CASTLE Drogo took a step back in time this week to prove animal power is still a worthy alternative to today's highly powered machines.
Working donkeys were recruited for the first time ever at the castle gardens to extract timber during a tree clearing exercise.
Being able to get to the parts the tractor and trailer cannot reach were the main reason why 'Ripator' and 'Bramble', owned by Jill Gill of Okehampton, were brought along to help.
Head gardener Micky Little explained: 'The donkeys are trained to do exactly the sort of work that was required of them at Drogo.
'They are small and nimble enough to get into the undergrowth and remove some of the tree limbs without causing the damage to pathways and undergrowth that the use of machinery would necessitate.'
He said they could also take the timber from the rhododendron glen right up to the woodpile, so completing the job in one go.
Following the clearance of the weed trees in the rhododendron glen which were blocking the canopy and suffocating existing trees and shrubs, the staff will be able to plant up more rhododendron species, magnolias and acers to help develop this area of the garden.
Mr Little said the exercise had gone very well and although the donkeys were inevitably slower than machines, the advantages included less noise and 'good poo' for the garden.
'Donkeys blend in much better in the Castle Drogo gardens than a tractor and trailer,' he said.
'I suggested we get the donkeys in on a contract job after they were here for a rural crafts day recently and it has worked really well.
'I would definitely consider using them again.'
Picture by Ian Snell