MARCH 2026 UPDATE
The Big Barn is under construction🏗️
A massive thank you for donating to the barn building over the last three years. Every amount has added up and we wanted you, our donors, to be the first to know that construction is officially underway!
Winter 2027 is going to be easier not only for our cows and sheep, but also for the volunteers who care for them daily (no days off here!) The construction of a spacious, purpose-built barn will provide safe, dry shelter through the harshest of winter months.
In October 2024, the main structure of the barn was erected, and this week, the concrete was poured. Seeing the base take shape has been quite emotional for us all!
All your donations, no matter the size, have helped us build this project step by step. We are deeply grateful to every single person who contributed.
A Gift in Loving Memory
We are also incredibly thankful to one very generous supporter who made a significant donation in memory of her beloved daughter, Juliet, who loved all animals deeply.
The Surge Sanctuary will honour her memory by naming the new building " Juliet's Barn." This kindness has helped bring this barn to life, ensuring Juliet's compassion for all animals will live on here at the sanctuary.
The Next Stage: Fencing, Drains & Water Pipes
Once the concrete is laid, we will need to rebuild the muddy banks around the structure to ensure safe access to the barn. This includes installation of a drainage system to prevent flooding (like we experienced this winter!); a concrete ramp to accommodate hay and straw deliveries; as well as surround fencing and gates to keep all the residents safe.
For the interior, we will need water troughs and hay feeders, as well as cow brushes (they love a good scratch against them!), and hurdles - metal panels that will divide the barn into safe stalls and bed areas.
The total cost for this next stage £15,000.
We would be so grateful for any amount you can donate towards this target. Since we moved to the property in 2020, this has been a sanctuary dream. The new barn will be large enough to rescue more farm animals in the future who will share the barn with the herd. A spacious, fully functioning barn will change lives, making the animals more comfortable throughout the long winters ahead for many years to come.
The final stage will be the electrical installation, and we will update you when we launch that appeal. We are currently exploring if there are grant funds available for rescued farmed animals.
If you are able to, you can support our fundraiser either by donating any amount you can spare, or sharing the page with friends and family, on social media, or even in your community, and help us to reach our goal and get this barn built for the residents!
THE BIG BARN FUNDRAISER
We are so excited to announce that we have recently managed to secure planning permission for a new barn to be built for our cow residents!
We have created this fundraiser to hopefully raise enough funds to be able to complete this exciting project, which will not only create more space for the current residents but also allow us to be able to save more animals and give them a safe home for the rest of their lives!
We also have a very generous donor who has agreed to match donations, which means that every single donation will be DOUBLED - so each donation will have an even bigger impact!
It’s taken a while for us to get the planning approved but finally we have permission from the local council and we are so excited to get this project started. It is a big space and the reason we want to build a barn here is to create better winter accommodation for the cows. They are currently living in a make-shift temporary winter accommodation, as they can’t be out in the fields during the winter because the ground is too soft and needs time to recover ready for spring.
The new barn will be incredibly beneficial for the cows as it will allow them more space during the winter months as due to the size of the space where the barn is going to be built, they can have both indoor and outdoor hard standing areas so that they can have the best of both worlds during the winter months without damaging any of the land. The space in the new barn can also double as hay and straw storage which means that we can stock up and have a steady supply all throughout winter.
DESIGN
This is the area where the barn will be built - the plans are for the barn itself to be 20m x 20m with a 10 overhang which will provide the residents with a sheltered outside space. There will be two large doors at either end of the building to allow easy access for the residents as well as for us to be able to muck out.
The internal space will be open, but we are planning to have movable fences so that we can change and adapt the space as necessary to meet the needs of the residents. The large adaptable indoor space will also mean that we will have more housing available to take in and help more animals in need! We would love to be able to finish construction in time for Winter 2023 so the cows can enjoy their new, bigger space! The frame will be steel, with concrete and timber-clad walls - these images are not an exact representation but give an idea of the size and feel of the finished building.
We are still looking for a supplier for the materials and also a contractor to construct the barn for us, so any recommendations would be gratefully received!
COST
We want to get this project started as soon as we can, but the only problem is the costs to be able to construct the barn (materials, labour etc) have increased dramatically in recent times, and have in fact almost tripled in the past two years because of everything that’s happening in the UK and all around the world.
We have acquired several quotes from various vendors to get an idea of how much everything is likely to cost. In total we expect the project to come out at around £100,000. Obviously, this cost is for everything to be brand new and we will be looking to get good quality, previously used items where we can to try and be as environmentally friendly and bring costs down as much as possible!
Average Estimated Costs:
Barn Structure Material Supply - £70,098
20m2 x 40m2 Concrete - £18900
Installation Labour - £7500
Electrics - £1000
Drainage and excavation - £1500
Extras (fencing, hay feeders etc) - £2500
These are the average expected costs based on recent quotes we have received.
FUNDRAISING
We are currently fundraising to be able to make this project a reality and we would really love your support, because every pound that is donated will help towards the costs and allow us to build the best space possible for the animals.
We have an incredibly kind donor who has agreed to match all donations - so this means that every donation will be doubled and hopefully we can reach our goal quicker!
If you are able to, you can support our fundraiser either by donating any amount you can spare, or sharing the page with friends and family, on social media, or even in your community, and help us to reach our goal and get this barn built for the residents!
From all of us at the sanctuary, thank you!