Fayre on Saturday 2nd December and Sunday 3rd December. We have a super collection of stalls featuring hand crafted goods, the tranquil setting of Ferne makes Christmas shopping a pleasure. Why not make a day of it and enjoy a meal at Nina’s. Join us and our barn animals for our annual animal blessing on the evening of Saturday 2nd December. Keep your eyes peeled for more information.

LATEST NEWS

Sponsored Slim

A big thank you to the Mayor of Chard for nominating Ferne as one of the chosen charities for their Sponsored Slim. We are honoured to be part of this challenge and grateful for any donations and awareness raised. If you would like to support by making a donation,...

Changes afoot at Ferne Animal Sanctuary

For over eighty years, during which time approximately 40,000 animals have been cared for, animal welfare has been the key charitable purpose at Ferne Animal Sanctuary. Started in 1939 by the late Lady Nina Duchess of Hamilton & Brandon, other key milestones...

Marketing Tender

We are looking for a fantastic marketing company who has experience in the charity and tourism sectors to help advertise Ferne with our Marketing Assistant, if you meet the criteria, please fill out our tender below. Marketing Tender  

Chard and Ilminster News

Thank you so much to everyone who nominated and collected tokens for Ferne for the big Cash for Charities giveaway in association with Gannett Foundation and the Chard and Ilminster news! We are delighted to announce that we were awarded £2,807.87 that will help us...

The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2022!

We’re super excited to announce that once again we will be taking part in the 2022 Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK's biggest match funding campaign! For 7 days, starting on the 29th of November (which is also Giving Tuesday) we have the opportunity to double...

Chard & Ilminster Newspaper Readers…

Thanks to all of your nominations, Ferne has made it to the next stage of the big Cash for Charities giveaway in association with Gannett Foundation and the Chard and Ilminster news! We need you to help us receive a share of 16k by collecting tokens in the Chard and...

Our Online Cat Show Winners!

Well done to all of our winners for the Online Cat Show! We absolutely loved seeing your feline friends, and thanks to your entries we raised a fantastic £214!! Thanks to all who entered, it really was a stiff competition! Below are the top 3 winners for each of our...