7 days ago
Animal lovers rally to save Carmarthenshire farm sanctuary
When Jane Baker adopted New Forest pony Star back in 1998, she had no idea it would lead to running a farm animal sanctuary with more than 100 inhabitants.A carer in both her personal and professional life, she works night shifts at a nursing home to fund the sheep, pigs, goats and chickens who she calls her 55-year-old moved to Carmarthenshire from Devon nearly a year ago after planning permission for a barn on her previous site was rejected, and says Wales is "stunning" - both the scenery and the when, riddled with worry about time and money – with the sanctuary costing about £3,000 a month to run – Jane was taken to hospital following a heart attack, she was overwhelmed by how the animal-lover community rallied around her.
Jane, a long-time vegan, initially rescued four sheep and, before she knew it, people were contacting her on Facebook about farm animals that were unwell or badly treated and had nowhere else to go."It's been a long old journey, but I will carry on because I just love the animals."Everything's for them… They are my family."
After selling her land in Devon, Jane and her animals travelled in a livestock lorry to Carmarthenshire, the new home of Starfield Farm Animal Sanctuary."I've always loved Wales. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to and I've never met such amazing, friendly, helpful people anywhere."But in her hurry to find somewhere suitable to stay, as her 100-mile daily roundtrip to see her animals in their temporary homes was not sustainable, Jane was left with a shortfall of money to purchase her new Welsh owners allowed her to rent it for the first year until she could secure the funds, but the race has been on to raise £88,000 and, in June, the stress took its toll on Jane's health."The worry of the £88,000, the worry of the rent I have to pay, the worry of the vet bills, running around, not having any time, working nights and having to stay awake to do all my animals all day, every day… I think it was just all too much and I think my body just gave way," she said.
Reaching out to a few people she knew for support, Jane was blown away by the response to a volunteer-seeking Facebook post written by her friend."We've had people from all over the world message to come and help," she said, saying her friend went through hundreds of said a couple of permanent volunteers now stay on the site in their motorhomes, while between 20 and 30 others, mostly locals, have come and gone to offer a helping hand."Thank goodness I had a heart attack, because it's completely changed my life and it's definitely changed the animals' life," she joked."I'm quite shocked, I never thought this could happen. I was really struggling, I was at a point where I didn't know what to do any more."It's been a massive wake-up call because I've always struggled through life doing my own thing. I never really wanted anyone to help... but the people that have come in have been incredible."It's brought the place to life again."
Earlier this week, Jane received the "wonderful news" that an anonymous supporter wants to lend her the £88,000 needed to make the sanctuary her her fundraising efforts continue, as the short-term loan will still need to be repaid and, while she plans to return to work later this month, she is conscious she must prioritise her health for the sake of the animals who rely on her."When I get upset or down and I go and spend time with the sheep or the goats, they all just come round and rest themselves on me. They just know. They're very special."I have such a connection with them and it's a massive worry that something might happen to me… but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's all about them."
