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Children facing difficulties given ‘DreamNight’ at the Hawk Conservancy Trust

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This week, our annual DreamNight event returned to provide a special evening for local children who face more challenges than most.

The return of the Trust’s ‘DreamNight’ event, following a hiatus during the Covid 19 pandemic, welcomed over 200 children along with their families and carers from local hospices, youth charities, and children’s support groups.  They all came along to enjoy an exclusive evening of inspiration and entertainment featuring a fantastic flying display with a chance to see the our birds fly exhilaratingly close. It was great to hear the Trust come alive with excited cheers from the children as the birds flew over their heads!

Alongside the flying display, the children enjoyed other activities including tractor rides, face painting, meeting the animals from Finkley Down Farm Park and pony rides with the team from Andover Riding for the Disabled Association.

A delicious barbeque was provided with help from Green Farm Events and Sumblers Brothers Butchers, as well as a delicious spread of cakes and sweet treats provided by Women’s Institutes. Local musicians and entertainers were also in attendance providing a magical atmosphere during the evening, with Jonathon the Jester bringing delight through jokes and cheer.

Penny Smout, Hawk Conservancy Trust CEO, explained that the Trust has been excited to bring back this special night for local children. She said: “DreamNight is such an enjoyable evening, for both the guests and our team here at the Trust. It was magical to welcome the children and watching the smiles on their faces throughout the event was a joyous sight to see once again. We are delighted to have this special event back.”

Felicity Strawson-Etherington, who attended with her daughter Mabel said: “Thank you for a wonderful evening! Watching my daughter Mabel in awe of the birds swooping over her head was just brilliant. Thank you to all the team who were all so lovely and helpful.”

‘DreamNight at the Zoo’ is an event that started in the Netherlands in 1996 and has since become a global initiative. We have been running DreamNights over the last decade but was forced to pause the events during the COVID 19 pandemic.

While the Hawk Conservancy Trust funded this year’s event itself it has said a big thank you to those that have taken part and to all staff and volunteers who came to help.

It is an event that the Trust would like to continue next year and to enable this it is looking for funders who could help and is asking any companies or individuals to get in touch using contact details which can be found at its website www.hawk-conservancy.org

Photographs provided by Viv Broughton 

Meet Jenny!

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Jenny Abery has joined the Hawk Conservancy Trust’s Education team as our brand new Principal Educator! We are delighted to have Jenny on board. She joined us at the beginning of May and has already been getting busy working with our Bird Team on our educational visits! Read more from Jenny:

‘Thank you for the warm welcome to the Hawk Conservancy Trust, I am thrilled to be a part of the team and am very excited to get stuck into the new role.

Since graduating from the University of Southampton in 2016, I have had many different roles, including working in other collections, outdoor education in the New Forest National Park, Ecology, and managing nature reserves. My passion has always been in conservation education, reconnecting people with the natural world and raising awareness of the threats which many species face.

I have been coming to the Trust since I was a child and have long admired the conservation work and mission. A group of birds which really drew me here is our amazing vultures, and the vital conservation and education work the Trust undertakes to preserve these important species. Changing people’s perceptions of these beautiful birds which have often been villainised in the past and raising awareness of their plight is a challenge I have always enjoyed. It is a prime example of just how important conservation education is in the long-term protection of species and their habitats.

I first became passionate about the natural world through sharks, another misunderstood and often feared species. I clearly have an affinity for the misunderstood and underappreciated of the natural world, but those that clearly need all the attention and protection we can give. The work the Trust already does to promote these wonderful animals is inspiring, and certainly piqued my excitement to come and work somewhere which embodies my values and passion for wildlife.

My role will encompass everything involving education delivery. Conservation education is embedded in everything we deliver here at the Trust and is vital to our national and international conservation efforts. In my first month, my focus has mainly been on the school visits, upcoming events and compiling new Super Top Trump cards for our Top Trumps Trail, but my long-term aim will also be to develop a long-term education strategy for the Trust. Through my role I hope to continue the fantastic work of the Trust to raise the profile and awareness of the amazing birds we work with.’

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