Hopefield Animal Sanctuary & Visitor Centre

Hopefield Animal Sanctuary & Visitor Centre Caring for sick, unwanted and mistreated animals since 1983. We are an Essex-based non-profit organisation caring for sick, unwanted and mistreated animals.
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Proud to be championed by Leona Lewis.

🌿 Need a screen-free day out this summer? 🐴☀️We’re open EVERY day throughout the summer holidays for a full day of fresh...
10/08/2026

🌿 Need a screen-free day out this summer? 🐴☀️We’re open EVERY day throughout the summer holidays for a full day of fresh air, adventure and plenty of rescued animals to meet, including little Louie who may be one of our smaller equines, but has one of the biggest personalities! 😂🐴

And if affordable is what you're looking for at this point of the school break (because let's face it - kids are expensive!), then we've got good news - every paying child gets a FREE return ticket, so you can come back and do it all over again! 🎟️✨

👉 Find out more & book your Summer of Fun ticket now: https://hopefield.org.uk/summer-of-fun-2026/

Don't forget to tag someone who needs a summer day out, and if you've already been down this summer, share your pics in the comments below! 💚

There’s nothing our piggies love more than cooling off in a nice muddy wallow on a warm day… 🐷💦But it turns out wallow t...
09/08/2026

There’s nothing our piggies love more than cooling off in a nice muddy wallow on a warm day… 🐷💦

But it turns out wallow time can be a dangerous spectator sport too… 🤣

Poor Cailin found herself firmly in the splash zone when Jammy Dodger decided it was the perfect moment to shake all that glorious mud off 💩

We don’t think Cailin minded too much though… seeing our pigs living their best lives makes every muddy shower worth it 🐷

🚨 WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP OUR ANIMALS FED THIS SUMMER 🚨We honestly can’t believe we’re writing this. For the first tim...
08/08/2026

🚨 WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP OUR ANIMALS FED THIS SUMMER 🚨

We honestly can’t believe we’re writing this. For the first time in Hopefield’s history, we’ve had to launch a Summer Hay Appeal.

The prolonged period of hot, dry weather has left our fields parched, with very little grass available for our grazing animals. Our fields have taken such a battering that they simply haven’t had the chance to recover - meaning we’re now having to provide additional hay to keep our animals properly fed.

This is a huge, unexpected cost at an already challenging time. We’re also extremely worried about the longer-term impact this weather will have on hay and straw supplies, with prices likely to rise considerably as we approach winter.

🌾 £6.50 could provide one bale
🌾 £13 could provide two bales
🌾 £32.50 could provide five bales
🌾 £65 could provide ten bales

With so many rescued grazing animals depending on us, every single bale will make a genuine difference.

💙 Please donate if you can: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/hopefieldemergencysummerhayappeal

If you’re unable to donate, sharing this appeal would mean just as much. Please help us keep Hopefield’s rescued animals fed—one bale at a time.

Look who’s home! 💙Our lovely Johnny arrived back at the sanctuary on Tuesday after spending a week at The Horse Clinic (...
07/08/2026

Look who’s home! 💙

Our lovely Johnny arrived back at the sanctuary on Tuesday after spending a week at The Horse Clinic (House & Jackson), where he began treatment for his cancer.

We can’t tell you how happy we are to have him back where he belongs, surrounded by the people (and donkeys!) who love him.

As part of his ongoing treatment, Johnny now has to wear a specialised UV-protective mask to help shield his eyes and face from the sun. It’s going to take him a little while to get used to wearing it, but it’s all in his best interests and will help give him the best possible chance.

For now, Johnny is also spending his days in our donkey barn. That way he can still enjoy the fresh air while having plenty of shelter and shade from the strong summer sunshine.

A huge thank you goes to the incredible team at House & Jackson for treating Johnny like one of their own. Your kindness, care and expertise mean the world to us 💙

And finally, thank you to every single one of you who has donated, sent kind messages, or asked how Johnny has been getting on.

Welcome home, Johnny - we’ve missed you! 🥰

📢 We’re hiring! Join the Hopefield team 💙We’re looking for two fantastic people to join our team and help make a differe...
06/08/2026

📢 We’re hiring! Join the Hopefield team 💙

We’re looking for two fantastic people to join our team and help make a difference to the lives of nearly 700 rescued animals.

🐴 Animal Caregiver Team Leader
A hands-on leadership role for an experienced animal-care professional who can support and inspire our Animal Caregiver team and volunteers. You’ll help coordinate daily animal care, maintain the highest welfare standards, and ensure the team works safely, efficiently and together.

