There was a short, damp spell in February this year, but now that the weather has turned warm and dry, it is time for some spring cleaning in the Valley.

We get rid of overgrown vegetation and broken branches that use the colder months to grow and take over the land. We need to keep our land clear for the donkeys to roam and access their pastures. So we are currently hard at work clearing away anything that blocks their path or is inedible for our four-legged friends.

There have been some changes in numbers, but thankfully only in the upward direction. Our donkeys have welcomed a new addition to their group, Stefan. Or to use the common diminutive for Stefan - Stefcho - as we all call him. Stefcho is a sweet-tempered donkey who is about twenty years old. His owners gave signs early last year that they were thinking of retiring him, and indeed we recently received a call from them asking if we could find a place for him in the valley. We are already 'overbooked', but with the prospect of him being sold for meat or left to an unknown fate, we didn't have the heart to say no.

Stefcho is settling in well at the sanctuary. For the time being, we have left him in the company of older donkeys who are not rambunctious or temperamental, and we hope that his transition goes well. He hasn't shown any fear or unusual behaviour and his companions have accepted him without bothering him. Stefcho keeps to himself but seems happy with his new life. Perhaps after a while he will start to mix more and make new friends. Donkeys bond with each other, but not all of them do, or do so quickly. We are happy for Stefcho to take as much time as he needs and we will make sure that no one gives the new kid on the block any trouble.

The rest of our residents are doing very well, spending time outdoors when the weather permits and enjoying the pastoral life. There was just one case that caught our attention. Not long ago we noticed that one of our older friends, Marco, was spending more and more time lying down. At first glance it doesn't seem to be a health issue, so it's probably a combination of age and the natural hibernation that many mammals have in the colder months. But we are still keeping a close eye on Marco. For now, we are making it a daily point to encourage him to get up and move around regularly.

Soon it will be time for our scheduled walk around the area, visiting the donkeys living with people who are unable to provide them with quality care. We check for new problems, monitor ongoing ones, do some trimming and dental checks, and give general care to any donkey that needs it but can't afford it. Things often go smoothly, but if anything unusual comes up, we'll make sure we share it next time.