New ‘Woodland Wonders’ flying display taking off for the Easter Holidays

A new bird of prey flying display is being launched just in time for the Easter holidays!

The new ‘Woodland Wonders’ flying display will take flight daily from Saturday 5 April, following extensive remodelling work within our Woodland Arena. It will bring to life the quintessential British woodland environment and highlight its importance as a habitat for the many species of wildlife it supports.

Multiple birds of prey will take to the air as stunningly choreographed music, special effects and narration give visitors a close-up view of life deep among the trees. Some may feel the breeze of an owl’s wings brushing incredibly close overhead – perhaps those of a Tawny Owl, Barn Owl or even a Little Owl – so named as the smallest species of owl living wild in the UK.

Speaking about the new display, our Deputy Head of Living Collection Tom Morath said: “The team has been working on Woodland Wonders for months now and we can’t wait to share it with our visitors.  Set within our beautiful woodland, this is the most intimate of the three very different flying displays we offer every day. With its new features and captivating storytelling, Woodland Wonders reveals more than ever before about fascinating birds of prey here in the UK.  Our visitors can learn about the challenges these birds face, and how the Trust’s British conservation projects improve our knowledge of these species, helping us to conserve them. Ultimately, we try to ensure all our visitors leave feeling uplifted, more aware and inspired to support birds of prey.”

“We’ve really spread our creative wings for Woodland Wonders.  The team of staff and volunteers have worked incredibly hard to make this our most immersive experience to date – expanding the seating for new and dynamic viewing angles and even creating a charming waterfall and stream as a backdrop to the stunning skills displayed by our wonderful birds.”

Many of you will have seen last year’s arrival of Little Owl chicks Cheddar and Mozzarella and Barn Owl chicks Lulu and Brie.  All four are now fully grown and ready to take flight in the new display when it opens at the start of April.