Public Appeal - Project Briefing

"Opportunity of a lifetime"

BACKGROUND

The Suffolk Punch horse is probably the oldest breed of working horse in the world to exist in a form which can be recognised today. It has the longest written pedigree of any such breed dating back to a stallion born in 1768.

Now the Suffolk horse number less than 400 and is on the endangered list of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. It is rarer than the Giant Panda and its survival is in the hands of a handful of owners and breeders. Crucial to its survival is the stud of horses at Hollesley Bay Prison in Suffolk.

A stud of Suffolks have been kept at Hollesley for over 100 years and for the last 65 years this important Stud has been owned and maintained by HM Prison Service. They have been used to train prisoners in rural work skills which is recognised as an important factor in some prisoners successful rehabilitation

TAKING THE HOLLESLEY BAY COLONY STUD INTO CHARITABLE OWNERSHIP

When HM Prison Service decided to dispose of the farm it also created the need to find a new owner for this stud of Suffolks. The Prison Service decision focussed minds on the need to secure their long-term future and expand horse numbers to reduce the risk of extinction and give all owners a breeding facility which is also a centre of excellence.

SUFFOLK PUNCH TRUST LIMITED

A registered charity, has been formed to secure the long-term future of the Stud and increase the numbers of horses. The Trust has agreed with the Prison Service to purchase the horses, equipment, existing buildings and approx.180acres of adjoining land in order to create a visitor facility to generate the revenue needed to run this Stud

Paul Heiney, the well-known writer, broadcaster and journalist says " It would be a tragedy if the Suffolk Punch Horse were to vanish from its native landscape. By supporting this project we can all help to prevent this from happening. There is an enormous pool of horse breeding skill and experience at the Colony Stud and to allow it to disappear would be a tragic waste. Future generations would not forgive us!"

THE PROJECT

The task is to create a viable and sustainable visitor attraction which includes education capability, training facilities and a heritage centre with static and interactive exhibits

"By using the animals, living landscape and heritage sites in the area this is an ideal location for all forms of education"

The Suffolk Punch Trusts charitable objectives are :

• The preservation of rare breeds of animal for the benefit of the public and in particular the Suffolk Punch breed of horse
• To advance the education of the public regarding the agricultural and natural heritage of the County of Suffolk
• To promote the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners and ex prisoners
• To provide in the interests of social welfare a public open space for use by the public

EDUCATION,TRAINING AND WORKSKILLS

The Trust plans to use the visitor facility, based around the core activity of managing the stud of horses and maintaining other rare breeds of animal indigenous to Suffolk, to promote and deliver a wide range of educational programmes. These educational services will be aimed particularly at younger age groups and targeting those living in poorer inner city and suburban areas and the socially excluded.

With the Trusts charitable objectives the aims are to:

• Raise local and national awareness of the Suffolk Punch horse as a rare and historic breed
• Encourage active support and involvement in maintaining and expanding the breed and other rare animals indigenous to Suffolk - Suffolk Sheep, Red Poll Cattle and the Large Black Pig.
• Foster the enjoyment, understanding and environmental uniqueness of this special coastal landscape and its wildlife
• Facilitate research studies on a range of animal and social exclusion issues
• Support the education curriculum with opportunities to learn about local and national history and our heritage
• Promote opportunities for wider environmental. conservation and heritage studies in partnership with other organisations in Suffolk.
• Create on the job training and rural work skills training for local people, prisoners from HM Prison Hollesley Bay and others requiring tuition and experience in rural craft skills, animal management and the operation of a visitor attraction.
• Half of the Visitor Centre building will be devoted to a lecture theatre and classrooms.

Suffolk Punch Trust Limited Public Appeal project brief sheet 3 continued

VISITOR ATTRACTION FACILITIES AND ESTIMATED COSTS

Visitor facilities include

• Lecture theatre and classrooms
• Heritage Centre with static and inter active exhibits
• Research facilities

• Covered Exhibition ring
• Working areas, stables and paddocks
• Rural craft shops including farrier, saddle maker, wheelwright, blacksmith units
• Suffolk punch horses, Suffolk Sheep, Red Poll cattle and Large Black Pigs

• Retail shop and restaurant
• Horse drawn cart rides to conservation areas

The total cost of creating the visitor attraction including erection of new buildings and refurbishing and renovating existing buildings is £3.5million

SUMMARY

Apart from its contribution to saving rare breeds on the verge of extinction this project touches virtually every aspect of charitable work. It includes support for disadvantaged youngsters and the socially disadvantaged through availability of on the job training, formal education and ability to learn rural craft skills. The project also provides education for all age groups in environmental, conservation and heritage topics. It encourages inward investment to a hard-pressed rural area through the generation of increased tourism and provision of jobs.