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Animal sanctuary appeals for new home for third time

Katy Prickettand
Luke Deal
Luke Deal/BBC Jann Turner who is standing outside wearing a dark pink jacket with its fur-edged hood up over her head. She has long dark hair. Behind her are fenced fields and in the distance on the left is a horse.Luke Deal/BBC
The land the charity is renting is now up for sale, said Jann Turner

An animal rescue centre that cares for older and neglected horses and donkeys is appealing for a new home – for the third time

French's Care Haven currently rents land at Boxford, Suffolk, but it has been put up for sale.

The charity, which also provides therapeutic support to people, is looking for 20-30 acres (8-12 hectares) of grazing land within 10 miles (16km) of its current base.

Founder Jann Turner said: "We've helped a lot of young people... It's changed their lives, giving them confidence to be able to go out and get a job."

She added: "We're an animal rescue charity that works alongside people who have got mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety, or the elderly who are lonely."

Luke Deal/BBC A horse standing in a muddy puddle in a fenced off paddock. It has a blanket on its back, is dark brown and has a white nose. Beyond it are more fields and fences and three horses in the far distance on the left. Luke Deal/BBC
The charity looks after 15 animals and describes itself as a care haven for horses, donkeys and vulnerable people

The charity has rented its current site for six years; it leased its previous home for 11 years before that.

Turner said: "This is the third time this has happened to us where the property has been sold, and we have to get off - and it's awful for us.

"We're on tenterhooks at the moment because there are several people who are trying to buy this place and we've only got four weeks' notice."

The site will have to be cleared of the charity's shelters and fences when it leaves.

Luke Deal/BBC Two wooden clad stables, one at right angle on the left with hay hanging on its wall, and the other on the right. A black pony is sticking its head out of the stable on the left. Jann Turner in a pink coat is hanging hay up in the doorway of the stable on the right. Luke Deal/BBC
When the charity leaves the site, it will need to remove structures it built

In better news, another charity - Willowtree Sanctuary - has offered French's Care Haven some money to buy land and set up a permanent home.

But the money was in trust and could only be used to buy land, said Turner.

The charity wants to stay in the area where its volunteers and local supporters live.

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