Redwings, the UK’s largest horse welfare charity, has announced the permanent closure of its Redwings Mountains visitor centre in Glenogil, Forfar, along with another sanctuary in Oxhill, Warwickshire, due to rising operational costs. The Glenogil centre, which had cared for over 50 donkeys, horses, and ponies since 1982 and was taken over by Redwings in 2014, will see all animals relocated to other Redwings sites in Norfolk. The decision followed a staff consultation, resulting in 33 redundancies, with affected employees offered support and assistance in finding new employment.

Chief executive Lynn Cuttress emphasized that while these centres did not take in rescue cases directly, their closure is necessary to reduce long-term costs and secure the future care of over 1,000 rescued horses under Redwings’ care. She highlighted the severe financial pressures faced by charities across the UK, noting that Redwings has been using its reserves for four years to cover the gap between income and expenditure, a situation deemed unsustainable. After nearly two years of financial review and external advice, the board concluded that closure was the only viable option amid the challenging economic climate.