Official opening of the Sensory Garden at the Magpie Centre, home of West Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Association, is drawing closer, and the garden will be of particular benefit to Tea With a Pony participants, many of whom are living with dementia or sensory impairment.

Tea With a Pony mornings, which will re-commence in September, enable people, many of whom live in care homes, and their carers, to enjoy a social get-together, with tea and cakes, and meet some of our lovely ponies.

Thanks to the work of loyal volunteers, the planting is almost complete, and the flowers and shrubs have taken well, helped greatly by the recent unsettled weather.

However, to complete the Sensory Garden project, we need two hardwood tables, around which wheelchair users and their carers can be accommodated.  These cost £600 each, so donations with these in mind would be much appreciated.

Also, Magpie Centre Yard Manager, Natalie Dade said: ‘Some of our yard equipment is coming to the end of its useful life, so we need to replace it.’  Items needed are: grooming kits, manure scoops, brooms, shavings forks and clipper blades.

‘Many of our ponies are cobs, with heavy coats,’ she explained, ‘so they need clipping regularly to keep them cool and comfortable in work. At up to £45 a pair for clipper blades, their maintenance does not come cheap,’ she added.

Donations, however large or small, will be gratefully received.  For those who still have cheque books, cheques payable to WNRDA and sent to Magpie Centre, Wallington Hall, South Runcton, PE 33 0EP are welcome. Or, please call the Centre on 01553 810202 for (bank transfer) BACS details. Donations can also be made via our website: www.rda-westnorfolk.org.uk

And, finally, thank you so much to all those who have offered their services as volunteers.  The response has been amazing.  Magpie Centre phone has been ringing off the hook, and our office manager is responding to calls as fast as she can.  If you do not receive a response in the next few days, please bear with us and you will receive a response shortly. We really do appreciate your interest.