The Donkey Field

A wildflower sanctuary full of history

Together with the Plantation the Donkey Field, variously known as the ‘Bluebell’ and ‘Snowdrop’ Field, forms a green barrier between Uphill and Weston-super-Mare.

The field famous for its springtime display of flowers, took its original name in Thomas Tutton’s day when it became the retirement field for a donkey used on the Manor estate to pull a little handcart on which was the name “Thos. Tutton Knyfton Esq. Recorder of Axbridge”. Indeed the cart was also to be seen in the field until it fell to bits. The donkey was everyone’s pet and was buried in the field. Later the field was used to pasture beach donkeys from Weston.

Forming part of the Graves-Knyfton estate the field and plantation were acquired by the Woodland Trust in 1997 for the benefit of the village and residents. Today cattle graze under the parkland trees and look out over the iron fence.