The Donkey Sanctuary has claimed that walking donkeys through a wildflower meadow at its site in Sidmouth has contributed to the flowering of several species of orchid.

It walked two of its rescued donkeys through the meadow for training and exercise last summer, and now the wildflowers are blooming.

The charity's conservation team, which has been managing the meadow for a few years, has recorded a rise in both numbers and species of wildflower.

It had been hoped that the donkeys walking through would knock seeds from wildflowers, help fix plant seeds into the soil and create good conditions for seed germination in the spring.

Bee orchids in the meadow (The Donkey Sanctuary)

Now, there are 'record numbers' of bee orchids and common spotted orchids. Southern marsh orchid and ragged robin have also been spotted there for the first time.

The charity also said that donkeys benefit nutritionally and can 'express a wider range of behaviours' when foraging in this type of habitat.