Garden project helps West Norfolk group to ride again after lockdown

West Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Association has come up with some creative ideas to help ease the financial impact it faces from the coronavirus crisis and to plan for the future.

The Magpie Centre, at Wallington Hall, has been hit hard with much of its regular income lost through lockdown and bills that still have to be paid for the care of its 14 horses and ponies.

Riding and carriage driving lessons stopped in March losing one-third of the Association’s £110,000 income and it has been unable to hold its traditional fundraising events.

Chairman, Colin Perriss, said: “The horses still need feeding, shoeing, veterinary care and there are insurance and maintenance bills so we are going to have to be as creative as we can.

“Before lockdown we had started work on a sensory garden and now we are going to frame the entrance with a Friends of the Magpie Centre Arch decorated with horseshoes each bearing a plaque.

“For a minimum donation of £10, Friends can have their own horseshoe complete with name or ‘memory’ message on their plaque,” explained Mr Perriss.

“Future visitors will be able to see the names of all those who supported us in these unprecedented times.”

He said that the garden will be the ideal setting for the Tea with a Pony initiative, aimed at people living with dementia, which was piloted last autumn and would have been due to start on a regular basis this month.

The idea is that participants can socialise, meet and greet the ponies and find out about the tack and grooming equipment that is used.

In the meantime, all staff at the Centre, except yard manager, Natalie Dade, have been furloughed, and the equine residents are well and happy being cared for by Natalie and a band of dedicated volunteers.

Mr Perriss, who took over as chairman in February, paid tribute to the group's volunteers.

“They have really stepped up to help out and we are extremely grateful to them,” he said.

For more information about the horseshoe walkway and arch and payment details, contact Jan at magpieccfcraft@outlook.com