Awards, Press & Events

Awards, Press & Special Events

Spring Fayre

Christmas Fayre

Following on from our hugely successful Easter cake sales held in 2022 & 2023 we held a Christmas event at 11am on Sunday 26th November 2023 at Great Chishill Village Hall. The event raised almost £2000 by be selling lots of lovely bunny themed items & of course cake & tea.

Recent nominations

The rescue, Paige, volunteer Lynda & Daz were nominated to the 2024 Animal Star Awards, the rescue are finalists in 2024 too!

Our fantastic employees have received nominations for Petplan charity employee of the year 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021. We received a total of 6 nominations for the Petplan & ADCH animal charity awards for 2022 & 6 for 2023 so far! Manager, Lea (also a volunteer) & the team have recently received nominations for the 2024 awards too!

The team also received nominations for the Animal Star Awards, charity team of the year in 2022 & were listed as finalists. We’re delighted to have been nominated again in 2023.

We were also nominated for the Ceva award of animal charity team 2019 and Petplan charity team 2018, 2020 & 2021.

We were also chosen to be one of the Rabbit Welfare Associations sponsor a rescue for 2020.

Volunteer, Hannah was nominated for the Pet Plan Animal Charity of the Year Awards 2023!

Volunteer, Lynda was nominated for the One Voice for Animals UK Pet Rescue Volunteer of the year award.

Volunteer, Charlotte was nominated for the Lockdown Hero’s, Animal Star awards in March 2021

The National Rabbit Festival

We were one of three rescues along with Ivy Dene Rabbit Rescue & The Bunny Jackpot Foundation who organised the UKs first ever ethical rescue focused rabbit festival which was held on 7th October 2023 & a huge success with over a thousand people attending on the day. We’re also excited to be helping organise the 2024 event which we take place on Saturday, 19th October!

For more information about the festival & plans for next year see https://www.thenationalrabbitfestival.co.uk/

Scientific studies

We have been proud to have studies conducted by RVC at our rescue which were published in 2019 and one which will be published in 2020.

Published in April 2020 No Social Distancing for Rabbits: Why Two Bunnies Are Better Than One

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/research/research-centres-and-facilities/rvc-animal-welfare-science-and-ethics/news/no-social-distancing-for-rabbits-why-two-bunnies-are-better-than-one

https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ufaw/aw/2020/00000029/00000002/art00009;jsessionid=3schl145vd0a9.x-ic-live-01

Recent articles in the press

Our feature on the true cost of running a rescue appeared in the summer 2024 issue of Best4bunny magazine.

Our update on the T&S meat rabbits featured in the winter edition of Rabbiting On magazine.

Our article on how you can support rabbits rescues was featured in the winter 2023 edition of Bunny Mad magazine!

An article on three of our previous adoptees appeared in Best4bunny magazine Spring 2023 edition.

An article on our amazing ex-T&S rabbit farm rabbits appeared in the spring issue of RWAFs Rabbiting On magazine.

Our Year of the Rescue Rabbit press release featured in Companion Life Magazine https://www.companionlife.co.uk/2023-year-of-the-rescue-rabbit/

Volunteer, Cat was interviewed on BBC Three Counties Radio & Emma & Lea were interviewed for ITV Anglia 6pm News on 6th February 2023!
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-02-06/animal-charity-at-breaking-point-as-dumped-bunnies-increase-by-200-per-cent

Lea wrote an article for the adoption special (autumn 2022) of Best4bunny magazine.

The autumn issue of Rabbiting On magazine featured an article by Lea on the rabbit welfare crisis.

Our article on the rabbit welfare crisis featured in the summer 2022 of Rabbiting On magazine & half wild bunnies, Winona, Lux & Shay were the cover stars!

Well done to volunteer Cat for getting her piece on our five half wild rabbits looking for new homes published in the April edition of companion life magazine as well as rescue and animal care magazine & also for her recent interview on BBC radio 3!
https://www.companionlife.co.uk/bunnies-celebrate-first-birthday-in-rescue-but-would-love-a-home-of-their-own/

https://www.rescueandanimalcare.com/post/bunnies-celebrate-first-birthday-in-rescue-but-would-love-a-home-of-their-own?utm_source=paid&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=23850153346180606&fbclid=IwAR1JWp8BofMroYVdBso8stT5wzubhfjFUv3CQsZggJqmXw-YMCL7iWlJwHQ_aem_AeIbJWe12DDwQlsmqKq8-NtsA1qkvQie2H8UEVIzixw9qN44fqTC_RCrI9MrQ8vNjY8L4Hn5PNMyVrBGgr2dCWv-vla8DhzL8_QZ7lPR8kwrugwTDcDxNIsARykQDA44egg-EHntevjUWyDNFDnlmApH

Hertfordshire Mercury - Easter 2022 Press Release
https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/rabbits-not-just-easter-warns-6892232

In Your Area - Easter 2022 Press Release
https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/bunnies-are-not-for-kids-warns-royston-rabbit-rescue-ahead-of-easter/

Best4bunny Magazine Winter 2021
We wrotean article on the impact the coronavirus epidemic has had on rescues for the winter issue of Best4bunny Magazine.

Rabbiting On Magazine Autumn 2021

We were delighted to be asked to write a three page article on bonding behaviours for the autumn 2021 issue of the RWAF magazine.

