Salisbury Hospice patients ‘light up’ as TK Maxx alpaca pays a visit

Reggie, who featured in last year’s TK Maxx Christmas advert, was joined by Joey and Alan, plus a goat called Calippo, in the hospice’s courtyard for the launch of the hospice's annual Christmas tree recycling scheme.

The animals were brought to the hospice by Barefoot Barns, which provides wellbeing services to children and adults in Wiltshire and benefits from some of the donated trees.

Read more: Reggie the Alpaca embraces TV stardom on new festive advert

Read more: Alpaca brings festive cheer to hospice as Christmas Tree Collection opens

Natalie Taylor-Muir, senior sister of the inpatient unit at Salisbury Hospice, said: “Everyone has looked at me today like I was a bit crazy when I said there was alpacas coming.

“It makes such an impact. We’ve had a couple of patients who have just lit up when they’ve seen them, which is heart-warming, especially for the patients who maybe have not been as social and not wanted to get as involved.

“They’ve really enjoyed being able to see the alpacas and the goat, and it’s made people’s day a little bit better than it was before.

“From a patient perspective it’s lovely. Staff have had a busy couple of weeks, so it’s been great. Everybody has been excited to come into work knowing there’s going to be alpacas here!”

Natalie watches as the alpacas are taken through the hospice corridors (Image: Spencer Mulholland) Roy Dowinton, who founded Barefoot Barns with his partner Emma, said it was “amazing” to see staff and patients' reactions to the animals.

“You’re never going to get rich doing this, but you are rewarded in so many different ways,” he said.

They created the charity after losing their eldest son, who had autism and associated learning difficulties, six years ago.

The animals' visit marked the launch of the hospice's Christmas tree recycling campaign (Image: Spencer Mulholland) Roy said: “We found that we struggled to take him to places, and we thought there must be other families that struggle, so why don’t we set this up? And we’ll take it to them.”

Reggie was a clear favourite at the hospice visit after his appearance TK Maxx's ‘A Festive Farm’ advert, which has returned to screens this year.

But he sadly had to have an eye removed in the weeks after the advert was filmed, but he continues to live a happy life at Barefoot Barns' base at Figsbury Ring.