Thank you for booking to visit Raystede. Tickets available to book a few weeks in advance. We look forward to welcoming you soon.

Thank you for booking your visit to Raystede – please read the following information:

Getting to Raystede

Raystede is located on the B2192, between Ringmer and Halland, opposite the East Sussex Gliding Club.

Your visit

You can arrive any time between 10am and 3.30pm and stay until we close at 4pm.

On arrival, please check in with our Welcome Team volunteers - simply give them your surname and they will book you in. This is to limit numbers for the welfare of our animals and for a better visitor experience.

Entry is free but, as a charity, we would be very grateful if you would consider making a donation to help us continue caring for all the animals at Raystede.

There is a free guided tour every day at 11.30am – meet at Visitor Information. (subject to adverse weather).

Please cancel your ticket if you cannot make it to allow others to take your place. You can do this from your booking confirmation email.

Voluntary parking donation

Many visitors have told us that they’d be happy to contribute towards Raystede’s work by paying for parking when visiting. Like many charities, we’re facing financial pressures so, taking this feedback on board, we have introduced a voluntary parking donation, with a suggested donation of £5 per vehicle. It’s purely voluntary. There’s a tap to donate machine at the entrance. There is also a cash slot should you wish to donate a different amount.

Health and safety

To ensure the safety of visitors and our animals, please leave scooters and children's bikes in your car and no ball games please. Please do not climb on or over the gates, walls and fences. Many of the animals in our enclosures are nervous, big and easily frightened. Please do not feed any of our animals.

Seeing the animals and birds at Raystede

We care for a wide range of animals and birds at Raystede, all of whom are encouraged to behave naturally. Depending on the season and weather they may choose to be outside or they might retreat inside. No day is the same! On any given day we cannot guarantee any of our animals will be out and about.

Our Aviaries reopen on Monday 29 June. The part of the lakes area housing our chickens, ducks and geese is also open.

The Aviaries will close at 2pm each day for the welfare of our birds. You are very welcome to visit the rest of the site until we close at 4pm

Adopting an animal

If you are interested in adopting, complete an online application form or call 01825 840252

to arrange assistance. Our Kennels and Cattery are not open to visitors as many of the dogs and cats are nervous.

Raystede is dog-friendly.

Dogs on short leads are welcome in the café and shops and there are dog walks around the site.

Dogs are not permitted in the Small Animals and Rabbitry areas or the paths past the chickens and other fowl.

Food and drink

Café Raystede is open from 8.30am – 3.30pm for breakfast, lunch, drinks and snacks. All dietary requirements are catered for.

We ask that you do not bring a picnic.

Shopping

Our Raystede Charity Shop and Pet Goods Shop are both open from 10am – all proceeds go directly towards animal care.

We are grateful for donated goods to sell in our shops and donations of pet goods, including unopened pet food sealed in its original packaging. Please bring donations of good quality, clean, complete, sellable items any day between 10am and 3pm and check in with the Welcome Team on arrival.

Privacy policy

Our privacy policy can be viewed online at www.raystede.org/privacy-policy/ (https://www.raystede.org/privacy-policy/).

Further information

Please visit our website www.raystede.org (https://www.raystede.org), call us on 01825 840252 or email info@raystede.org.

Thank you for visiting and supporting Raystede.

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