Junior Falconry Experience

Description

Designed for those aged between 8 and 12 years old the Junior Falconry Experience is a fantastically unique hands-on experience allowing you the opportunity to spend the day as a Falconer. The 3-hour experience will cover all aspects of the daily life of a falconer and give a unique insight into what was once the Sport of Kings.

What’s involved ?

Our meeting point is our wonderful falconry centre based within Moss End Garden Village. The experience starts at 10.00am with introductions and a tour of the centre. 1 parent or guardian must stay with the ‘Junior Falconer’ for the duration of the experience although they are not allowed to take part in the experience however can take lots of photos.

Tasks throughout the day include preparing the birds food (chicken, rat and quail), cleaning out an aviary, learning how to tie the falconers knot, learning the correct way to approach a tethered bird and picking them up on to the fist, holding them correctly, weighing the birds, checking and managing the equipment, learning basic training techniques, using the telemetry to track a lost bird, then having the birds fly to the fist out in our flying field. The experience finishes at 1pm.

When do the Junior Falconry Experience take place?

The Junior Falconry Experiences are held on the 3rd Sunday of every month and with a maximum of 4 in a group these sessions fill very quickly. Please contact our booking team for more information or to book a slot on the next available date. Junior Falconry Experience are available a gift voucher and have a 1 year validity.

How to book a Junior Falconry Experience

1 – Gift Voucher or E-Voucher

The Junior Falconry Experience is available as an E-Voucher or a physical Gift Voucher, both with a 1 years validity, making them an ideal present for family and friends. Both voucher are personalised to the recipient of the voucher so don’t forget to add their name to the ‘recipient’ box on the payment page.

The E-Voucher is sent via email within 24 hour of your purchase (they are personalised so not automatically created), which you can then print off yourself. The option for this is above when selecting the drop down ‘voucher options’  please select the E-Voucher option.

The Gift Voucher are a physical voucher that we hand write and post out, so you have something lovely to wrap up and gift. There is an additional £3 charge for this voucher. The option for the Gift Voucher is in the drop down ‘voucher options’ please select the Gift Voucher option.

2 – Specific Date

If you are looking for a specific date for your Junior Falconry Experience, please call or email so that we can check the diary for you. 

Please do not purchase this encounter without checking the availability if you are looking for a specific date, as our sessions and encounters can fill up months in advance. Once you are confirmed in the diary we will then ask you to return here to make payment. 

Payment is always taken in advance for the Junior Falconry Day. 

Redeeming your voucher

If you have been lucky enough to receive a Junior Falconry Experience gift voucher then redeeming it is very simple. 

Simply drop us an email using the Contact Us form or via info@feathersandfur.co.uk and we will let you know all the spaces we have available. Weekend and school holidays fill up months in advance. Please also include the name on the gift voucher, your voucher number and a contact phone number. 

Things to know 

How many people per session – This is a mixed group session with a maximum of 4 children per group plus 1 accompanying adult per voucher.

Can I book more than one space? – Yes, however the maximum children in a session is 4

Weather –  This session will still go ahead if the weather is just damp as falconers do still work in the rain, however if we feel the weather will impact the enjoyment of the day then we will contact you early in the morning to rearrange your session. 

What to wear –  all our sessions and experiences take place out doors so we recommend suitable clothing and foot wear as it is often colder than you would think when you are flying birds, please also do not wear anything precious as we will be cleaning out ‘poo’!. Long sleeve and suitable foot wear are also required in this session. Long sleeves can be as a removable layer if it is warm.

Covid-19 – we are currently working in smaller groups, adhering to social distancing, using a one way system around the centre and asking everyone to use hand gel at the entrance to the site and once you have finished with the falconry gloves. 

Cameras – Dont forget to bring your camera with you as our birds are very photogenic ( we can’t same the same for the falconers though!!) 

Where sessions take place and what is available there –  all our sessions take place at Moss End Garden Village, Maidenhead Road, Bracknell RG42 6EJ. Moss End Garden Village has parking facilities, toilets, cafe and many other shops on site.