Wendy House project

Why was the project started?

In recent years we have observed increased level of interest from people keeping livestock in non-farming environments including back gardens in residential areas.

We have received many requests for advice and guidance on the do's and don'ts of keeping livestock. We have also received referrals from the environmental health officers who attended premises where farmed animals were kept. 

To address this we launched an innovative project called ‘Wendy House’. This is an initiative to educate and advise people wanting traditionally farmed animals as pets or who want to live the 'good life'.

Who are the partners?

During the project we worked in partnership with local borough and district council environmental health departments:

• Cannock Chase District Council
   
• Stafford Borough Council
   
• Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council
   
• South Staffordshire Council
   
• East Staffordshire Borough Council
   
• Lichfield District Council
   
• Tamworth Borough Council
   
• Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

We also teamed up with Staffordshire Smallholders Association who contributed to the project with their experience and practical knowledge on keeping livestock.

RSPCA Innovator Award 2012

Wendy House Project won the RSPCA's Innovator in Animal Welfare Award 2012. It was for demonstrating an innovative approach to its work in improving animal welfare.

Guidance

You can access a quick reference guide produced within the project below:

• Farmed animals - responsibilities to consider (240 KB)

Seminars

A part of the project was a series of locally held, free of charge seminars called 'Farm Animals in Your Back Garden?'

Featured subjects

• Animal Welfare and the Five Freedoms
• Registration, Identification and Records of Your Livestock
• Farm Animals from Environmental Health Point of View
• Animal Diseases and Biosecurity
• So you want to be a smallholder?

For more information please contact us.