After 10 years of helping ex-commercial hens, the British Hen Welfare Trust rehomed their 500,000th hen, Dee.
Dee was not adopted alone. Together with a few equally lucky feathered friends, she went off to her new home complete with a swanky new des-res hen house, bales of Dengie Fresh Bed for Chickens, a year’s supply of feed and a host of other hen delights.
Dee’s lovely new owners recently got in touch with Team Dengie to thank us for our support and to update us on how well Dee has settled in.
“Many, many thanks for the Fresh Bed for Chicken bedding that you donated to Dee, the British Hen Welfare Trust’s 500,000th hen! We are so very grateful to have received it and can tell you that the hens love to cosy up together on it! We’ve also had some very nice eggs!
The bedding is so much softer and gentler than the straw that we had been buying, so thank you very much, both us and the hens truly appreciate the prize.
It’s been a very exciting time for us, getting used to all the equipment, feed and bedding since adopting Dee, but we will always be grateful and remember how kind you have been.”
Rosie Elliott (aged 5 1/2) & Julie Elliott (written by Mummy!)
The Pony Club, a British organisation with an incredible 86 year heritage in teaching young people to ride and care for horses and ponies, has introduced a fresher, cleaner and brighter version of its brand along with a renewed vision.
Today [Wednesday 2nd March] its annual conference at Aintree Racecourse has heard how the most comprehensive review of the Pony Club since inception had been conducted, in consultation with the organisation’s volunteers and members.
The Pony Club ‘roundel’, most regularly seen on its badge, with tudor rose design and central horse illustration flanked by spokes, is now notably streamlined with a design that depicts what the organisation offers, whilst still ‘tipping its hat’ to the traditions that will always underpin the organisation. The new look is part of a new continuous review.
The Pony Club’s chief executive Pip Kirkby, who was recruited from The Jockey Club, another long-standing British equestrian institution which underwent a modernisation in recent times, comments:
“The Pony Club is an icon of British society. Its timeless values and history are loved by all who are a part of it. At its core, the Pony Club is about young people having fun.
“Refreshing our ‘brand’ allows us to represent ourselves in a more modern way, while respecting our heritage and remembering what makes the Pony Club ‘great’. We need to move forward in order to continue to be inviting to both our current members as well as potential new recruits.
“The review emphasises everything that is wonderful about the Pony Club, our traditions such as camp, our amazing alumni many of whom are household names and our incredible volunteers”.
“We want the refreshed brand to re-introduce the Pony Club to those who know and love what is great about it as well an introducing it to those who are yet to benefit from the fun at rallies and camps, as an integral part of what makes the Pony Club a part of British fabric and society.”
Still a largely volunteer led organisation, The Pony Club is for anyone aged from four to 25 years and including those with and without their own horses and ponies. As well as incredible opportunities for riding and care of horses and ponies, it also offers social development and the chances to make friendships; as well as forming part of the rider pathway up into the Olympic disciplines.
Acting as a grassroots breeding ground for talent, an incredible number of equestrian athletes including Olympians have started their careers in Pony Club, including the entire silver medal winning team of Zara Phillips, Nicola Wilson, Tina Cook, William Fox-Pitt & Mary King.
“I have great memories of my time in the Pony Club, where I learnt so much, whilst at the same time having great fun” comments Nicola Wilson, international event rider, Olympic medallist and former Pony Club member. “As an organisation, it is ideally placed to promote the highest ideals of sportsmanship and loyalty, whilst at the same time creating character and self-discipline, which I know has helped me in my career as an event rider. I fully endorse the re-fresh of the Pony Club brand as this will only further strengthen its appeal to the modern day young rider.”
Whilst a refreshed brand is the first phase, the project is part of a much wider membership campaign, that see’s the Pony Club moving forward and repositioning itself to be relevant to both its existing and potential members; the implementation of the Unity database system, also launched at the annual conference, is complementary to this.
Further information about the brand re-fresh, including an asset pack and access to the refreshed logo and word mark can be found at www.pcuk.org/brand
The founder of a hen welfare charity has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
Jane Howorth, who set up the British Hen Welfare Trust in 2005, has been recognised for her charitable work which has grown from a ‘one-woman-and-a-van’ operation rescuing battery hens, into a national organisation that promotes hen welfare and the British free range egg industry.
Jane Howorth was inspired by a Panorama programme in 1979 at the age of 19. So moved was she by the plight of battery hens that she later went on to start the charity from a spare bedroom, single-handedly re-homing battery hens that would otherwise have been destined for slaughter.
From small beginnings, the charity has grown considerably and now has a team of over 450 volunteers across the UK, operating from over 30 pop-up re-homing points. The charity celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2015 and has found pet homes for nearly half a million ex-commercial laying hens so far.
