Welcome to Holly Grange
We are a not for profit organisation that offers a range of experiences to enable people to learn about and interact with miniature donkeys. All of the money raised is spent on food and care for the donkeys, the staff are all volunteers.
We are delighted to offer a range of experiences based at our woodland near Solihull. Each experience involves a small group size which gives you the opportunity to get to know the donkeys close up (we usually run with under 10 people, often less).
The experiences involve some or all of our lovely miniature donkeys – Thomas, Grace, Florence, Bertram, Storm, James, Beatrice (aka Daisy B) and baby Harriet. (To be honest, most involve all of them as donkeys have a fear of missing out, so they like to be involved even if their presence isn’t strictly required!)
Anyway, whichever experience you choose, we hope that you will learn a lot about donkeys and have plenty of quality time to get to know these lovely, calming animals whether walking, grooming or handling them. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Ian, Charlotte and the Team at The Donkeys
Holly Grange is a Victorian manor house on Holly Lane, Balsall Common, set in its own parkland with a croquet lawn, a century-old orchard and a stand of oaks around two hundred years old. The donkeys live here and every experience we run happens here.
A canvas marquee, forty feet by twenty, stands on the croquet lawn beside the house. It is laid out with rustic trestle tables and benches and its sides come off in good weather. Afternoon Tea with Donkeys is served here and Art with Donkeys works here.
The Century Orchard is around a hundred years old. It still carries apples, pears, damsons, plums and greengages, and the grass beneath the trees is left long for the butterflies.
Beyond the lawn the park opens out, with views over the neighbouring fields. At its edge is a woodland glade under oaks of around two hundred years, a remnant of the Forest of Arden. It is being rewilded, with new trees planted and a hundred metres of traditional hedge.
Across the yard from the house is the timber hay barn, where Winter with Donkeys is served before the short walk to the stables to meet the herd.
A red-brick Victorian house with a dining room, a music room with two pianos and a small cinema whose seats came from a picture house in Mayfair. The rooms are let for meetings separately from the donkeys, through hollygrange.info.
Holly Grange, Holly Lane, Balsall Common, Warwickshire CV7 7EB.
