Beak-on for bird lovers (From Free Press Series)

Beak-on for bird lovers

THE first falconry centre in Monmouthshire opened its gates to the public last Saturday.

Owners Roger and June James hope the centre will attract school parties from all over Monmouthshire as well as neighbouring Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent. Free Press reporter Lesley Flynn went to look at the Black Mountain Falconry Centre at Wernddu, Llantilio Pertholey.

The new Black Mountain Falconry Centre on the outskirts of Abergav-enny, run by Roger and June James and June's sister Hazel Foxwell, was officially opened on Saturday by Monmouth AM David Davies.

The centre is home to 45 birds, ranging from owls and falcons to buzzards, and Roger and June have made their home in one of the houses adjacent to the site.

They have run the Halsband falconry display team for years from their former home in Blaenavon.

Roger explained: "We covered a lot of local shows and people always asked us if they could come and see the birds, but we couldn't really invite that many people to our home, so we decided it was time we opened a falconry centre.

"After working at the Welsh Hawking Centre at Barry, we knew how it should work, so we toyed with the idea and this site came up, which we felt was ideally situated."

Roger got the bird bug when he was a teenager living in the same street as an old falconer in Mountain Ash.

His first bird of prey was a sparrowhawk, but over the years he has flown all kinds of birds, particularly before regulations came in to protect endangered species which halted the trade in wild birds. Now they can only be exported for a specific breeding programme.

The family have many exciting ideas for the future, including training hawks to fly with the paragliders who use Skirrid Fawr which is only a couple of miles away.

Mrs Foxwell will be providing educational talks for visitors including school parties, and there is a large display area where the birds will be flown each day.

Within the grounds is a man-made pond already stocked with fish which could, in future, feature in the flying displays. The birds could demonstrate their skills at diving and swooping for their food.

The centre is next door to the Wernddu Golf Club at Llantilio Pertholey which is within walking distance for many local schoolchildren who may want to visit after the Easter holidays.

The five-acre site includes a shop and reception area where visitors can buy souvenirs as well as hot and cold drinks and snacks.

The owners hope to sell locally-produced gifts, and artists using the Court Cupboard at Llantilio Pertholey have expressed an interest in supplying the centre with goods.

Craftswoman Andrea Knight is stocking the shop with her home-made cards. There is also a children's corner for babies and toddlers.

A Shetland pony named Tiger Lily is just one, non-feathered attraction.

Said Roger: "A bird is a bird to toddlers, they are much more interested in touching the animals, so we have rabbits, guinea pigs, five pygmy goats and Tiger Lily for them to stroke."

Alongside the site is a large field where Tiger Lily and two of the family's horses will graze, and this will be used for outdoor events which complement the centre, such as medieval weekends, miniature game fairs or corporate activities in conjunction with the golf club such as archery, falconry and laser clay pigeon shooting.

Opening hours are 10am to 5pm every day. Visitors outside those hours will be greeted by the centre's own guard dog, Ali the German shepherd.