An animal centre providing education and therapy is about to open at a former dairy farm in Rowde.

Pet N Pat Animal Centre at Malthouse Farm, Cock Road, has about 20 ponies, four donkeys, four goats, three llamas and two sheep.

It was the idea of Barbara Mills and Amy Rhodes-Turley, who were involved with Pamper A Pony near Burbage a few years ago.

Ms Mills, of Bishops Cannings, has been rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing animals for 15 years.

She said: “Most of the animals we have are what I have rescued and some have been rehabilitated. Most can be rehomed but some stay and are ideal for the therapy part of the project.

“We find it best to have a range of animals, as some people need to start with something small and work their way up through the size range. The project uses animals for education and therapy for members of the public, but it is especially for people with health and/or behavioural issues and children seem to benefit most.

“At Pamper A Pony, we had a girl come along who would only speak when she was with the ponies. A lot of the animals know if kids have special needs and behave differently – I suppose it’s a sixth sense.”

The animals include Spice, who Ms Mills has had for 15 years. Spice was a New Forest pony and was set to be slaughtered to be fed to the lions at Longleat until Ms Mills bought her for £35.

Three of the donkeys were rescued from Italy, where they were set to be slaughtered for their meat.

Ms Mills, 43, has been using her savings towards the animal centre, which is leasing the farm, but its committee is bidding for grants and has applied for charity status.

It has been renovating some of the farm buildings since February, but work still needs to be done and Ms Mills would like to hear from anyone interested in joining the small band of volunteers.

The committee would also welcome donations of feed, equipment, wood fence posts and stock fencing.

The animal centre opens to the public on Sunday from 10am-4pm as part of the national event Open Farm Sunday. There will be a car boot sale and trade stands.

To get involved in the project, visit www.pet-n-pat-animal-centre.org.uk