Welsh donkey delivers goods - Gwendraeth Star, May 8, 2008
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A donkey from Mynyddygarreg, south west Wales, has been hand-picked to revive an historic tradition in a Gloucestershire village.
Following a national appeal earlier this year, Denny the donkey has been chosen to help villagers in Chalford carry their shopping home.
Anna Usborne set up the campaign to bring back the Chalford Donkey. She said: "I'd always been interested in donkeys, and had been planning to get one for my smallholding.
"But then lots of people in the village asked why we couldn't use it for shopping deliveries. It was a small idea which snowballed and turned into something much greater."
Many houses in the Cotswold village can't be accessed by car because the roads are too steep.
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Anna said: "There used to be a donkey in the village in the 1930s, but there hasn't been one since. The appeal for a donkey went national. People in the village were shocked at the media attention."
The campaign started as a small, local appeal to raise money to buy a donkey and the equipment - but fell into difficulty when a suitable donkey that was strong enough for the job couldn't be found.
Parts of the village, near Stroud, are so steep residents can't drive their cars up the narrows paths to the doors of their homes. Instead they have to carry heavy bags 100 metres up the steep slopes.
But, following a visit from a representative of the Donkey Sanctuary to Mynyddygarreg last week, Denny, a chocolate coloured three-and-a-half-year-old was chosen. He was taken to his new home on May 7, 2008.
Anna added: "The whole village is eagerly awaiting his arrival. Mike's been really helpful to us. The donkey will be helping with delivering the village shopping in an area of around 500 homes."
Mr Thomas, who also boasts owning the best beach donkey in he UK, said: "The village has been looking for a particular donkey for the job. I don't really want to sell him because he's a good donkey, but the Donkey Sanctuary has found he's the most suitable.
"In one way, I don't want him to go, but it's my loss and the village's gain. He's at the right age to be trained, and if it turns out he's not suitable he'll be returning to me.
"There must be something in the water in Mynyddygarreg, because the village boasts the best beach donkey in the country, and has now been chosen as the most suitable to help this village from a national search."
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Mike's word on Denny's deliveries
Not every donkey is suitable for the work that Denny will be doing. They have to have the right temperament and proper training is very important. Also, the owners have to be aware of how long donkeys live, 30 to 40 years is not uncommon, so it's a good idea to train up some youngsters to take over care and management as time goes on.
I sold Denny to the residents of Chalford on the understanding that the best training possible will be sought and am very pleased that they are to have him trained through the Donkey Sanctuary. It will be very interesting to see how he progresses in the years to come and I would like the residents of Chalford to keep in touch with me with regards to how he's doing.
It's always very pleasing to sell a donkey who is going to be kept working because working donkeys are always the happiest donkeys, provided they have been trained well and are cared for and looked after properly.
Once again I would like to thank Lionel Ford and Liz Ellis from the Donkey Sanctuary who will be overseeing the training Denny receives.
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