Bracknell

Bracken and Bramble, the Bracknell borough's much loved shire horses, will be receiving a fond farewell this summer before retiring after 16 years' service.

The Bracknell horses - who have become very popular with local residents - will be making appearances at events across the area before retiring in September to the Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Norfolk.

They had become a common sight around Bracknell Forest since they started working for the borough in May 1992. Their work included collecting landscaping waste, pulling grass-cutting equipment and watering the town centre’s floral displays.

At weekends the horses regularly attended school fetes and fun days and at Christmas they have given Father Christmas a ride to his grotto in Princess Square Shopping Centre.

The two shires were purchased by Bracknell Forest Borough Council from Radford Shires in Bath. On their arrival, a competition was held in a local newspaper to name them. Since then Bracken and Bramble have become local celebrities in their own right, regularly appearing in the local press.

Cllr Iain McCracken, the Executive Member responsible for the Bracknell borough's landscape team, said: "Bracken and Bramble's retirement really marks the end of an era for the borough as they have been a popular sight over the last 16 years, always attracting a crowd.

"We are delighted that they will be retiring to the excellent Redwings Horse Sanctuary, where local people will still be able to visit them if they are holidaying in the Norfolk area."

Redwings is the largest horse charity in the UK, with eight sites including its Caldecott Visitor Centre located on the A143 beween Great Yarmouth and Beccles, where the charity are hoping to settle in Bracken and Bramble once they arrive. The centre is open every year from April to October so the shires will be able to meet the public and perhaps even keep their "hooves in" by taking visitors for horse drawn tours of the site.

Nicola Markwell, Press and Communications Manager at the sanctuary, said: "We will make sure Bracken and Bramble have a super retirement and that they receive the care and support they need. I am sure they will prove very popular with visitors to the sanctuary and Bracknell Forest residents are more than welcome to come and visit them."

Entry is free to the Redwings' Caldecott Visitor Centre near Great Yarmouth. For more details, visit www.redwings.org or call 01508 481000.

The Bracknell Council does not intend to replace the horses at this moment in time, due to the planned regeneration of Bracknell town centre. Shire horses are a long term commitment, and they may not be appropriate for the new town centre.

Bracken and Bramble vital statistics

Bracken
Bracken is a 17.3hh bay gelding. He is 22 years old and was one of the lead horses when Colin Horler of Radford Shires broke the world record when 20 horses were driven by one man.

Bramble
Bramble is a 17.3hh bay gelding. He is 19 years old and is less experienced than Bracken but he is a very friendly gentle giant who likes attention.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council