VOLUNTEERS at a Wye Valley rescue farm are celebrating being named a town store’s chosen charity of the year for the third time running.

Dean Farm Trust Animal Sanctuary near Chepstow will be supported again by the town’s Marks and Spencer store, which also supplies fruit and vegetables for their 185 rescued residents.

It comes just after the farm, based near Mathern, was named the UK’s favourite animal sanctuary in a national vote.

Founder Mary Frankland said: “We are so proud and grateful to be chosen as charity of the year for the third time.

“Our residents always enjoy the nutritious, fresh veggies the store donates and the customers have been so generous, donating their spare change at the tills.

“The staff are always so kind, asking how our residents are and sharing their favourite pictures and videos they’ve seen on social media.”?In previous years, Dean Farm Trust’s volunteers have done bag packing and collected donations from shoppers but this has stopped for the last year due to the ongoing pandemic.

But the Chepstow store recently donated £820 to the charity, thanks to kind donations from the staff and shoppers, to help with the sanctuary’s appeal for funds for winter bedding and feed.

Store manager, Craig Lowry, said: “I am very happy and proud to be supporting a local charity.

“My team in store are all behind the fundraising every day, so it’s very much a team effort.

“For us to see and hear the benefits of what this does for Dean Farm, it goes to show that by working together, you can create something special.

“We look forward to working together for the future.”?Anyone who lives locally and would like to donate to the animals at Dean Farm Trust, can make a donation in the collection tins on the tills and at customer service, or donate online at deanfarmtrust.org.uk/donate

Just last month, The VegFestUK Awards 2020 announced the sanctuary as the nation’s favourite as it beat nine other shortlisted farms.

Mary Frankland said at the time: “We are so overwhelmed at this incredible win!

“We never believed that our little sanctuary would be nominated, let alone win this prestigious vegan award.

“There are so many incredible sanctuaries saving animals in the UK and we are so humbled to be given this honour.”

The Trust is hoping to open its doors to the public again in Spring after having to close due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, an appeal to keep the water flowing at the farm has reached the half-way mark of the £1,800 needed to install an underground system to keep its animals hydrated and their homes clean.

The sanctuary’s water system is connected through 750m of hosepipes and comes from just one tap, with various connectors and attachments across 32 acres of pasture.

And the system is close to break down, with staff having to deal with low water pressure, perished hoses, splits and breaks and blown off connections, while animals also stand on hoses and chew them.

Because of the low pressure, the sanctuary’s small team of staff and volunteers have to ins spend hours filling buckets and wallows.

They have already secured a £6,874 grant towards a proper underground system, and after raising another £900 need just £900 more to install it.

Founded in 2012 by Mary and Janette Fry, Dean Farm Trust opened in December 2016.

It is run by a small team of staff and volunteers and relies entirely on donations, help from the local community and volunteers.

To help fund the new underground water system, go to www.bit.ly/waterpipeappeal

For more information, see deanfarmtrust.org.uk