Karen Rust granted planning permission to keep therapy donkeys on Little Massingham land

A woman who lends a helping hand to schools and churches with her therapy donkeys has been granted planning permission which will allow her to keep doing so.

Karen Rust has owned donkeys for 13 years at her Little Massingham farm, but was left worried last year when she was informed she would have to attain West Norfolk Council’s permission to change the use of her land from agricultural to ‘grazing and living’.

She told the Lynn News that not only do the donkeys provide comfort to her, but she also takes them to care homes, schools and hospices for activities to help others too.

After successfully applying for an animal welfare licence, the borough council informed her she would have to submit a planning application as donkeys are not covered by agricultural land use.

On Monday this week, she was officially granted approval by the authority’s planning officers.

That came despite an objection from Little Massingham Parish Council, which said it has received complaints from residents due to the noise from the site.

The land lies north of the electrical sub station and northwest of Station Road.

However, 44 representations were made in support of Karen’s plans, with one saying her animals are an “asset to the countryside” and another adding that “children love to see the donkeys”.

The plans cover six donkeys and two Shetland ponies.

In a report, planning officers said: “The use of the land for the keeping of donkeys and ponies is considered to be a suitable rural-based use, in keeping with the character and appearance of the countryside.

“Given the scale and nature of the application, any noise, odour or activity resulting from the use of the land for the keeping of donkeys and ponies would be at a level that would be reasonably expected for this type of use in a rural location.

“Whilst the use of land for the keeping of the animals is for private enjoyment and not associated with a commercial enterprise, the applicant takes them to schools, churches and Tapping House Hospice for therapeutic and well-being rehabilitation purposes.

“Also, various vulnerable people visit the site on occasions for well-being reasons. The applicant does not make a profit from this low-level activity and it is on an appointment basis only.”

Karen’s plans were therefore passed with a condition that she continues to operate on a not-for-profit basis and with appointments only.

She got her first donkey after her father died, helping her realise how “healing” they can be.

Soon enough, she had six donkeys, and her love for them only blossomed from there.