Fifteen heavy horses could be the latest to join the county’s homeless unless swift action is taken.

The Working Horse Trust based at Eridge Park, near Tunbridge Wells, is looking for a new base after its landlord terminated its lease.

The charity has 15 draught animals, most of which have been born at Eridge, and
trust volunteers are dismayed at the prospect of having to re-locate.

Trustee Jo Ambrose said:“We started totally from scratch.

“There were no buildings, no fences, no water supply, not even any edible grass.

“But we have built ourselves a modest home that has served well. It is absolutely heart-breaking to have to leave and start again.”

The trust became tenants of The Nevill Estate Company in February 1994, where it rents 100 acres.

But now it has until September 30 to move out, so needs to find an alternative venue with 35 to 50 acres of grazing.

Miss Ambrose said: “We would like to stay close to Eridge so as not to lose the support of the local community.

"You don’t spend nearly 20 years in one place without building up an extensive network and to lose that would jeopardise our future more than the actual move itself.

"We have built ourselves a modest home that has served well. It is absolutely heart-breaking to have to leave and start again" - Jo Ambrose

“We rely so much on our friends hereabouts not just to care for the horses but in all manner of ways – from making cakes for our tea room to emergency night-time repairs to our generator.”

The trust has 40 volunteers helping out at Eridge.

Miss Ambrose said: “The worst case scenario is that the trust might have to wind up, so ending 20-odd years of charitable support for the dwindling numbers of draught horses in this country.”

Anyone who can help should contact Miss Ambrose on 01892 750105.