On Sunday 13 May, supporters descended upon Martinshaw Wood in Ratby, Leicestershire to enjoy a sunny walk amongst the bluebells all while raising vital funds to transform lives.

After some rain the night before, the sun shone brightly for the Big Bluebell Walk which was held with kind permission from the Woodland Trust.

45 people and 17 very well-behaved dogs strolled through the bluebells on a choice of two routes, taking in the beautiful scenery and enjoying the weather. In attendance were five puppies in training and their puppy parents, as well as Kate Cross, her husband Stuart and her canine partner May.

As well as a lovely walk through Martinshaw Wood, the event also included a raffle and refreshments to enjoy.

With registration, merchandise sales, the raffle and kind donations on the day, the total raised was a fantastic £459! A huge thank you to everyone who contributed towards this great result.

The event was organised by Kathleen Hodkinson who said:

“Family, friends and the Canine Partners family helped to make this event go really smoothly. I also really appreciated friends and the local businesses who kindly offered raffle prizes and snacks.

Most walkers were pleased that the paths had dried out after the recent rain, but one young lad happily sought out all of the muddy parts!”

A big thank you is also due to Groby & Field Head Spotlight and Your Local magazines for their support in promoting the event locally.

Organise your own Big Bluebell Walk or dog walk event

By organising your own Big Bluebell Walk or dog walking event, you can help us to raise even more funds to train amazing assistance dogs. Click here to find out how you can organise your own fundraising event.

Gallery

Here are a few photos from the event – thank you to Stuart Williams for these fantastic snapshots of the day!