Jane Howorth said: “It was always my intention to work in such a way that we supported farmers whilst helping hens and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved through our collaborative approach. Our hen re-homing scheme has been immensely popular and has captured the hearts and minds of the British public; the concept of hens as pets is now firmly on the map.
“We have also made significant strides in raising consumer awareness about the prevalence of cheap foreign eggs from caged hens used in processed food, and in encouraging support for British free range egg farmers. My key aim is to help consumers make informed choices and to use the power of their shopping basket to improve hen welfare.”
The British Hen Welfare Trust has been instrumental in influencing major manufacturers, running campaigns that helped to persuade the likes of Hellman’s Mayonnaise to switch to using free range eggs.
The rise in domestic hen-keeping has also led the charity to initiate some pioneering work with vets; in October 2015 it was announced as Charity of the Year by the British Veterinary Nursing Association. Jane hopes to use the opportunity to challenge the current thinking on hens as pets and improve veterinary care for backyard hens.
The British Hen Welfare Trust has attracted the support of some major household names and includes Jamie Oliver, Amanda Holden, Pam Ayres, Kate Humble and Jimmy Doherty amongst its patrons. It has also featured on TV including with Jamie Oliver on Jamie’s Fowl Dinners and with Jimmy Doherty in a BBC documentary, The Private Life of Chickens. Jane has been interviewed on Radio 4 Woman’s Hour twice and featured in Country Life magazine in 2009 in an article highlighting the top 100 most influential people in the countryside.
On being awarded an MBE, Jane said: “I am surprised, thrilled and honoured to have been recognised for the work that we do to improve hen welfare. But this award isn’t for me as an individual, it recognises all those who have helped make the British Hen Welfare Trust what it is today; our fantastic staff, volunteers, and supporters, as well as those working in the farming, manufacturing and retail industries working to achieve the same aims. I am incredibly grateful to everyone for their ongoing support and for all that we do together to improve the life of the humble laying hen.”
To find out more about the British Hen Welfare Trust call on 01884 860084, email [email protected] or log on to www.bhwt.org.uk
Some of Dengie’s favourite fibre feeds have been given a fresh, new look, with a handsome horsey cover star gracing the packaging of five of the brand’s popular products – and more to follow.
First off the mark was Hi-Fi Molasses Free with Trickywoo, a handsome piebald owned by Dengie customer Jo Cross, followed by Alfa-A Original with beautiful bay Jason owned by Jody Green.
Equine models used for the new packaging enjoy a Dengie diet and were selected as the perfect endorsement of the brand because of their great condition and healthy appearance.
“The new packaging looks fantastic and really complements the great-quality product inside,” said Dengie marketing manager Lisa Wilson. “We’ve kept the same background colour that our customers know so well and added a breath of fresh air to the design, with contemporary typography and some stunning images. I am sure that consumers will find the packaging appealing and retailers will love the way the products stand out well in-store.”
The new-look bales follow hot on the heels of Dengie being named the UK’s most popular branded feed in the 2015 National Equestrian Survey commissioned by the British Equestrian Trade Association.
Forget 5 golden rings or 4 calling birds, could you give a home to 3 ex-bat hens this Christmas? Thousands of hens are soon to be given the Christmas gift of a second chance in life thanks to hen welfare charity, the British Hen Welfare Trust.
The lucky hens, which would otherwise go to slaughter at the end of their commercial life, will hopefully be re-homed to kind hearted members of the public, and go on to enjoy a festive free range retirement.
Jane Howorth, founder of the charity told us: “What could be nicer than to embrace the spirit of Christmas by welcoming a few new members into the family fold? Ex-bat hens make gorgeous, endearing, funny pets and will usually lay an egg in return for good hospitality. They need a home for keeps though, not just Christmas, so please give adoption serious consideration.”
Jane continued: “Ex-bats are simple to keep and have such friendly personalities, they will soon work their way into your hearts, and just think you could soon be enjoying free range eggnog with family and friends using fresh laid eggs!”
Take a look at the charities re-homing dates coming up this month:
14th November
York, San Hutton
Bristol, Backwell
Somerset, Farrington Gurney
Wiltshire, Cheltenham
Dorset, Sturminster Newton
28th November
Lancashire, St Helens & Haslingdon
Lincolnshire, Aunby
Shropshire, Overton
Milton Keynes
Coventry, Allesley
Rotherham, Thurcroft
Oxford, Didcot
If you would like to offer some hens a home or have a little more room in your hen house and space for another Christmas stocking please call the charity at Hen Central on 01884 860084.
