• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • First Time Here?
    • Royal Oak
    • Our App
    • Contact
    • Free Anglotopia Mobile and Tablet App
    • Advertise
    • History of Anglotopia
    • Newsletters
    • Disclaimer
    • Press Room
  • Blog
    • Podcast
  • Sections
    • Anglophilia
      • Anglophile 101
      • Anglotopia Long Reads
      • Desktop Wallpapers
      • Anglophile Alerts
      • Anglophile Deals
      • Anglophile Gear
      • Anglophile Zen
      • British Food
    • British TV
      • BBC
      • Downton Abbey
      • Doctor Who News
      • British TV Videos
      • Top Gear
    • British History
      • Great Britons
      • Winston Churchill
      • British Literature
      • British Empire
      • British Military
      • English Language
      • Royal History
      • Shakespeare
    • Royal Family
      • Queen Elizabeth
      • Prince Harry
      • Prince George
      • Royal Couple – Will & Kate
      • Royal Family
      • Royal History
      • Royal Traditions
    • Reviews
      • Brit DVD Reviews
      • Brit Book Reviews
      • Brit Movie Reviews
      • Brit TV Reviews
      • Brit Music Reviews
      • Attraction Reviews
  • Top British Slang
    • British Slang Archives
    • British Slang Dictionary
    • British English: The Top 50 Most Beautiful British Insults
    • British Slang: Your Guide to British Police Slang for the Telly Watcher
    • British Slang: Tea Time – British Words for Tea and Tea Related Culture
    • British Slang: British Railway Terms
    • ltimate List of Funny British Place Names
  • London
  • Tours
    • Top UK Tour Operators
    • Top London Tours
    • Top Day Trips from London
    • Anglophile Recommendations
    • UK Lodging Recommendations
  • British Forum
  • Our Books
    • Adventures in Anglotopia
    • British Slang Dictionary
    • 101 London Travel Tips
    • 101 Budget Britain Travel Tips – 2nd Edition
    • Anglophile Vignettes
    • Great Britons Book: Top 50 Greatest Brits Who Ever Lived
    • Great Events in British History
  • Royaltopia
  • British Store
    • New Arrivals
    • British Products On Sale
    • British Imports
    • Coronation Products
    • Union Jack Faerie Lights
    • Anglotopia Gear
    • British Tea in the USA

Anglotopia.net

The Website for People Who Love Britain - Anglophiles

  • Royaltopia
    • The King
    • The Coronation
    • Prince of Wales
    • Royal History
    • The Monarchs
    • Royal Traditions
    • Royal Couple – Will & Kate
    • Queen Elizabeth
  • British News
  • History
    • Prehistoric Britain
    • British Legends
    • Roman Britain
    • Anglo-Saxon
    • Norman Britain
    • Medieval Era
    • Plantagenet Era
    • Tudor Era
    • Elizabethan Era
    • Carolinean Era
    • Interregnum Era
    • Jacobean Era
    • Stuart Era
    • Restoration Era
    • Georgian Era
    • Colonial America
    • Edwardian Era
    • Regency Era
    • British Empire
    • Victorian Era
    • Interwar Period
    • Winston Churchill
    • Modern Britain
    • Royal History
    • Through the Library
    • Transport History
    • The Monarchs
    • World War I Era
    • World War II
  • Entertainment
    • British TV
      • Doctor Who
      • BBC
      • Downton Abbey
      • Top Gear
      • Brit TV Reviews
      • Acorn Media
      • Britbox
    • British Movies
    • British Music
  • Columns
    • Long Reads
      • Magazine
      • Dreams of Britain
      • Inspiration
      • Great British Art
      • Inspiration Videos
      • Inspirational Places
    • Eating British in America
    • An American Student Abroad
    • A Brit Back Home
    • A Day In the Life…
    • A Church in Wales
    • Through the Lens
    • Through the Library
    • Anglophile Life
    • Laura’s Britain
    • Lost in the Pond
  • Anglophilia
    • Anglophile 101
    • Anglophile Alerts
    • Anglophile Problems
    • Anglophile Gear
    • English Language
    • Anglophile Zen
    • Pictures of England
  • British Heritage
  • Britishness
    • Art
    • British Architecture
    • British Aristocracy
    • British Weather
    • British Cars
    • British Products
    • Brit Knits
    • Brit Crafts
    • Brit Recipes
    • British Food
    • British Christmas
    • Our Trips
      • Anglotopia’s Grand Adventure – Land’s End to John O’Groats
      • Rural Writers Institute Trip
      • Harry’s Wedding
      • Anglotopia Goes to Oxford
      • England Spring 2017 Trip
      • February 2017
      • Spring 2016 Trip
      • London 2016
      • An English Christmas Trip – 2013
      • Training for Hadrian’s Wall – 2014
      • Jubilee 2012 Trip
      • Royal Wedding Trip Diaries
      • Trip to England – July 2010
      • Trip to England 2009
  • British Forum
You are here: Home / Travel / Days Out / British Travel: Off the Beaten Path: Exploring the Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre in Berkshire

