Conwy animal sanctuary needs to raise £600,000 for new home

Idlewild Animal Sanctuary in Conwy County Borough has called Pen Bryn Twrw Farm home for 10 years. Over that time it has taken in all animals, from rats up to horses, offering veterinary care, a safe place to live and, where possible, rehoming animals to enjoy their lives.

But now the landowners have given notice they plan to return to the farm in 2026, leaving Idlewild and its 112 animals facing a race against time.

"We found out about this at the start of the year," said sanctuary manager Kim Barton-Jones. "We need 12 acres ideally, although we could make 10 work and looking at properties with the space we need in this area means we are looking at around £600,000 to buy our own piece of land and get all the relevant licences and permissions.

"Buying our own home would  mean we never face this situation again and can focus on our core role, caring for animals in need.

"All the money we raise goes into caring for the animals we have so we launched a goFundme as soon as we were notified to try and raise the money. Since January that has only raised £7,643.

"A few months ago we decided to create a limited company to try to attract investors. We have had expressions of interest worth around £70,000 but nothing concrete."

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Idlewild specialises in caring for animals with disabilities and older animals - something which adds to its day-to-day costs. It also runs an animal ambulance service to respond to emergencies.

"If an animal can have a good quality of life and is in no discomfort then we believe they should have a chance to live," said Kim.

"We have a sheep with brain-damage, a few that are blind, a couple of three-legged ones and some with a curvature of the spine called wryneck. It looks uncomfortable but other than needing a little extra attention and being a bit more susceptible to certain illnesses, they are lovely sheep who enjoy a great life.

This sheep, which has brain damage, receives care and treatment at Idlewild Animal Sanctuary. (Image: Alec Doyle, Newsquest)

"We also have cats - including cats with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. The FIV cats can be rehomed but cannot live with other cats or go outside as the virus is passed on when they fight."

Including pigs, donkeys, hens, turkeys and goats there are 112 animals currently living at Idlewild. Donations to the cause can be made here and you can learn more by visiting its social channels on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.  

By specialising in animals that would struggle to find a home elsewhere, Idlewild has developed a national reputation collecting animals from across the UK to care for and rehome.

"Usually we would have more than 300 here with some just passing through and others here for the long-term," said Kim.

"But with this hanging over our heads we have restricted the number of new animals we have taken in. We have turned away literally hundreds of cats this year - and some of those may well have been put down. 

That is what we are trying to avoid. We started this to offer care for animals, particularly animals who maybe had been written off because their conditions or age meant they were not considered suitable either for commercial farms or as pets.

Donkeys Taffy and Paddy were among the first animals to move in to Idlewild 10 years ago. (Image: Alec Doyle, Newsquest)

"We give those animals a new lease of life, either by finding new homes for them of offering them a home with us - but we really need help."

Animals are not the only ones to benefit from Idlewild's work. Of the 50 volunteers at the sanctuary, 30 have additional learning needs or mental health conditions.

Sophie Kirby is one of those volunteers. 

"I started coming here after my cousin found them asking for volunteers on Facebook," she said. "At the time I was in a very dark place. I wasn't leaving the house at all, I was barely getting out of bed. 

"It's been like a safe haven for me. I do four days a week here and it's like a second home."

Sophie's story is not the only one of Idlewild helping people.

"One of our current volunteers was mute when she first came to us and we were told she would not speak and would probably just pet the animals," said Kim. "Now she speaks confidently, she takes responsibility for her jobs and is a big part of our volunteer community."

Pigs purchased as pets but no longer wanted are among the animals Idlewild offers refuge to. (Image: Alec Doyle, Newsquest)

Idlewild has received many letters of support. Garfield residential care home in Llandudno Junction wrote that 'attending the sanctuary has had a positive effect' for many of its residents. 

The parent of one volunteer wrote: "Volunteering at the sanctuary has given my daughter a supportive social environment and has increased her self confidence." 

"That is what people don't always see," said Kim. "The human impact. Our volunteers often don't have the right support available to them, they may  struggle to gain employment or to stay in school.

"Through support, community and offering them opportunities to do courses and learn, we are helping them to succeed. Without us I don't know where they would go."

While Idlewild's lease does not run out until June 2026, the need to move the animals and restore the land to its previous condition means Idlewild needs to have a new home identified and funding in place by April 2025.

"We need to be ready by then as preparing a new property, ensuring the buildings and enclosures are suitable and safe, getting all the required documentation and moving the animals safely will take probably 12 months," said Kim.

"If we can't raise the money however, we will have to look at either operating through foster homes for the animals - only a few of which are likely to be taken in - or potentially having to have many of our animals put to sleep.

"We are doing everything we can to avoid that but we desperately need to raise more money."