Alice pictured here is just one of the many hens re-homed by the British Hen Welfare Trust, and the charity is now looking for more kind-hearted members of the public to offer other hens like Alice, a lovely patch in their gardens for them to forage, scratch, and peck, till their hearts’ content.

The national charity, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is best known for its pioneering work in re-homing commercial laying hens destined for slaughter, with more than 470,000 hens re-homed since it started in 2005.

A pop-up hen collection will be held in Denmead this Sunday, September 20, when hundreds of ex-colony laying hens just like Alice will be hoping for a chance to explore East Hampshire gardens and allotments.

Local Co-ordinator, Laura McCulloch, said: “These wonderful hens are so full of character, you can’t help but fall in love with their unique personalities. They make amazing pets, and their tasty eggs are an added bonus. There’s nothing like eating cake made from eggs that have come from your own back yard”.

The charity asks for a donation for the hens and if you would like to adopt some, call Hen Central 01884 860084 or e-mail [email protected].