British Travel: Off the Beaten Path: Exploring the Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre in Berkshire

May 27, 2015 By Guest Writer

Echo2

With all the beautiful, exciting tourist attractions the UK has to offer, sometimes a day trip outside of the hustle and bustle can be just the thing to make your travel experience complete. But how does one go about finding things to do in small villages or the English countryside, especially when family and budget are a consideration? For animal and nature lovers, may I suggest the Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre.

Situated about 45 minutes by train outside of London in Ladd’s Garden Village, Reading, Berkshire, the Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre offers all sorts of opportunities to experience amazing birds firsthand.

An expert falconer will accompany you throughout your activity. I secured an appointment for a family falconry session online with Falconer Sadie Shepherd. This included a 1-hour appointment for myself and three children, and allows up to 6 people to participate without age restrictions, and offers availability 7 days a week. Educated in Countryside Studies and Rural Resource Management, Sadie set up Feathers and Fur in 2009, after having extensive experience in falcon breeding and volunteer work in the US, Iceland and Africa. In her own words, Sadie’s goal is to:

“…introduce people to the birds that we so often glimpse at on the side of the motorway or admire as they circle and soar above us, teaching us how they fit into the environment and how we can help protect them”.

In both North America and the UK, the captive breeding of birds of prey is now both widespread and successful. It began as a way to curb the declining bird populations being detrimentally affected by habitat loss, undesirable predators and the ongoing use of chemicals such as DDT and PCBs. By the 1970’s, populations had become increasingly limited, with the peregrine falcon being particularly affected. Around this time, UK falconer Phillip Glasier of the Falconry Centre in Glocestershire obtained more than 20 species of captive raptors. This spawned cooperative efforts between falconers, governments and non-governmental agencies to supplement wild raptor populations in peril. In North America, the movement was especially strong due to private donations and funding allocations bestowed through the 1972 Endangered Species Act, which enabled falconers who had bred birds in captivity such as peregrines, golden eagles, bald eagles and aplomado falcons, to release them back into the wild.

Bert

Our visit began with Bert, a beautiful barn owl. Pale in colour with dark eyes, the barn owl is one of the most widespread species of owl. While it is nocturnal in North America, in Britain it also hunts by day. Because they are small eyed, they hunt primarily by sound, locating small rodents with their acute hearing. With gloved hands, Sadie provided us with male chicks she buys from local farmers to feed her birds (no, they were not alive!). Bert flew from hand to hand across the field when we called him to eat. His flight was amazing and his wingspan impressive at about 50 inches (127 cm), though his actual body was only a foot tall and weighed about 1.5 lbs. We were told that in the rainy weather so prevalent in the UK, it is imperative for barn owls to stay as dry as possible or their feathers are stripped of oils, impairing their flight and chilling them terribly.

