PAYNTER is a real workhorse - but hes just a gentle giant at heart. And he was a big hit with visitors at a Woodland Heritage Open Day at Pegswood, near Morpeth. The 15-year-old Dales-Clydesdale cross earns his living hauling timber at woodland sites all over the country. His owner, Mark Turnbull, from County Durham, has had him since he was a foal. He specialises in working on sites of special scientific interest where use of heavy machinery is ruled out. His sure-footed ability is ideal for working in difficult conditions such as steep slopes or peat bogs. Paynter, who Mr Turnbull says is just like a member of the family, has a long working life ahead of him. Mr Turnbull also brought along ten-year-old Barney so that people could see the type of pony that used to live and work underground in the UKs collieries. More than 70,000 worked in Britains pits at the turn of the 20th century. The last four employed in Northumberland retired when Ellington Colliery closed in 1994.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 22:50:17 +0000
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