The British Hen Welfare Trust is a national charity that re-homes commercial laying hens, educates the public about how they can make a difference to hen welfare and encourages support for the British egg industry. Later this year the charity hopes to meet Dee, their soon to be 500,000th lucky hen – ‘D’ is 500,000 in roman numerals. You can follow their Countdown to Dee here www.bhwt.org.uk/countdowntodee.
Did you know that we produce Fresh Bed for Chickens – a chopped straw bedding with pine oil added for its natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Developed in association with the British Hen Welfare Trust, Fresh Bed is designed to keep your hens feeling warm and cosy.
We are delighted to reveal that some of our Dengie favourites will soon be sporting a fancy new design! The first product to receive its new packaging is Dengie Hi-Fi Molasses Free, which will be rolling off the production line this week, with other redesigned products following in the near future. Each product will now have its own equine cover star, starting with the handsome Trickywoo, who is owned by Dengie customer Jo Cross.
The design isn’t the only change – still weighing 20kg, the new Hi-Fi Molasses Free bales will be smaller in size and easier to handle. This also means that less packagin will be required per bale, making them more environmentally friendly.
Key Benefits of Hi-Fi Molasses Free
- Hi-Fi Molasses Free is suitable for horses and ponies at rest or in light work that maintain weoght with ease and require a low sugar and starch ration.
- A low-calorie, high-fibre feed that provides 8.5MJ/kg of Digestible Energy
- Contains no added sugar or molasses
- Includes real mint, fenugreek and pellets for interest and taste
- Free from preservatives
- Provides just 1.5% starch and 2% sugar, which is found naturally in the fibrous ingredients
- Independently approved by The Laminitis Trust
For information on winter feeding, telephone the Dengie Feedline on 01621 841188 or chat live to a nutritionist online.
Jodie Howie has been working with and competing New Forest ponies since she was 11-years-old. Growing up in Dorset, Jodie spent most of her childhood at her local riding school Green Cottage.
“Not having enough money for my own pony I worked for my rides and rode any naughty school ponies that needed a bit of extra work.” said Jodie “This progressed to learning how to break and bring on the Green Cottage New Forest Stud ponies. This is where my love affair with the New Forest ponies began, when I started grooming for the beautiful and talented Peveril Peterborough. I worked for 12 years with Fiona King and some many amazing ponies, Sabinas Gold Sovereign and Green Cottage Ambassador. Until I fell in love and moved to Essex, taking three New Forest ponies with me. Ten years went by and many, many shows and a lot near tickets wins behind me, I found myself New Forest-less.”
Still in search of a Golden Ticket, Jodie started her hunt for a pony with the potential to take her all the way.
“I called Fiona to see what she had.” recalls Jodie “She had Jupiter a 10 year old stallion, however he had only been lightly hacked and used for stud duties. Fiona was keen for him to do some more ridden work. I said what would you like him to do and the reply was ‘just something’.”
“On my way to Cornwall in October 2014 we went via Dorset and popped into see Fiona and Jupiter; well let’s just say it was a bit of love at first sight, he was a very handsome cheeky but charming fellow who rather took my fancy, the only problem was he was very much a diamond in the rough, unfit and no experience. He had done some in hand shows as a youngster winning supreme at the New Forest Breed Show in 2008 but had not been out yet under saddle. We felt he was a two year project in the making. After a very sleepless night and a call to Fiona we decided to give it a go and the day I got back from my holiday he arrived.
So the work began, he could not walk more than three straight strides and had the attention span of a goldfish I thought ‘oh boy I have set myself a challenge’, a winter program of getting him fit, schooled and educated to the big wide world commenced. I did lots of different activities to get him educated hacking, lessons, clinics, dressage, jumping. The key really was to make it fun and enjoyable. He was really trainable and learnt very quickly, so came along in leaps and bounds.”
Jodie got in touch with the Dengie Nutrition team and asked Performance Horse Nutritionitst, Claire Akers to come and assess Jupiter’s diet. As Jupiter’s work load had increased, Jodie was concerned about him maintaining condition over winter.
“Claire recommended Healthy Tummy, this feed is perfect for him and me! His coat gleams, he eats up and has plenty of energy. I only have to worry about taking one product to shows as this feed contains all the vitamins and minerals he needs.”
“Then the winter shows commenced and boy did Jupiter take it all in his stride. First time out he went Ridden Champion. He then gained his Picton ticket, Open Ridden NPS Champs, came 4th at Suffolk Show in his first Olympia class, Qualified for the Olympia semi-finals at New Forest Enthusiasts.”
“Entries were closing thick and fast, so I decided to take the leap and enter some HOYS classes at the county shows to give him experience of the bigger atmospheres and to ready him for next season. His first attempt was to be at Lincolnshire Show. So the day arrived and of we went. He went in the ring and it was like we had been doing it for five years, he just went like a pro and took it all in his stride. We were second to last to do our show, so I felt a bit of pressure but we were only really here for the mileage, so of we went to give it our best shot. He aced the show, foot perfect and did our best gallop to date.
