Farming Monthly National November 2017 | Page 51

| ATV Polaris does all the donkey work The primary aim of The Donkey Sanctuary on the Isle of Wight is to provide a home for unwanted donkeys. he sanctuary usually has over a hundred animals in their care, about ninety donkeys and twenty-five horses and ponies, all needing a home for various reasons. Loss of grazing, owners situations change, rescue from poor circumstances or simply found abandoned, the donkeys find a new life in the charity’s sixty acres of beautiful countryside. But they still work for their living. The donkeys will often be found enjoying attending a school fair or fete or visiting children’s centres. They have a particular role working with special schools where some of the students’ needs can be met by the interaction and communication with the animals. Caring for the animals involves a lot of work – a donkey will eat a bale of hay a day as a supplement and indoor stables, barns and field shelters have to be tended; then there’s fencing to be done and the onerous task of poo collecting. At the beginning of 2017 the decision was made for the Sanctuary to purchase a Polaris Ranger Diesel UTV to take on all the day-to-day tasks previously carried out by staff using barrows and body power to carry feed and maintain the Sanctuary. The Ranger was supplied by C & O Tractors of Newport who also provided training. “I don’t know what we did wit hout the Polaris,” says Derek Needham, Charity Manager, “it’s in constant use to do everything from maintenance to moving feed and carrying fence posts to towing a poo cleaner in paddocks. We’ve worked it in all conditions, heavy and wet and it takes on everything, putting smiles on faces by cutting down on hours of work while protecting people from the weather. It’s so flexible and very popular with the girls who say it’s ‘female friendly’. It certainly frees people up to work with the public and the animals.” The main site is an education centre and learning resource for schools across the island and those visiting from other parts of the UK. There’s a range of educational T www.farmingmonthly.co.uk activities including sessions called ‘classroom in a stable’ with ‘hands on’ practical work combined with looking at the role donkeys have played on the island and the mainland. Less formal visits are available so children can enjoy activities such as ‘treasure Hunting’ and ‘Donkey Spotting. The Polaris Ranger is also so popular with the children The Donkey Sanctuary will soon be running a competition to characterise it and give it a name. 0% finance now available on new Polaris ATVs and UTVs in the UK Polaris is offering interest-free finance on new Polaris Sportsman ATVs, Ranger 4×4 Utility Vehicles, RZRs and Scramblers (excluding Youth) in the UK. The 0% finance scheme, in conjunction with Rural Finance, is available over two years with 2 + 22 monthly payments up to a maximum of 80% of the Recommended Retail Price from October 1st2017 through to 31st December 2017. It’s an exciting opportunity to put a Polaris to work for you at a low monthly cost and see a return on your investment. Each new Polaris comes with a two year-warranty and CESAR security as standard for peace of mind. Take the Polaris Ranger Diesel for example and you also get the roof and rear panel included in the price. There is also a wide range of other accessories available for Polaris ATVs and UTVs and the finance offer can also include up to £1,000.00 (excluding VAT) on genuine Polaris accessories. Polaris 4 x 4 vehicles offer exceptional off-road ability to meet the challenges of the roughest terrain, with one of the widest ranges to choose from so there is a Polaris to suit everyone’s needs. Members of the NFU, NFU Scotland and Ulster Farmers Union will additionally benefit from the current 5% discount on selected new Polaris ATVs and utility vehicles. A visit to your nearest Polaris dealer is recommended for full details, any special deals, and to see the extent of the Polaris range and accessories. The availability of the 0% finance through Rural Finance is subject to status; the offers and warranty are subject to terms and conditions. Available in the UK, excluding the Republic of Ireland. Offers end on 31st December 2017. Polaris Britain Ltd. 0800 915 6720 www.polaris-britain.com November 2017 | Farming Monthly | 51