The Half Day starts at 10:15am with tea/coffee and an introduction. We start by flying a selection of our smaller birds, usually kestrels and owls. After a midday tea/coffee break, Participants then fly a selection of larger birds, such as owls, hawks, and buzzards. Participants will fly at least 8 birds during the Experience. The Half Day finishes at 12:45pm.
Minimum Age: Participants and Observers must be at least 16 years old.
The Half Day Experience costs £55.00 for one Participant or £100 for two Participants. Anyone else wishing to be present for the experience can come as an “Observer” for £15.00 per person. Observers can accompany the Participants at all times, and includes complimentary tea/coffee. There is a maximum of two Observers per booking.
To book a date within the next 12 weeks, please click here to use our online booking system. To buy a voucher that is valid for 12 months, please use the form below.
Purchase a Half-Day Bird Handling Experience Gift Voucher
Frequently Asked Questions about our Half Day Experience
How often do you run the Experiences and how far ahead do I need to book a date?
We run this Experience throughout the year. We operate on a first-come, first serve basis for all dates. To book a date, we generally say to book as far in advance as possible, but occasionally we can accommodate people at short notice if places are available. Weekend dates are the most popular and can book up very quickly at certain times of the year.
Your voucher will include a link to our online booking system, which will show current available dates. To book over the telephone, please call us on 01562 700014 during our Visitor Centre opening hours.
I have paid online, how long does it take to receive the voucher?
Vouchers are emailed automatically upon successful completion of the payment form. It can take a few minutes for the email to arrive in your inbox. Please check your junk/spam folder before contacting us if you have not receive it. If you have requested a printed voucher, please allow at least 7 days for delivery; you will also receive a copy of the voucher by email.
How do I book a specific date when I pay for the voucher?
Before buying a voucher, you can click here to see available dates within the next six weeks. To book further ahead, please call us on 01562 700014 to discuss availability.
How many participants are in a group?
We limit the Half Day Experience to a maximum of 6 Participants during the week and up to 8 Participants at weekends. There may also be Observers present.
Is this Experience suitable for wheelchair users or people with limited mobility?
Yes, the Half-Day Experience is suitable for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility. Participants should be aware that the experience will involve a short tour around the Visitor Centre before going into the arena (a lawn area). Those with limited mobility/difficulty walking may elect not to join the guided tour and may request a chair to sit on during the flying and handling of the birds. To ensure you get the most enjoyment out of your experience, please let us know when booking if you will be using a wheelchair or if you will require seating in the arena. If you are not certain that this Experience is suitable for you or your intended recipient, please telephone us on 01562 700014 and we will be happy to assist you.
I wish to purchase a voucher for two Participants – can they book separate dates?
The reduced price for two Participants is on the provision that they do the experience together on the same date, so unfortunately it is not possible to book an experience for two on separate dates. Therefore, we will only issue one voucher with one reference number for booking.
Can we take photographs?
Participants and Observers on our Experiences are welcome to bring their own camera to take photographs during their time with us.
Can children/other people watch the experience?
Anyone else wanting to watch the experience can pay the visitor admission charge, and may enter when the Visitor Centre is open to the public at 11:00am. Visitors must remain outside the flying arena, and cannot join the Participant for refreshments. Any children coming to watch an experience must also be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times.
What happens if the weather is bad on the date of my experience, or I cannot attend on the date I have booked?
We will run the experiences in most weather conditions, but we also want you to enjoy your experience. If the weather is predicted to be bad before your booked date, it is up to you if you wish to cancel/rearrange.
If you cancel/rearrange your experience on less than 5 days’ notice, cancellation fees will apply. Please see your Booking Confirmation for full details.
Is admission to the visitor centre included?
Yes – all of the experiences take place at our visitor centre, so there will be time either before or after your experience to look around the aviaries. Once you have booked a date for your experience, your booking confirmation will include the start time of the experience to help you plan your visit around our opening times.