The Great Outdoors
At the Retreat we feel we don’t only have a responsibility to the animals, but also to the countryside, environment and our planet. Whilst leaders of countries spend billions looking to find life on other planets, we feel our priorities are to those living on Planet Earth.
We have created an area, close to the capital, which will remain an open space for as long as the Retreat rescues animals. By running a rescue centre on our land we are ensuring that not only are our aims and objectives being fulfilled, but we are also, in line with the government and district council’s view on green belt sites, keeping the land green.
Keeping animals on the land also provides support for wildlife, i.e. the birds that live off the manure and the badgers and foxes that have a safe place to roam and find food.
In addition to all this we have started a scheme to plant as many trees as possible (our target being 200, with hedges to follow) and we have already planted 100. Not only do trees give us cleaner air, but they provide food, shelter and rest places for many animals, birds and insects. The Retreat has created its own oasis at a time when rainforests and green spaces are rapidly disappearing.
Animals, birds, insects, trees, hedges and green spaces provide not only a beautiful place to live but are healthy places too.
In the last three years the Retreat has taken on a view of permaculture which simply means a sustainable, ecological way of living, in harmony with our environment. Special thanks must go to Maureen Boustred for her wonderful knowledge on this subject.
Our lifestyles can help the environment, natural habitat of animals and make a huge difference to farm animals and the starving in our world. Just by changing our eating habits, starting with a vegetarian, followed by a vegan diet, would help all those living on our beautiful planet. The vital benefits would include not only saving water (an extremely valuable commodity), but most importantly of all we would start to end the misery, torture and murder of billions of beautiful, kind, young and healthy animals every year for human consumption. (Further information can be found on Animal Aid's Protect the Planet leaflet.)
We are living in a world where the population is rising dramatically and people are living longer. These vastly increasing numbers are having a huge adverse effect and causing a massive drain on the planets resources. As a result positive action has to be taken now!
It is our responsibility to our planet, our children, our grandchildren and our other earth sharers i.e. animals, trees etc to ensure that future generations have a healthy and happy environment in which to live.
Animal farming has had its day on the grounds of:-
• Animal abuse
• Water consumption
• Misuse of land available
• Waste management
• Carbon footprint