Updated September 2007
Our interest in rabbits began in 1993. Having spent a number of years transforming a wild and overgrown garden into a reasonably respectable patch with stripes on a pristine lawn, there was the comment "What do you think a rabbit run would look like here?" So, began a series of steps that transformed our lives and led us along a path that we had never before envisaged.
We resisted the initial urge to go out immediately and purchase the first bunny we could find from the nearest garden centre or pet store. Instead we decided we would take our time to find a breed which would suit us. We visited our local Gloucester Rabbit Show at Upton St Leonard's and were amazed to see the variety of sizes, colours, and shapes that rabbits come in. As we talked to the many breeders present we learned a little about the passion that drives these people with their enthusiasm for a range of breeds. We learned also a little about the different personalities and issues involved with keeping the different breeds of rabbits.
At this stage we had neither pet carrier nor cage, so were prevented from bringing home a cute individual from a sale pen. We saw the wisdom in continuing to find out more and were recommended to visit other Rabbit Shows throughout the West Country and South Wales. We were invited to visit rabbitries and gradually decided that maybe some small-scale breeding and showing would be our way forward.
We settled upon Netherland Dwarfs, a breed which entranced us with their beauty and size - a classy Nethie is like a piece of fine porcelain! Stunning to behold. Much deliberation followed about colours and we settled upon the Himalayans, Agoutis and Blacks as being our colours to show as Acadia Stud. We can never claim to have been amongst the top studs in the country but we had much success, taking Best of Breeds regularly in all our colours.
Having bred and shown these rabbits for some years we decided to go from one extreme to another in size and set our hearts on a French Lop. This coincided with human ill-health issues starting, so gradually our breeding and showing days came to an end. But the bunnies stayed! We were to discover that there is so much more to appreciate about bunnies than just the sheer good looks of a top bred rabbit which fulfils the breed standard criteria. As the door to the show world closed another, and more enriching, one opened and we now have what has been called a Rabbit Sanctuary where bunnies can live out their lives with love and kindness.
The arrival of Murray had sent us down the path of being devotees of the large rabbits and this is where we are today with a larger bunny family than most people would consider sensible! We have also, through association with friends who run a Rabbit Rescue, taken on a number of other breeds of rabbits who have needed a chance of a safe and permanent home.
The pristine lawn is a memory only. The holidays are memories too. But the bunnies are our family, our life and we would never be without one of them.