Raystede is your local animal welfare charity and working rescue centre, helping around 2,000 local animals every year. We care for a diverse range of animals, from dogs, cats, rabbits, tortoises and guinea pigs to horses, alpacas, donkeys, terrapins and exotic birds. When an animal or bird is found neglected, injured or distressed, we take care of them. And we provide lifelong sanctuary to those who can’t be rehomed. Many of our animals are looking for their forever home. If you would like to adopt or need to give up an animal, please visit www.raystede.org/adopt or phone us on 01825 840252. We provide education about animals, how to care for them, and we’re always at the end of the phone for help and advice about the animals in your life. We welcome visitors to explore our beautiful site and learn about the special place animals have in our lives. It’s free to visit but you must book online in advance as numbers are limited for the welfare of our nervous rescue animals and to give you a better visitor experience. Daily guided tour at 11.30am * Dogs on leads welcome * Free parking * Café * Pet goods and charity shops. Many of our animals are very shy or nervous so you may not see all of them. We really appreciate it if visitors stay calm and quiet. Just down the road, is Peaceways, our pet crematorium and Rose Garden of Remembrance. We are delighted that the local 10km Avian Influenza Surveillance Zone has now been lifted. While are Aviaries and fowl areas are still closed to the public in accordance with the Avian Flu restrictions still in place, we have been able to reopen the terrapin sanctuary and dog walk. We do NOT have this virus at Raystede. We are still very much open and welcome visitors to the rest of the site – please book your free ticket: www.raystede.org/visit-us/book-your-visit/
We don’t charge an entry fee or for parking because we want Raystede to be free and accessible for rehoming and to showcase our work. If we wanted to make an entry charge, we would need to hold a zoo licence. We are a working animal rescue and welfare charity, not a zoo or petting farm. Charging for entry and / or parking would involve a lot of extra resources and would not be worth the cost, particularly at less busy times. We want visitors to be inspired to help Raystede in many different and long-lasting ways and to be able to see first-hand the impact of their support. Raystede is a charity and we need your support to enable us to continue caring for the animals who so desperately need our help. Donate, fundraise, visit our shops and café, volunteer, leave a gift in your Will or simply tell everyone you know about our work!
