Our Animals

At Toad Hall Nursery we have many animals on site and the children are introduced to all of them.

Our Donkeys

The donkeys are a much-loved part of life at Toad Hall Nursery and often greet families as they arrive. The children enjoy feeding them, and Maggie and Gill are never short of attention or cuddles.

Some of you may remember our former donkeys, Rupert and Rosie. Rosie sadly became unwell and passed away in August 2019 at the age of 29. After this, Rupert became very lonely without her. Following advice from his welfare advisor, he returned to the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon in October 2019, where he quickly made new friends and enjoyed his retirement. We kept in touch with his journey until, in December 2021, Rupert’s health sadly declined, and he was peacefully put to sleep.

Both Rupert and Rosie are remembered with great affection and are missed by many. Today, Maggie and Gill carry on their legacy, bringing joy, comfort, and plenty of smiles to the children and families of Toad Hall.

Maggie

Maggie joined the Toad Hall Nursery family in February 2020. Originally from a loving home in Scotland, she and her friend Gill arrived at the Donkey Sanctuary in 2018 before moving here to us.

Although we don’t know much about Maggie’s early life, she has settled beautifully into her new home. She quickly made friends with our goats and chickens, and she loves nothing more than a good scratch between her front legs.

When Maggie first came to us, she was 12 years old. She isn’t too keen on sudden loud noises, but she really enjoys the cheerful sounds of the children playing nearby. Her welfare advisor was amazed at how quickly Maggie and Gill settled in — within weeks, they were comfortable enough to approach her in the paddock, a sign of trust that can often take much longer.

We are so proud of Maggie and how well she has adapted to life at Toad Hall. She continues to bring joy and warmth to everyone who meets her.

Gill

Gill joined the Toad Hall Nursery family in February 2020, arriving alongside her lifelong friend Maggie. The pair originally lived together in Scotland before moving to the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon.

In 2019, the Sanctuary launched its new Rehoming School, and Gill, Maggie, and their friends Bill and Ben were among the very first donkeys to graduate before being adopted by the nursery.

Gill was just 8 years old when she came to us. While she was thought to be the quieter of the pair, her confidence has grown beautifully since settling in. She now loves rolling in muddy puddles in the paddock, enjoys cuddles, and can’t resist a good scratch on her bottom!

Before leaving the Sanctuary, Gill often hid shyly behind Maggie, but these days she is just as likely to be the first to trot over and say hello at the fence. To tell her apart, look for the brown mark on her nose.

Gill’s gentle but playful nature has made her a firm favourite among the children, families, and staff at Toad Hall.