HIDDEN away in the countryside near Newent, The National Birds of Prey Centre is not the easiest of places to find but well worth the effort. More than 45,000 visitors a year do make the trip, however, and many come back year after year. There is always something new to see, this year its the massive Stellers Sea Eagles, from Kamchatka, and some new owls. With 71 species and 240 birds, the biggest collection in the world, the centre is not cheap to run and visitors are vital.

The vet's bill alone is £5,000 a year and it costs £11,000 for the 14 tonnes of meat the birds get through annually. This diet has proved popular with the new Sea Eagles, which are supposed to eat fish, but seem to prefer rabbit.

The centre was started in 1967 by Philip Glasier, father of its current owner Jemima Parry-Jones,

who had worked as a private falconer for the actor James Robertson Justice.

Today the centre is more concerned with conservation, hence its moto: 'In the end we will

conserve what we love and respect. We will love and respect what we understand. We will

understand only what we are taught or allowed to experience'.

To this end visitors can experience a wide variety of these wonderful birds in action at close

quarters, those with the greatest sense of bravado are inclined to brush your head with their wings as they fly by.

The centre has 38 trained birds and each one has to be flown every day. It gives four flying

demonstrations a day, a chance to see the Secretary Bird, the tallest bird of prey, 'kill' a rubber snake, or marvel at falcons appearing as from nowhere to dive on a lure at speeds of up to

100mph.

The centre also puts on guided tours for parties and provides a variety of courses in falconry. It also has gardens and a picnic area. It is open for 10 months a year, only closing in December and January.