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Free Range Friday to raise money for rehoming centre
Free Range friday
BHWT urge people to bake cakes on Friday, 23 September to help raise funds towards a new training and rehoming centre.

Hen charity urge people to eat cakes in return for a donation

A hen charity has launched an appeal to raise funds for a new rehoming and education centre.

The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) has submitted a planning application to build the centre at its base in South Molton, Devon. They expect the build to cost
around £200,000.

Once established, the centre will serve both as a place to re-home caged hens and as a space for holding educational talks and training.

The campaign is set to launch on the first ever British Hen Welfare Day (BHWD) on Friday, 23 September which, the charity hope, will become an annual event.

This year, the BHWT urge people
to get involved by holding a Free Range Friday and invite their friends and family to eat cakes in exchange for a donation towards the centre.

Staff at the charity's headquarters will also get involved by baking cakes and bringing them into the office. We’re also told they will be doing something ‘a little eggstra special’ on the day - details of which will be revealed soon.

“This year has already seen the British Hen Welfare Trust achieve some truly wonderful things, from re-homing our 500,000th hen to carrying on making strides in improving the lives of commercial hens,” commented charity founder Jane Howorth.

“This year we are also looking to build our first flagship re-homing and education centre at Hen Central in North Devon. But to do that we need the help of our wonderful supporters, and we believe that together you can all help us towards our goal.

“So whether it’s inside or out, hot or cold and whether you’ve got 50 people attending or five, get the cakes in, get the kettle boiled and get eating!”

If your practice would like to take part in the event, please contact corinne.hendrie@bhwt.co.uk for an information pack. 

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.