Max-ing out on wellbeing support with The Llama Sanctuary, Pembrokeshire

Founder of The Llama Sanctuary, Matt Yorke, reckons he first became properly aware of llamas when watching a Tintin cartoon in his youth, when someone said: “Look, several men with llamas”, and “thought it the most preposterous thing that he had ever heard”. 

Then he went on a llama walk about 15 years ago.  

“I found it really relaxing. 

“Llamas are at eye level when you walk with them. Having a large intelligent animal right next to my head felt like quite an intimate experience, and it gave me an ambition to live with some llamas, one day.” 

Matt’s background is in psychology and IT. Losing the sight in one of his eyes gave him a “midlife reassessment of my priorities”, so he decided to move back to Wales to be closer to his family. 

It also opened up the benefit of less expensive land. 

“Llamas may look a bit ridiculous, but wow – these animals are amazing. They’re comical, mystical, noble, dignified, unusual, even a bit weird. 

“It isn’t just to do with their appearance though – it’s the way they interact.  

“As long as llamas are raised the right way, in herds where they learn from their parents and peers, they are very respectful, and they are lovely to be around.” 

Initially, Matt kept llamas just because he liked them, but soon people asked to come and see them.  

From these early beginnings, his llama walking business grew organically. A few years later, the British Llama Society asked him to be their llama rehoming director. Matt has been the main point of contact for llama rehomings and rescues in the UK for the past 7 years. During that time, he has seen more and more llamas come to him needing new homes. 

In 2023, Matt was approached to rehome 130 llamas that were due to be slaughtered. He did not have enough space to bring them all to his farm, but at the eleventh hour, after many frantic phone calls and logistical challenges, he managed to rehome the majority to other experienced homes via the small UK llama network, but it was not easy. The last few ended up with Matt. 

From this experience Matt knew he needed extra land capacity, so that if a similar scenario occurred in future he would be able to automatically provide a home for any llama in need – temporary or long term – without the risk of any animals having to go to slaughter. From this experience grew the seed for The Llama Sanctuary, which became a registered charity in February 2025.  

“The biggest challenges were getting hold of enough land, and registering as a charity. I had lots of experience in the public and private sector, but none in the third sector. 

“Somewhere along the line I contacted Cwmpas. My business adviser Serena helped me select the most appropriate organisational structure, and it quickly became clear that registered charity status would be the best way to raise the huge funds needed.  

“Recently, a gentleman in mid Wales asked for help to rehome his 40 llamas. In return, he donated a six figure sum to help us buy some land – but with the high cost of land, that still wasn’t enough. Luckily, the llama community is very generous, and we’re seeking additional funding to meet the costs of the purchase. We’re hopeful that we’ve now found the property we need to expand.”  

As the Sanctuary continues to seek avenues to secure the extra space needed, Matt is keen to expand the charity to support mental health and wellbeing using the social prescribing model. 

“Llamas are very sensitive, tolerant, tactile animals. They are increasingly used in therapy work. Seeing the impact that they have had on people with additional learning requirements or those on the autistic spectrum has opened my eyes to the possibilities.  

“While the primary objective is still to rehome llamas, and make sure they have safe and happy lives, I also want to make these beautiful animals accessible to people and promote the non-medical opportunities for mental health support which they are so brilliant at providing.” 

Matt has been working with local communities including scouts and dementia groups across west Wales. 

“I feel we’re just scratching the surface: most people don’t know about us yet, but we have so much to offer.” 

Matt very gently and delicately tells me about an autistic girl who visited the sanctuary. 

“Her mother was anxious about how she was going to react, but I reassured her that the llamas we would be using are bombproof. We went for a walk with my calmest llama, but for a whole hour, she wouldn’t come near him. Then she walked up to me and took hold of the lead rope. It was as if a light bulb was suddenly lit. 

“Seeing her reaction was very moving. She didn’t want to let go of him. 

“That opened my eyes to the possibilities. Horses, dogs, and llamas: they all seem to know. They have that gentle, non-judgemental understanding which builds connections.” 

Matt tells me about his favourite llama, Max. 

“Max has always been amazing – I have a special bond with him. We connect. 

“He was one of my first llamas. He was very young and very small when I first saw him. I was a visiting a friend in Devon when he started following me across the field – and that was it, connection built. 

“He used to be one of my best walking llamas until he became famous. He’s been interviewed by an animal psychologist and by Eamonn Holmes, and he’s even featured in a fashion shoot. Now he’s a bit of a diva who just likes cameras and being on TV.” 

Matt’s dream is to create a centre of excellence for llamas here in Wales. 

“At the moment, visits to the llamas are by appointment, but my ambition is to create a walk-in visitor centre, where people can come and picnic and find out all about llamas.  

“We already keep an archive of llama magazines for the British Llama Society – a huge expanse of articles going back to the 1980s. 

“This is a labour of love, and there’s definitely no going back. The llamas and I benefit from an amazing, passionate volunteer network, but ideally I would like to pay people and create local economic opportunities. 

“Llamas are definitely underdeveloped from a wellbeing support point of view.”  

There are challenges ahead, but also hope.  

What would Matt say to someone thinking about setting up a social enterprise or purpose-led business? 

“Definitely go for it, but remember you have to pay the bills. Make sure you can do the basics first. Having said that, there is always a way.  

“I get to make a difference to people. I get to see the benefit in their lives. I go to bed tired, but feeling satisfied. I may not have holidays, but I don’t feel the need to: this is what I love doing.”