This role is ideal for someone with substantial experience working with large animals (including equines), practical yard-management experience and confidence leading people.

💙 Volunteer Experience Lead
Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and this role is all about making sure they feel welcomed, valued and supported every time they visit.

You’ll be the friendly face who helps volunteers feel confident, celebrates their achievements, answers their questions and creates a positive, supportive experience across the sanctuary.

⚠️ Please read the full job descriptions carefully before applying. Both roles have specific requirements, and applications must include a cover letter and CV submitted exactly as outlined.

Find out more and apply here 👉 https://hopefield.org.uk/careers/

Know someone who could be perfect for one of these roles? Please share! 💙

05/08/2026

It’s always lovely to see our rescued residents enjoying an upgrade 💙

Last week, our pigeons, pheasants and guinea fowl were moved into a larger, improved aviary, giving them even more space to stretch their wings, explore and enjoy the outdoors 🐦

One of the nicest moments for our team was seeing our pigeons back outside again. After spending time in a converted stable while we prepared their new home, watching them flying around and soaking up the fresh air was incredibly rewarding 🫶🏻

Every improvement we make is all about giving our rescued animals the very best quality of life possible, and we think they’re settling into their new home beautifully 🥰

Henry the llama is all smiles today... 😁🦙..because he overheard someone say, "Who's the most handsome animal at Hopefiel...
05/08/2026

Henry the llama is all smiles today... 😁🦙
..because he overheard someone say, "Who's the most handsome animal at Hopefield?" and naturally assumed they meant him.

To be fair, he's got a pretty convincing case. Those eyelashes. That fluffy hair. That permanently loveable expression. ✨

Henry would love you to come and admire him and all of our rescued animals – we're open every day throughout the summer holidays, and there's always someone waiting to steal the spotlight... even if Henry insists it's mostly him. 💚

https://hopefield.org.uk/summer-of-fun-2026/

💙 We’re completely blown away… thank you. 💙The outpouring of love for Steve over the last few days has been truly overwh...
04/08/2026

💙 We’re completely blown away… thank you. 💙

The outpouring of love for Steve over the last few days has been truly overwhelming. Every like, comment, share and message has meant the world to us, and we’re so grateful to everyone who has welcomed him with such kindness.

We’ve also seen so many new people joining our social media pages, so we’d love to take this opportunity to say hello and tell you a little about how you can help support Hopefield’s ongoing lifesaving work.

There are so many ways you can make a difference:

💚 Visit the sanctuary and spend time with our rescued animals.
🦉 Book one of our ethical animal experiences.
💙 Join our Save a Life Campaign from just £2 a month.
🎁 Send the animals a treat via our Amazon Wishlist.
🌳 Find out about leaving a gift through our Legacy Club.
🐾 Sponsor one of our amazing rescued animals.
🙌 Volunteer and become part of the Hopefield family.
📲 And if you’re unable to do any of the above, simply liking, commenting and sharing our posts helps us reach more people and gives more rescued souls like Steve a brighter future.

You’ll find details on all of these ways to support us – and so much more – on our website:

🌐 www.hopefield.org.uk

Thank you for caring, thank you for believing in what we do, and thank you for helping us give Steve, and hundreds more just like him, the second chance they deserve. 💙

A day at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary is a day full of smiles, snoot boops, fresh air, and screen-free, good old fashioned...
04/08/2026

A day at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary is a day full of smiles, snoot boops, fresh air, and screen-free, good old fashioned fun, made all the more special by being surrounded by the most wonderful rescued animals - all of who call the sanctuary their forever home thanks to your support. 🐖🐎🐇🐑🐐🐍🐓

In a time when families have more choice than ever for a day out, we're incredibly grateful to everyone who chooses to spend their time with us. Every penny of profit goes back into caring for the animals you'll meet while you're here, so, if you've visited us before, thank you! if it's been a while, we'd love to welcome you back! And if you've never explored our 53 acres before, then this is the sign you've been waiting for! 😍

We're open EVERY DAY during the summer holidays, and every paying child will receive a free return visit voucher so that you can double up the fun AND the memories. 😎 Book online for the best discounts, and our 700 animals look forward to seeing you soon!

https://hopefield.org.uk/summer-of-fun-2026/

Address

Sawyers Hall Lane
Brentwood
CM159BZ

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+441277201110

Website

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