Summer 2021 press release

July 2021 saw our waiting list hit 100 rabbits as so many people were looking to give rabbits they had purchased during lockdown up.

Volunteer, Cat was interviewed on BBC 3 Counties radio on 13th July regarding the rabbit welfare crisis.

Our press release also featured online.
http://vnonline.co.uk/vn/news/20616/More-health-issues-seen-by-rabbit-rescue-centres?fbclid=IwAR2jxKBqL-QxPoTykftC5BPopIiaQopi4o6Kv5CDhkQDEZfVNhMR5tcSUgI
https://essex-tv.co.uk/lockdown-sadness-for-local-pet-rabbits/?fbclid=IwAR1gxLKWF5HW2CrktDu6WgYoGI8NhCE6YTWv4qe7vUy3QLYarrLwn8JY4cI
https://twitter.com/companionlifeuk/status/1415211999642914821?s=21
https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/rabbit-residence-rescue-charity-sees-steady-increase-in-requests-to-take-in-unwanted-pets/

Also featured in the Animal Rescue & Care magazine & Pet Business Worlds magazine.

Best4bunny Magazine Summer 2021

Our article on bonding tips & some of Laura’s amazing photos appeared in the summer 2021 edition of Best4bunny magazine.

One Voice for Animals UK

Our manager, Lea was delighted to be able to contribute to One Voice for Animals UK as a member of the core team & as a guest blogger!
Both Rabbit Residence & also Hope4Hoppers are sponsoring OVFAUK’s Small Furry Pet week in in September 2021.

https://www.helpanimals.co.uk/post/a-better-life-for-rabbits

Easter 2021 Press Release https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-03-15/bunnies-arent-just-for-easter-hertfordshire-rabbit-rescue-charity-warns-against-gifting-them

Our Easter press release also appeared in the Daily Star as well as in Rescue & Animal Care magazine.

https://www.essexmagazine.co.uk/2021/03/royston-rabbit-rescue-urges-families-not-to-buy-rabbits-as-gifts-over-easter/

We had an amazing seven page spread in in Small Furry Pets Magazine In January 2017 and also a piece in Hertfordshire Life.

Spring and summer 2020 see’s publication of articles about our work in both the Rabbit Welfare Association’s On the Hop magazine and the new Best4bunny magazine.

We’ve also been lucky enough to advertise the rescue and its services in these magazines too. Laura and long time volunteer, Garys photos are often featured in Best4bunny magazine and on their educational posters too.

During April 2019 we had several ‘not just for Easter’ articles appear in local press including the Harpenden and St Albans Review and the Peterborough Telegraph https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/people/cambridgeshire-rabbit-sanctuary-calls-owners-do-research-buying-easter-bunny-many-are-quickly-abandoned-987660%3famp

In February 2018 Bounty’s Legacy was published in Bunny Mad magazine. Read Bounty’s Legacy here http://www.rabbitresidence.org.uk/bountyrsquos-legacy.html

Radio & TV

2023 saw the year of the rabbit & Lea & Emma were interviewed for ITV Anglia news & Cat was interviewed on Cambridgeshire radio.

On Easter Saturday 2024 Emma & Paige were interviewed by Ricky Boleto for CBBC Newsround on why rabbits don’t make good Easter gifts. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/av/68702504

In June 2024 Cat produced a summer press release regarding our search for a forever home for the rescue & Lea was interviewed for BBC Cambridge Radio as a result.

In March 2018 volunteer, Lynda spoke Cambridge 105 radio.

Former Animal Care Assistant, Charlotte was interviewed for Radio Cambridge twice over the last two years, She also appeared on ITV Anglia in April 2019.

In March 2021 Manager, Lea went on BBC Cambridge radio.

Educational events

We’ve also held educational stalls during Rabbit Awareness Week in our vets and Scottsdale Garden Centres and local Pets at Home stores.

As part of our member of One Voice for Animals UK we have also been founders of SPRAW! https://www.smallpetrodentawarenessweek.co.uk/

Fundraising events

Last year we were a Lush charity partner at their St Albans store. We’ve also had a craft stall at the Artshed’s Christmas market, and fundraii g stalls on Royston and Barkway markets and at local car boot sales.
We also run incredibly successful online auctions and craft sales with the help of volunteers Lynda and Cheryl.

Merchandise

We’ve been very lucky to have our amazingly talented Senior Animal Care Assistant, Laura design a range of merchandise from greetings cards to t-shirts in order to raise funds for the rescue as well as producing our calendars and Christmas cards.

Each year we sell calendars of our rescue rabbits, these make hugely popular Christmas gifts & usually sell out in a couple of days!

We also have tote bags & car stickers available to purchase during 2024 for £5 each please contact us to purchase.

Plus a range of merchandise available from our Red Bubble store featuring our bunny love logo designed especially for us by Paper Pawtraits. https://www.redbubble.com/people/RabbitResidence/explore?asc=u&page=1&sortOrder=recent

Pre- 2017

Awards

The Rabbit Residence Rescue won 'Best Small Furry Rescue' at the Burgess/Wetnose Awards 2013! Wetnose are a wonderful charity, supporting the work of small rescues and rescue projects in the UK and abroad.