There were 11, of us in the class with nine placing’s up for grabs and they started to call the placings in reverse order, when it got to 4th place I thought ‘well brilliant anywhere now is a fab result’, my heart started to pound a little (as you always have a little bit of hope), but I kept thinking ‘there’s experienced HOYS ponies up there still to be placed don’t get your hopes up’, then one by one they got placed and my heart started beating faster.
Then there were two, by this point my heart was hammering in my chest and then boom it was us – we won wohoooooooooooooo! By the time I got to the top of the line-up, tears were streaming down my face with a bit of disbelief and a lot of joy.
My first ticket, his first season and our first attempt!
To me it feels like the best way to get my first ticket, with a pony that is of my own making and on our first attempt.
It feels extra special to accomplish this with one of Fiona Kings Green Cottage ponies that I grew up with and learnt so much from. So thank you Fiona for letting me have him and I think we definitely did you proud and surpassed the remit of ‘just something’.”
We are delighted to be able to share with you the results of the 2015 National Equestrian Survey – a prestigious five-yearly report providing insight into the performance of the equestrian sector. This year’s report identified Dengie as the UK’s most popular branded feed product.
The survey, commissioned by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) and conducted by sports marketing agency Two Circles with support from the British Equestrian Federation and Sport England, shows that one in five of the UK’s 446,000 horse-owning households feeds Dengie products.
It also highlights that, based on the overall purchase figure for feed brands, Dengie has an estimated customer base of 69,000 – that’s 28,000 more than its closest competitor.
We are delighted that Dengie’s growth has been recognised and would like to extend our thanks to you for the huge part you have played in our success. Your loyalty and support in stocking Dengie’s range of high-quality home-grown fibre feeds has been fundamental to our growth, particularly given the challenging market conditions of recent times.
Despite this wonderful achievement we certainly won’t be resting on our laurels and will continue to offer you the first-class service you have come to expect from Dengie with continued sales, marketing and technical support. If I, or any of my colleagues, can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Once again, the Dengie team had a brilliant time at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in Stamford, Lincolnshire (3rd-6th September). Our stand in the busy Horse Village marquee had a lot of visitors and we really enjoyed the opportunity to meet customers new and old and hear their Dengie success stories. Events like Burghley are a great way to connect with horse owners from a range of disciplines and backgrounds and help to spread the word about the benefits of feeding fibre.
Aside from the usual thrills and spills, eventing fans were given the rare treat of seeing German equestrian superstar, and eventual winner, Michael Jung in action on British soil. He, and many other members of eventing’s elite, are competing in the FEI European Championships at Blair Castle in Scotland, which starts today. Dengie are there too to cheer on Team GBR, so if you’re going to Blair Castle then make sure to visit us at our stand for friendly feeding advice and the chance to win £100 of Dengie Feed Vouchers in our prize draw.
Dengie is thrilled to welcome international event rider Lucy Jackson aboard as a brand ambassador. British-born Lucy, a member of the New Zealand team at the World Equestrian Games last year, joins the company’s growing portfolio of high-profile sponsored riders who are committed to fibre feeding.
“Lucy is going to be such an asset to Team Dengie,” said the brand’s marketing manager, Lisa Wilson. “Not only is she fiercely ambitious and hard-working, but she is also committed to providing the very best for the horses in her care. Nutrition plays a vital role for the equine athlete.
“Every horse is fed a healthy Dengie diet. What a brilliant testimony to our products that these horses are out there taking part in top-level competition and fuelled by fibre feed!”
Lucy, who is based at her own yard in Oxfordshire, has competed all over the world with her small team of elite horses and represented New Zealand at the Trans-Tasman Challenge in 2003 and the CHIO Aachen in 2012 and 2014, and was first reserve for the 2012 London Olympic Games. She now has her sights fixed firmly on Rio for 2016 with her star ride, 16.2hh bay gelding Willy Do, who is owned by Gillian Greenlees, and Bosun II, a handsome grey gelding owned by the BVG syndicate.
Lucy has enjoyed a busy and successful year with the two horses – securing 11th place at Badminton and second at Boekelo on Willy Do, and fifth place at Tattersalls and ninth at Blenheim with Bosun.
“I am delighted to become a Dengie sponsored rider and have been feeding Dengie for 20 years – it plays an essential role in their health, performance and general wellbeing”, said Lucy. “Although 90 per cent of my horses are fed a diet of Dengie, balancer and good-quality haylage and grass alone, it is nice to know that the brand has an excellent range of supplements available that I can use as a ‘top-up’ as required.”