Ash

Next came Ash, a Tawny owl who perched quietly on my 12 year old’s hand as he walked the field. As the most common owl in Britain, the Tawny owl is a popular fixture in British literature, known for its signature “tu-whit tu-whoo” call at night. Tinier than the barn owl, Ash was very light to hold at only ¾ of a pound. The wingspan of this little guy is about 40” (100 cm), and with soft, rounded wings, his flight was nearly silent. The Tawny owl pair-bonds for life in most cases. They nest in tree holes or abandoned crow’s nests and hunt mice, small birds and fish. Like Bert, Ash uses hearing, which is roughly 10x more accurate than human ears, to hunt- as his eyesight is quite average for the owl world. In addition, the Tawny owl uses 10 different vocal calls.

Echo

Echo was a Harris Hawk. Known for their sociability and group hunting, these medium-large hawks are intelligent and quite trainable, making them a regular fixture in falconry. They are not only popular in Britain but also Central and South America as well as the Southwestern US. They range in height from 18-23” (46-59 cm), and have a wingspan of similar width to their stature. They possess a harsh, shrill call. Echo had beautiful red wings and when we spread out in the field and called him, he came directly to us with ease and precision. The diet of the Harris hawk consists of birds, small mammals insects and lizards. The female is the dominant bird in the group.

 

charlieSaving the best for last, we were introduced to Charlie, the enormous Indian Eagle Owl. These fantastic large-horned owls have a booming call at dawn and dusk and in the wild, reside in forested areas in pairs with their mates. What an experience to hold this bird so close and stroke it’s beautiful feathers! Knowing we would likely never be this close again, we couldn’t resist! Indian Eagle Owls have a sizeable geographic scope, including Pakistan, Nepal and India. They stand 19-22” (48-55 cm) in height and weigh between 3-5 lbs. Sadie let us feel through the feathers to those little bodies underneath to get a sense of how big the plumage really makes them look. These owls are full size by 10 weeks old and their vocalization is low, clear and ringing. Diet consists of meaty things, such as mice, rats (making them very beneficial to farmers) and even crabs.

Sadie warned us that with springtime upon us, love was in the air for the birds, leaving them highly distracted, but we never noticed and found the experience incredibly rewarding. We did not know beforehand which birds we would spend our hour with, but we were really pleased. We were permitted to take pictures, even selfies with some of the birds, with a few pointers from Sadie. There are other animals at the centre if you happen to be going with young children: ferrets, guinea pigs, giant rabbits and dogs live amongst the birds in addition to the other birds in the outdoor aviary. In contrast to most tourist attractions, The Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre offers a unforgettable experience that is sure to please animal lovers of any age.

Related links:

www.allaboutbirds.org

www.feathersandfur.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/Feathersandfurfalconrycentre?fref=ts

www.screechowlsanctuary.co.uk

www.wildowl.co.uk

Falconer Phillip Glassier

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/23/us/phillip-glasier-who-made-falconry-modern-dies-at-84.html

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1355462/Phillip-Glasier.html

For a list of UK falconry Centres consult:

www.tripadvisor.com

Travel Information:

Train bookings are available at: www.thetrainline.com. You must travel from Paddington Station to Twyford.

Ticket cost: £15 per person return, with the purchase of 3 online, the 4th was free.

I hour Family Falconry Session: £60

At Twyford train station, cabs routinely wait out front. The cost to Ladd’s Garden Village was £10 and the driver agreed to pick us up again when we had finished.

Lorelei Bachman is Canadian freelance writer/composer who is also a mother, an avid traveler and lover of all things British.  She travels to Europe often, and loves sharing her food and travel experiences with friends and family.

close

Daily British News

Sign-up for free daily emails with the latest news about British culture, heritage, and history!

We promise we’ll never spam!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pocket
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit

Related

Filed Under: Days Out, Family Travel, Featured, Guest Posts, Guest Writers, Travel

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Royaltopia Newsletter

Free Daily Newsletter dedicated to the Royal Family and the new reign of King Charles III. Get a free Crown and Glory PDF eBook with sign-up!

We promise we’ll never spam!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. You must confirm before you start receiving emails.

About Guest Writer

This post was written by a guest contributor. Please see their details in the post above for more information. If you'd like to guest article for Anglotopia, please see this page for more details about how you can share your story with our community.

Primary Sidebar

Free British News In Your Inbox!

