Long Ears Donkey Centre, home of Blackberry Donkeys, is based in Hartlepool in the north east of England and was established in May 2017, by Marie Bates.  After leaving her career as a primary school teacher, back in December 2016, she subsequently worked as a college lecturer in primary education for a short time, before she decided that she wanted to pursue a new challenge.  She had previously worked with horses for many years, achieving her NVQ’s in horse care and management and was awarded with a medal of excellence for her work from the examining board in London, as well qualifying as an NVQ Assessor and gaining her teaching certificate not only in Horse Care but also in Playwork, (caring for children 5 years and under).  Marie is passionate about sharing her knowledge about donkeys and donkey welfare and wanted to combine her love of working with these intelligent animals, and her passion for working with young people and this led to the establishment of Blackberry Donkeys.  Blackberry Donkeys has gone from strength to strength over the years and now operates as a donkeys rescue and offers wellbeing and therapeutic sessions, as well as educational talks and donkey care events etc, often visiting schools, care homes, dementia centres and libraries across the north east and north Yorkshire. 

Learning never stops and in 2026, Marie was awarded her certificate from the Irish Education Board having completed her Level 6 qualification in Equine Assisted Learning, (passing with four distinctions) and is now a EAL facilitator, able to offer sessions right here in the north east! ​​​​

​