Birds of prey swoop into Swindon church hall

Home-schooled children from across the Swindon area enjoyed a taste of the wild life when Judith Wrighte of Falconry for Schools ran a Meet the Birds day at All Saints' Church Hall, Southbrook Street, Swindon on 12 May.

Around 40 children, aged between four and 10-years-old and from the Swindon Home Educators (SHEd) group, got hands-on with a falcon, vulture and eagle owl and learned all about the diet and habit of birds of prey and the history of falconry.

Organiser Katie Mabberley, whose six-year-old daughter Lily (pictured) was part of the group, said: "They had a fantastic time and all the little ones were really engaged with what Judith was saying. "It was really interactive – they got to hold the vulture on a glove and to feed the birds. I think a number of them were inspired to try falconry again and we hope to invite Judith back to see us again next year."

Judith Wrighte runs Alula Falconry in Hampshire and is one of several experts who run sessions at schools through the Countryside Alliance's Falconry for Schools programme.