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When most people think about visiting an animal sanctuary, they picture sunny fields, animals grazing peacefully, and families enjoying a day out. But behind the scenes — especially during winter — life at an animal sanctuary can look very different. At Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Essex, winter is one of the hardest times of the year, and especially for the animal care staff and volunteers who care for them.
Whether it’s heavy rain, freezing temperatures, or high winds, our staff and volunteers are out in all weathers making sure every animal is safe, warm and cared for. Winter days often start in darkness and end in darkness. Fields turn to deep mud. Water troughs freeze. Shelters need constant checking. And every single animal — from horses and cows to rabbits and birds — needs extra feeding, cleaning, health checks and enrichment.
This is the unseen side of animal rescue work in the UK.
Winter isn’t just physically demanding — it is financially one of the most expensive times of year for an animal sanctuary. During winter months, we face huge increases in essential costs, including:
Hay and straw prices in the UK have skyrocketed in recent years. Animals need extra feed in winter, and many rely heavily on hay. Straw is essential for warm, dry bedding — especially for older or vulnerable animals. At Hopefield Animal Sanctuary we are currently spending around £1100 per WEEK on straw and hay, with costs set to rise due to a shortage in the area.
Some animals need heated areas to stay safe and healthy during extreme cold. Heating, lighting and water systems all add significant pressure to running costs.
Winter weather is tough on buildings, fencing, shelters and pathways. Constant repairs are needed to keep animals safe.
Many people are surprised to learn that Hopefield is not open to visitors during winter months. The reasons for this include the fact our land becomes extremely muddy and unsafe for visitors, vehicles and sometimes even equipment. Opening would risk both public safety and animal welfare. Our animals also require extra care during the winter months, and with their welfare coming first our staff are working full time to make sure all their needs are met, so don’t have time to incorporate visitor-related activities.
But this creates another challenge.
Visitor income — from admissions, café visits, gift shop purchases and experiences — is a huge part of how sanctuaries survive. When winter forces us to close, that income disappears, at the same time that our costs increase.
Winter is when our team really embody what animal rescue means:
• Working outdoors in freezing rain
• Carrying heavy hay and straw in mud
• Breaking ice in water troughs
• Checking vulnerable animals multiple times a day
• Never cutting corners on welfare — no matter the conditions
It’s exhausting. It’s demanding. But every single person here does it because the animals come first.
Winter is when support matters most — but it doesn’t have to be huge to make a real difference.
Even small donations help cover essential winter costs like hay, straw and heating.
Sponsoring an animal helps provide ongoing care throughout the hardest months of the year.
Sharing our social posts and talking about animal welfare helps more than you might realise.
Visiting, donating, and supporting our café and shop during open season helps sustain us through winter closures.
Every animal at Hopefield has a story. Many arrived frightened, injured, neglected or unwanted. Winter is tough — but knowing they are safe, warm and cared for makes every difficult day worth it. Behind every rescued animal standing happily in a field is a team who stood in the rain, the cold and the mud to make that possible.
Hopefield Animal Sanctuary is proud to provide lifelong homes to rescued animals in Essex and across the UK. Support during winter helps ensure we can continue rescuing animals who have nowhere else to go.
If you would like to support Hopefield this winter, please consider donating, sponsoring or sharing our work. Together, we can make sure rescued animals stay safe — no matter the season.
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