Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare 23rd September to 29th September

Thank you for booking your visit to Raystede – please read the following information.

Getting to Raystede

Raystede is located on the B2192, between Ringmer and Halland, opposite the East Sussex Gliding Club.

Your visit

You can arrive any time between 10am and 3.30pm and stay until we close at 4pm.

On arrival, please check in with our Welcome Team volunteers - simply give them your surname and they will book you in. This is to limit numbers for the welfare of our animals and for a better visitor experience.

Entry is free but, as a charity, we would be very grateful if you would consider making a donation to help us continue caring for all the animals at Raystede.

There is a free guided tour every day at 11.30am – meet at Visitor Information.

Please cancel your ticket if you cannot make it to allow others to take your place. You can do this from your booking confirmation email.

To ensure the safety of visitors and our animals, please leave scooters and children's bikes in your car and no ball games please. Please do not climb on or over the gates, walls and fences. Many of the animals in our enclosures are nervous, big and easily frightened.

Seeing the animals and birds at Raystede

We care for a wide range of animals and birds at Raystede, all of whom are encouraged to behave naturally. Depending on the season and weather they may choose to be outside or they might retreat inside. No day is the same! On any given day we cannot guarantee any of our animals will be out and about.

Raystede is an animal welfare charity and our teams are working hard behind the scenes to help extremely anxious animals get to a stage where they can trust people again and be happily rehomed - these are the animals you won't see.

If you are interested in adopting, complete an online application form or call 01825 880468 to arrange assistance.

The Aviaries walkway closes at 2pm every day. Some of our birds love seeing visitors but others find it stressful so we close the Aviaries early so our birds can relax and unwind each day.

Please note - the wire mesh on the Aviaries protects our birds from avian flu. This does not affect our birds at all but it may make it a little more difficult to see them. Please walk quietly and calmly through the Aviaries. Thank you.

New for 2024, Project Terrapin is our sanctuary for injured and unwanted terrapins, located in the lakes area. During warmer weather you will be able to see the terrapins swimming and basking and learn more about these creatures. There is also a dog walk through this area and paths alongside the lake past the chickens and other fowl.

Our Kennels and Cattery are not open to visitors as many of the dogs and cats are nervous.

Raystede is dog-friendly.

Dogs on short leads are welcome in the café and shops and there are dog walks around the site.

Dogs are not permitted in the Small Animals and Rabbitry areas or the paths past the chickens and other fowl.

Food and drink

Café Raystede is open from 10am – 3.45pm for breakfast, lunch, drinks and snacks. All dietary requirements are catered for.

We ask that you do not bring a picnic.

Shopping

Our Raystede Charity Shop and Pet Goods Shop are both open from 10am – all proceeds go directly towards animal care.

We are grateful for donated goods to sell in our shops and donations of pet goods, including unopened pet food sealed in its original packaging. Please bring donations of good quality, clean, complete, sellable items any day between 10am and 3pm and check in with the Welcome Team on arrival.

Further information

Please visit our website www.raystede.org, call us on 01825 840252 or email [email protected]

Thank you for visiting and supporting Raystede.

To help you enjoy your visit, please take a moment to read the tips below.

Host or Publisher Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare