Ferne was set up through the foresight of a local lady – the late Nina, Duchess of Hamilton & Brandon – who realised that men and women going off to war had no-one to take care of their animals and so would require a temporary refuge for them. The Duchess put a call out on the BBC and legend has it that when she returned to her London home there were a number of cats and dogs on her doorstep and also a parrot! The need for our work continues to this day.
If you think you’d like to provide a happy and safe place for one of our animals we’d love to hear from you. To rehome one of our dogs please visit the website to view our current residents and click on the read more and enquite button if you are interested in more information about a specific dog. You can view our dogs here >>>
Apart from animal rescue we are also a visitor attraction where you can come and enjoy the peace, quiet and, of course, the animals. Set in 72 acres of stunning Somerset countryside the Sanctuary is a great place to come and explore – you are assured of a warm welcome at Ferne. We are always pleased to see people – both first time visitors and regulars who come to enjoy the sanctuary. Ferne is a place that people come when they want peace and quiet. Unlike many visitor attractions we cherish the opportunity to allow people to escape from the day-to-day noise and bustle and to enjoy the wonderful Somerset countryside.
Our sanctuary is home to over 300 resident animals – Ferne is their home which you are invited to visit. Our animals are not trained to perform to order, nor are they crowded into small spaces; they have the freedom to come and go so you may see only a few or lots on your visit depending on when you come, the weather and how busy we are. Many of our animals have suffered neglect and abuse and they value the care and the peace and quiet we can offer. With our trails and activities there is always something fun to do at Ferne but we do not guarantee you will see all the animals in one visit. We recommend being quiet and patient to get the very best from a visit and we hope to welcome you soon.