Royaltopia Newsletter

Free Daily Newsletter dedicated to the Royal Family and the new reign of King Charles III. Get a free Crown and Glory PDF eBook with sign-up!

We promise we’ll never spam!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. You must confirm before you start receiving emails.

Search our Extensive Archive

Get the Free Anglotopia App

Our Fabulous Advertisers

Free British Weekly Newsletter

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up!

Recent Discussions on the Anglotopia Forum

  • British people of Anglotopia, what do you make of the whole anglophile thing ?
  • Are you traveling to Britain in 2023?
  • Let's talk about British Food! What's your favorite?
  • British Christmas Traditions?
  • Seventy Years of Dennis the Menace
  • Box of Delights, anyone?
  • Mudlarking
  • Homesickness strikes
  • Weill you be in London for the Coronation in 2023?
  • Please share your memories of the Queen?

Recent Posts

Hever Castle

Top Five Royal Related Places to Visit in Kent

Anglotopia Alert: NEW PRODUCT – London Red Bus and Phone Box Collectable Ceramic Salt and Pepper Set

Great British Events: What’s On Around Britain in June 2023

Glastonbury announces its full schedule for 2023

Ten Interesting Facts about Queen Mary I

Ten Interesting Facts about Coronation Street

Robert Fripp and Toyah Wilcox announce “Sunday Lunch Rock Party” Tour

King and Queen complete two-day Northern Ireland trip in UK’s most westerly town

King and Queen’s coronation celebrated on visit to Northern Ireland

Poll reveals 100 greatest children’s books ever including Matilda and The Hobbit

Best Posts on Anglotopia

  • Top 100 British Slang Words and Phrases
  • Top 50 Most Beautiful British Insults
  • Ultimate List of Funny British Place Names
  • Top 16 Best Castles in England
  • Our Love Affair with Shaftesbury Dorset Explained
  • British Stores in the USA
  • 101 Free Things to do in London
  • Top British Comedies of All Time
  • Top 11 Stately Homes in England
  • The Top 12 Castles in Scotland
  • Top Ten British Chick Flicks
  • Top 10 Anglophile Movies
  • Top 13 Best Castles in Wales
  • Brit Telly 101: Understanding British Police Ranks
  • Brit Slang: British Slang in the Bedroom
  • Finding Downton: Our Journey to Highclere Castle
  • Titanic: 10 Famous People Who Died On The Titanic
  • 33 British Slang Words and Phrases You’ll Want to Start Using Regularly Today Because They’re Awesome
  • Top 10 Classic British Motorcycles
  • Top Ten of the Best British Sweets

British Long Reads

I Was An Afternoon Tea Awards Judge

What’s On Around Britain in March 2023

A Very Winston Christmas: Chartwell at Christmas

Laura’s Britain: A Visit to Idyllic Ightham Mote National Trust in Kent

A Church in Wales: The Housesitting Edition – Update on Welsh Church Conversion

More From the Print Magazine

Anglotopia’s Top Categories

  • British Slang Archives
  • Royal Family
  • Great Events in British History
  • Great British Houses
  • Great British Icons
  • The Monarchs
  • British Slang
  • A Day In the Life…
  • Long-form British Articles
  • British TV
  • British Culture
  • Our Travels in Britain

Footer

About Us

Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!

Contact Us!

Interested in advertising on the world's largest website dedicated to all things Britain? Or maybe you have a story for us or would like to work together. We want to hear from you!

Reach Us At: E-mail: info@anglotopia.net

Free British Weekly Newsletter

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up!

As Seen On or In:

Link Partners

  • Gold Hill Shaftesbury Live HD Webcam
  • Irishtopia.net
  • SEO Backlinks
  • Travel Blog

Top Anglotopia Categories

  • British Slang Archives
  • Royal Family
  • Great Events in British History
  • Great British Houses
  • Great British Icons
  • The Monarchs
  • British Slang
  • A Day In the Life…
  • Long-form British Articles
  • British TV
  • British Culture
  • Our Travels in Britain

Copyright © 2023 Anglotopia, LLC · Website Developed by Anglotopia, LLC · Log in