Yes, you will fly between 2/4 birds depending on the group size and weather conditions on the day.
How It Works
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Buy now book laterExperience Days Vouchers are delivered in the form of an open-dated Gift Certificate redeemable at the recipient’s convenience, making it easy for them to book the date that works best for them.
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Instant e-giftGifts can be printed out upon purchase; or, delivered instantly via eMail to you or to the gift recipient. Certificates can be personalized with a message and include a full description of the gift purchased. Don’t worry, we won’t disclose the price of the gift.
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2 500+ Experience DaysWith so many activities to choose from across the UK, you are sure to find the perfect Experience Day for everyone on your list!
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Free exchangesWorried about selecting the perfect gift? No need to! Certificates valid for a specific activity can be exchanged at any time prior to redemption. Plus, open Choice Certificates can be purchased here: Gift Certificates - Experience Days
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Customer ServiceHave questions? No problem. We are happy to answer any questions you may have via eMail.
Bird Of Prey Experience Days: This incredible 2-hour falconry experience is an unforgettable introduction to the ancient practice of falconry, and an opportunity to bond with brilliant birds of prey in the idyllic countryside of Kent!
Falconry has been practiced in one form or another since 2,000 BC, right through into present day, firmly cementing its reputation as a sport with staying power. Falconry remains hugely popular in 2019, and why wouldn’t it be? This remarkable practice reaches across species to connect man with hawk, creating a unique bonding experience for all ages. Your 2-hour falconry experience in Kent will be a fascinating observation of this sport, and will create a memory to last the rest of your life. It will take place in the beautiful Kent countryside, where you'll meet your friendly and knowledgeable instructors for the day. They’ll give you a brief introduction to falconry and take you through some safety procedures, then it’s time to meet the birds! Your new feathered friends will range from a Eurasian Eagle-owl to a Harris Hawk, and you’ll have the unique privilege of seeing them being flown by professional falconers, who'll also provide plenty of information about these birds of prey. Your voucher also includes entry to the Coolings Green and Pleasant 6-acre nature trail, so why not make a day of it?
This 2-hour falconry experience is a perfect gift for the bird-lover in your life, and it makes a special family day out to remember.
When can you book Willows Bird of Prey Centre Kent Experience
This Bird of Prey experience is available throughout the year Tuesday - Sunday, subject to availability. If you have a specific date in mind, please contact our customer service team by clicking the 'Enquire About This Experience' button, and we can look into availability for you.
Days Out Requirements
Minimum age: 8
Anyone under the age of 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
How long is the Willows Bird of Prey Centre Kent Experience
Experience Duration: 2:00
Time Spent at Venue: 2:30
This Bird of Prey experience will last for 2 hours. Pleaseexpect to be at the centre for longer.
Guest Info For Willows Bird of Prey Centre Kent Experience
Participants: The Bird of Prey Experience in Kent is for 1 participant.
Max Group Size: 6
Spectators Allowed on Site: Yes
The maximum group size for this experience is 6.
Spectators are allowed onsite for a charge of £7.99 (adult) and £4.49 (child). The onsite nature trail is included in this cost.
Unfortunately, spectators will not be permitted in certain areas but will be able to shadow the experience.
Activity Location
What to Wear For This Activity
Please wear comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting a little dirty!
There is free on-site parking available.
Is This Activity Weather Dependent?
As some of this experience takes place outside, it may be affected by adverse weather conditions.
Willows Bird of Prey Centre Kent Experience Reviews
- 5 stars out of 5
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It’s 2019, and what better way to start the year than to organise some incredible experience visits? Our first visit of the year was to Willows Bird of Prey Centre (great name!) who were kind enough to invite us up to Sevenoaks in Kent to spend the day with their feathered friends. Gemma and I had never taken part in a bird of prey experience, so we were excited to see what the day would entail.
The drive from Brighton and up the A23 was short and simple - straight motorways, a few country roads, and we were there! Look out for Coolings Green and Pleasant Garden Centre; Willows Bird of Prey Centre is located at the back of the building. The car park is large and easily accessible. I was impressed to see how much was going on at the venue, including large nature trails, garden and aquatic facilities, and a cosy café (the menu looked delicious.) You could most certainly make a day of it! After a short wander through the garden centre, we found the Willows Bird of Prey ticket cabin. Once booked in, you’ll have full access to roam the 6-acre nature trail, as well as entry to see the beautiful birds up close!
Karl was our guide for the day. He met us by the ticket cabin, and led us through to the sanctuary. He was very friendly, and obviously had a keen passion for all the birds which was great to see and hear! The birds are carefully kept in a secure area of the centre, and all name tags are displayed on the front of their homes, so we knew exactly who we were being introduced to! Whilst Karl familiarised us with some of the incredible species, including a red-tailed hawk and an adorable boobook owl called Cosmo, the bird who really stole the show was a newer addition to the family: a raven. What a beautiful and incredibly interactive bird! An impressive part of bird handling – which I’d never heard about before – is ‘imprinting.’ This is used on birds once they hatch to associate them with humans, so they visualise themselves as being ‘one of us’, and is carried out because they don’t automatically know they are a bird when they are born, so they are easier to handle.
We were now ready for the first flying demonstration of the day! As we headed down through the nature trail towards the field we could spot a number of animals, including wallabies, goats, and ferrets! Yes, ferrets. We were told there would be ferret racing later on, so you can imagine I was rather excited to see what this entailed. Nick was taking the bird of prey session that day, and he announced each bird as they flew from post to post, greedy for snacks. My favourite would have to be Ratchet the beautiful little owl; I can’t deny we all sniggered at his fuzzy moustache! After finding out so much more about the birds, we were ready for the added excitement – that’s right, the ferret racing! Mario, Luigi, and Biscuit were super flexible and ready to race around the tubes for their winning treat. Everyone was cheering, and it was a great laugh to break up the day.
Gemma and I were now booked in for our personal meet and greet with the birds, to learn exactly how to handle and fly them. Gemma had Rio the Harris hawk, and I was introduced to a very gentle barn owl. Gemma was up first. Karl pulled out the thick bird-handling glove and Rio instantly flew straight over and perched on her arm - obviously wanting a snack! Rio was smooth and delicate, and watching him fly freely around the field was incredible to see. I was up next with the adorable Scrumpy the Barn Owl. The 5-year-old owl was a delight to handle, and a great model to take up-close photos of. The final part of our bird-handling experience was exceptional. We were introduced to Delilah, a beautiful falcon built for speed and precision. She darted through the sky, pinpointing her moment to soar towards Karl with the food swinging about. He mentioned that just a few minutes’ flying would be the equivalent of a human running a marathon! Not bad a for a couple of minutes of exercise…
Our session came to an end, so Gemma and I had to say goodbye to the birds. We’d like to say a huge thank you to Lauren for organising our visit, as well as Karl and the team for being so friendly and welcoming. We had an amazing time and will most definitely be visiting Willows Bird of Prey Centre again!
Questions about Willows Bird of Prey Centre Kent Experience
Spectators are allowed on the birds of prey experience, but they are subject to standard entrance price which is £6.99 per adult and £4.49 per child. Spectators are able to shadow the experience but will not be allowed in some areas.
The nature trail is included in all experiences but as above spectators are subject to the above costs.
There is a cafe on site also serving breakfast, and lunch meals alongside hot drinks.
Yes you're allowed to bring a camera along and take photos.
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