Latest news with #DonkeyBreedSociety
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Poppies display marks animals' wartime sacrifice
A colourful display of knitted poppies, to mark the sacrifice of animals during conflicts has gone on display."The Purple Richmond Poppies", created by a group from Richmond in North Yorkshire, are on display at the REME Museum in Lyneham, Wiltshire, from 1 July to 7 poppies are attached to camouflage netting, which was donated by the Catterick display has been touring the country since 2024, but this is the first time it has visited a southern county. The display also includes various objects and artefacts highlighting the roles of animals in military operations since the First World War. Items from the museum's collection will also be displayed, telling the story of how animals have played a role in the lives of REME soldiers. The display is owned by the Northern Region of the Donkey Breed Society, who are loaning it out to military museums across the country.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Richmond museum showcases donkeys and their role in wartime
A military museum in North Yorkshire had a very different type of visitor today - one with long ears, four legs and an important role in conflicts, past and Green Howards Museum in Richmond hosted Tom, Maurice and Teddy, from Blackberry Donkeys, as part of its ongoing Animals Allies were able to get up close with the equines, see authentic wartime packsaddles and VE War brasses, and learn about the role of donkeys in military Erskine, regimental researcher at The Green Howards Museum said: "We think it's important to be more than just the bangs and the bullets, but to tell all those other stories that don't necessarily get coverage." The Donkeys at the Museum event was created in partnership with the Donkey Breed Society, and features a display of purple poppies, created to commemorate all the animals that played a vital role in global wars. The organisation has been showcasing both the poppies and donkeys owned by members of the society around military museums across North Yorkshire, including York Army Museum. Sarah Booth, from the Donkey Breed Society Northern Region, explained: "Donkeys are stoic creatures - we never hear them complain."They've been used - and misused - throughout history. "We want to raise the very important message of the part that donkeys, as well as other equines, and dogs, cats, pigeons and rats, have played in warzones throughout history."Mr Erskine added: "The exhibition has proved to be popular - to do something a little bit different, to appeal to a slightly different audience from the normal audience of a military museum. "We want to stress the army isn't just about fighting - we're using these animals to get humanitarian aid into earthquake zones, to get medicines into hard-to-reach villages in the mountains." Tom, Maurice and Teddy are therapy donkeys, part of a wider group of seven donkeys that are available to hire for educational events, care home visits, and even television Marie Bates said: "The nature of the donkeys - how they are around people - just makes them amazing animals. They're so calming."But when not providing a calming influence, they love playing football and have their own unique personality quirks - according to Ms Bates."Teddy, particularly, is a little cheeky chap. His favourite treat is ginger biscuits, and I'm sure he'll have a couple of those before he goes home at the end of the day!" Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
