A PETTING farm has teamed up with a local charity to offer new outdoor volunteering opportunities at the site.

Safe Haven Petting Farm on the Dengie is working with Maldon and District Community Voluntary Service to make the site more attractive to visitors and maintain the animal enclosures.

The rescue centre was set up in February 2022 as a community-focused sister site to the established and successful Maldon Promenade Zoo.

It focuses on providing quality care for animals that have been rescued and/or need additional attention and is now looking to reach out to the community and offer volunteering opportunities in and around the site.

Following a small grant from the Maldon District Council’s Livewell Grant, individuals are now invited to apply as volunteers to take on activities on the site to make it more attractive to visitors and maintain the animal enclosures.

Volunteer work parties will be set up, initially on a monthly basis, to undertake tasks such as laying bark, gardening and planting activities and simple carpentry.

Support and equipment will be provided and there will also be time to spend with the rescue animals.

James and Craig Williams, owners of the Safe Haven Petting Farm, said: “We are dedicated to looking after the animals in our care but equally recognise the positive benefits for individuals in being around animals and working in an outdoor space.

“By teaming up with the CVS we hope this is the start of using the site to support health and wellbeing of our local community as well as caring for animals.”

For more information or to apply, contact Justine Page at Maldon and District CVS on 01621 851891 or email justine@maldoncvs.org.uk.