Celebrate Christmas with the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary

27 November 2025

Enjoy the festive season at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary

Christmas and New Year 2025 opening times

We are closed to visitors on December 25 and 26, 2025 and January 1, 2026. We will be closing at 3pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as per our winter opening hours.
We are open the rest of the Christmas period, do come and see your adopted donkey and treat yourself to a warming drink and snack in the café!


Free reindeer trail 1 to 30 December

Bring the kids and get them out in the fresh air this December with our free reindeer trail. Pick up a sheet at our Welcome Hub then search the sanctuary for 9 reindeers who are hiding around our site. Everyone who takes part will get a free sweet treat!


Christmas Day, Thursday 25 December

Our café will be open from 10am to 12pm on Christmas Day, Thursday 25 December for a complimentary cuppa, mince pie and a chat. Whether you're out for a walk or on your own this Christmas, please do come and join us.
The sanctuary itself will not be open; there will be no access to our donkeys or the footpaths around the site. 


Christmas gifts from the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary

We have a range of delightful gifts in our sanctuary shop and our online store. Buying from us creates an extra gift as all profits from our shop go straight back into our charity. 


We have some wonderful gifts that are unique to the sanctuary: 

  •  A Donkey Experience gift voucher 
    An unforgettable two hours spent with our friendly team and lovely donkeys.
    This is the perfect gift for the animal lovers in your life. It’s a hands on experience – think grooming, feeding and mucking out! This is a unique experience that’s highly rated by everyone who takes part and is sure to create a wonderful bank of memories for your loved one. 

  • Give someone you love - or yourself - the chance to win big
    Give a loved one the chance to win £25,000 with an Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Lotto voucher. A generous gift that helps us care for our donkeys.

  • 2026 Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Calendar
    Treat
     the donkey lover in your life to a different donkey for every month of 2026!

  • Adopting a donkey, pony or mule makes a wonderful gift
    All of our donkeys, ponies and mule are available to adopt. You’ll receive an adoption pack to share – either print or digital. The pack includes regular updates from the sanctuary throughout the year. Adopting at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is the perfect way to bring a smile to someone’s face on Christmas Day, throughout the year and help us take care of our donkeys at the same time.

  • Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Hedgerow Gin 
    Our bespoke gin is beautifully crafted and made with hand-picked botanicals. It’s a wonderful treat for Christmas time or any time of the year! Available in 50ml and 70cl bottles. Buy from our onsite shop or order online from the 
    Isle of Wight Gin Company.

Recent Posts

by abigail.fox 28 May 2026
If you’re an HR professional looking to reconnect with the people side of your role, this is a wonderful opportunity to join our compassionate, values led team. At the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary everything we do is guided by a clear purpose: providing refuge, new beginnings and exceptional care for donkeys and other equines in need. We’re looking for someone who values collaboration and who brings warmth and integrity to their work. You’ll be excited by the opportunity to combine your HR expertise with building meaningful relationships across the sanctuary. By supporting our team of staff and volunteers you’ll be making a lasting difference for both people and animals. What you’ll be doing Build positive relationships with staff and volunteers, providing a warm, approachable first point of contact for people-related support and guidance Support the recruitment and onboarding, helping create a welcoming and engaging experience for new team members and volunteers from first contact onwards Coordinate meaningful inductions, training, and development opportunities that help people feel confident, connected, and set up for success Help foster a positive, values-led culture by supporting wellbeing, performance conversations, and people experiences across the organisation Work collaboratively with managers to ensure people processes are delivered smoothly, fairly, and with integrity Key Skills & Experience Level 3 CIPD qualification (minimum) Experience in HR administration and recruitment for a similar size organisation Strong organisational and time management skills Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities Knowledge of HR systems and employment compliance Ability to handle confidential information with discretion Why work with us? At the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, every day is a chance to make a difference — for our animals, our visitors, and our community. You’ll join a friendly, supportive team where kindness, connection, and care are at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re helping someone settle into a new role, supporting colleagues, encouraging volunteer engagement, or building strong relationships across the organisation — your role will offer the chance to reconnect with the people side of HR while contributing to our vision of being a centre of excellence in donkey welfare. If this role is for you please apply on Isle of Wight Jobs .
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