Evicted Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre finds new home

A centre offering wildlife education and birds of prey experiences has finally reopened after 21 months of uncertainty.

Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre, previously based in Hare Hatch on the A4, now has a new purpose-built visitor attraction at Moss End Garden Village, in Warfield.

Home to 22 birds of prey, the organisation was at the centre of a shock closure ordeal when Ladds Garden Village sold the property on which it operated from in September 2020.

The new owners served notice to the business, leaving Feathers and Fur owner Sadie Shepherd and her flock of peregrines, falcons, barn owls, kestrels and a ‘magnificent’ European eagle three months to find a new home.

Since then, former Altwood School pupil Sadie said she has been through ‘an epic period of survival and determination’ which saw her fundraise and build a new centre from the ground up.

“It was devastating, heartbreaking and what I thought was the end of my world,” said Sadie who explained that over 11 years at Ladds she had created something unique.

“I worked to create a centre that people love to visit and now we were told to tear down all of the aviaries, rip out all the fencing and get rid of all the beautiful plants we have worked so hard to shape into a beautiful home for our feathered family.”

The popular family attraction also worked with local schools and community groups.

Sadie added: “Birds have a really fabulous connection with people. I’ve experienced children collectively gasp when they see a barn owl and I’ve met older children who tell me years later all the facts they learnt on their school visit with me.”

This passion for birds of prey and their power to educate and even provide therapy for humans drove Sadie towards finding a new home. “It had to survive,” she said.

A crowdfunding exercise and call to action on social media produced £40,000 in donations and many offers of fields for a new home.

Several of the offers of land, although generous, proved not quite right for the 22 birds, who couldn’t move to a

home close to farmland or built-up areas.

Luckily, a ‘blank canvas’ offer from Moss End Garden Village came with a flying field and room for Sadie and fiancé Jamie Fowler to build six aviaries, a classroom, gift shop and other facilities.

Joined by a small team of volunteers, Sadie and Jamie dug 96 holes for foundations, laid gravel, and painted fences during the winter as ice crystals formed in the woodcote. All whilst ensuring the birds were flown, looked after, and not stressed by the move.

By March 2021 Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre was ready to reopen but Sadie suffered a further blow as the local authority, Bracknell Forest Council, insisted the centre had a zoo licence for members of the public to visit.

It took eight months for that approval to be sought.

Sadie said: “It feels so wonderful to be open.

“I’m really proud of what we have achieved. It has been tough at times but we have survived and I believe the birds are even happier.

“I will always be really grateful to Moss End and to everyone who helped me to restart my business.”