A courageous mum and her family are appealing for help to keep their sanctuary open for animals, many of whom have been saved from slaughter. Katey Brownbill, who was born in north wales but grew up in Bebington, and went to Upton Hall School on the Wirral, had long held a dream of opening an animal sanctuary one day before finally taking the plunge two years ago, setting up Honeybee Sanctuary in Holywell, North Wales.
The ardent vegan said: "I never believed it would progress beyond a pipe dream, but I've had an unavoidable craving to help people and animals for as long as I can remember. Compassion was instilled in my sisters and I from a very young age and we’ve all grown up loving animals” "I’d danced around learning various healing therapies, yet somehow ended up as a florist for 18 years, despite constantly gravitating back towards learning therapies.” “Over the years, I’ve completed courses in counselling, energetic healing and massage therapies and am continuing to study so much more, with the aim of offering a completely holistic approach to healing therapies for both animals and people, that can take place at the sanctuary.” "All of it is ultimately to help as many lives as I can - human and animal - whilst also raising funds for the animals here, not to mention my own journey of healing that has come as a happy consequence.
The whole family works incredibly hard for the sanctuary, but it’s also a very wholesome life that I wouldn’t change. My 16 year old, Philip, is very strong and comes in very handy with the heavy lifting, and even my 8 and 10 year old boys Thomas and Charlie are regularly outdoors helping with the day to day care. My partner, Craig’s support has made the whole thing possible; without his support I don’t know if I’d ever have been brave enough to take the leap!"
The family have amassed quite a collection of animals at their sanctuary, including Aberdeen Angus cow Denzel, Highland cow Bruce, Archie the Tamworth pig, hens; Izzy, Bella and Blue, Cockerels Cliff and Franklin, geese Harry, Ginny and Hermione, ducks Scott and Charlene, and a turkey called Reggie, who was destined for a Christmas Day dinner plate - in fact they were all due to be slaughtered for their meat. In March last year, Katey responded to an urgent appeal to help rehome caged hens on death row at a farm closing down, and said "They came from a very sad place and it’s been so heart-warming to watch them flourish and learn how to be free hens!".
The reality is, however, that running the sanctuary is hard work and very expensive. "There have been times I’ve not known how to carry on, but the animals are the reason I always will and I can never be silent, even when I often feel pressured into being quiet,"
Katey said. "I don’t know what I’d do without Lily. My incredible daughter, also a passionate vegan, ‘gets it’, and her help these past months, where I’ve not had the strength to do all the daily jobs since having Long Covid, has been inspirational. Lily has completely stepped up and understands why we do it all and what it all means.
The family still needs support - both in terms of volunteers and financial donations - to keep the sanctuary running. Donations of materials from the likes of MKM Building Supplies in Birkenhead, who supplied free fencing, are also invaluable. Craig, a local builder and Katey’s fiancé regularly uses MKM and was so grateful to find they were so willing to get involved and support the work that the sanctuary do. Chris and Phil, the partners at MKM have been wonderfully supportive to ourselves and other local causes. MKM, Birkenhead Established only in July 2020, near the beginning of the pandemic, started with 3 wagons and 13 staff and are already at 5 wagons and 25 staff and still rapidly growing!
Their staff are equally wonderful, MKM staff have even, during their own time, brought their families to the sanctuary to offer their help and support! Ernie, one of the goats, (for whom the fencing was for) visited MKM to personally say thank you and enjoyed an apple on his visit!
Even smaller local business such as Helen from Helle’s sweet Occasions not only donated her time at the sanctuary but even went as far as to make different flavoured jams and crumbles using fruits from the polytunnels and sell them to raise funds.
“We’ve also had brilliant support for the animals from the wonderful people at Lidl, Holywell, who’s staff are so helpful and have also spent time with the animals here.”
Dandy's Topsoil and Turf of Deeside also gave us a substantial discount to get some of the much needed soil, seed and drainage sand for the paddock.
Rob Dalton of Daltonwood Chainsaw carvings allowed us to raffle some beautiful art pieces to help raise funds and donates the shavings from his artwork for us to use as delicious comfy bedding for our chucks and ducks.
Sam of Sam's free range hens in Flintshire has given substantial support with with prompt first aid for animals when needed and discounts on feed and bedding costs to help us along the way.
Members from Art & Soul Tribe who work across North West England and North Wales, have brought along many volunteers to offer physical support and help raise funds for the beautiful furry and feathered friends here. Art & Soul Tribe is also who Katey personally completed her First Aid for Mental Health qualification with. Katey explains “It’s Something I strongly recommend, particularly during our current wellbeing crisis. We should all be equipped with the knowledge to recognise the signs of mental illness and know how to effectively aid a person toward recovery.”
“We’ve even had the support of some incredible local school children! Young teenagers have given up their weekends to come and get stuck in with the hard graft here. Such fantastic young adults, along with my own 4 incredible children fill me with so much hope for our future! Dainton, Cameron, Abi, Carys and Molly as well as my own Phil and Lil of course from Ysgol Treffynon, Luciana and Seren from Myddelton College in Denbigh, Tommi and Gracie from Hawarden High and of course my own little ones; Charlie and Thomas from Maes Y Felin Primary School.”
Wonderful Friends and family and even former strangers from many miles away, have all given up their time to support what we do here, one fabulous lady, Gill even donated a summerhouse which our gorgeous goats enjoy with some chill time on the couch and their favourite treats.
Many who've volunteered thoroughly enjoy spending time outdoors and with our fabulous, furry and feathered friends. I fervently believe being outside in nature and in the company of animals will do wonders for most people’s wellbeing”
"We constantly face paying for large sacks of animal feeds, haylage bales, vet bills, bedding bills and fresh produce, the cost of all of which has significantly increased recently, as well as facing a huge amount of ongoing jobs all over the site," Katey explained. "To have mud control mats laid, rather than the mud bath we’re battling, would mean everything. "The pandemic has affected us all, and continuing to look after everyone here properly has been so difficult. It’s been an uphill struggle and we’ve faced many difficulties but we’re still here!”
"Each bale of hay is £6, a sack of feed is £14 and each single mud control mat is £8, of which we need hundreds, so, I promise you, every single £1 would mean the world. "It can be extremely hard work, but it's incredibly rewarding. Being around animals is always good for your heart, and being outdoors is always good for your mind. There's lots to be done here, always."
For more information about volunteering, email hello@honeybeesanctuary.co.uk To make a donation, visit https://gofund.me/e4ba743f or you can donate through PayPal via honeybeeanimalsanctuary@gmail.com
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