Barn Owl Home
Latest news & events
Rot Proof - Thermal Protected - Well Ventilated - Durable - Built to Last - Weather Resistant - Owl Friendly - ECO Friendly - Click to find out more
ECO Owl Boxes VS Plywood Owl Boxes
Click Here for price or to purchase.
As an extra addition to our Eco range of Owl Boxes, we have launched this new ECO design for 2017, this being a deeper external ECO Barn Owl Box (Ref EcoT).
As well as being an ECO Box, we have taken the design of our indoor Barn Owl Box & designed an external version with new inspection & cleaning openingt, this we feel makes life a little safer when nest box inspections or cleaning of the box takes place.
This Barn Owl Nest Box adds choice to our customers whilst adding much more to the range of Eco, timber & plywood nest boxes we already make & supply UK wide.
The huge benefits are that it's a lighter Owl Box & the main structure of the box is made from quality & durable recycled plastic that has superior thermal insulation and heat retaining properties.
With a well thought out & constructed design put in by our experienced conservation team, they have produced a great Barn Owl Box.
Here's a list of great benefits to our 'Specially designed' ECO Barn Owl Box
- Well ventilated with excellent thermal protection to cope with heatwaves
- Robust in design & lighter than timber or plywood Owl Boxes.
- ECO friendly, durable, washable & longer lasting, which means the Owl Box will not rot.
- Waterproof & well ventilated to combat the harshest of UK weather conditions.
- Superior thermal insulation to keep the Owl Box cool during hot weather conditions.
- Ventalated ECO floor, designed to offer strength & designed to provide airflow to combat moisture build up from Owl Pellets or any condensation issues from nest debris.
- Made from quality & durable recycled, reclyable 9mm ECO Stokbord that has superior thermal insulation and heat retaining properties.
- Through a lot of hard work, our conservation team have professionally tested this Recycled Barn Owl Box over time against any drawbacks such as especially heat & condensation, the results gained have proved hugely positive in support of the welfare of Owls & their young.
- Recycled Stokbord is chemical free, making it non toxic to Owls & all wildlife.
- Requires no protective treatment or staining, which is a huge bonus as the years go by!
- Comes with a 'robust' fixing bracket system made from solid timber.
- Easy to install & much lighter to handle when using internally or externally.
- Comes with a well designed ECO inspection hatch plus a detachable ECO roof for easy access & cleaning, there is no bitumen felt used, which can get very hot in heat summer.
- Supported with our ECO Stokbord entrance porch that has been specially designed to protect the entrance hole from driving wind & rain. This provides a protective entrance point into the box plus this it allows the ECO Box to be faced in any direction.
- Each ECO Barn Owl Box is sent out with its unique ID number, this means you can record the ECO Owl Box back to us or to a local project near you. (Recording is Optional)
- Also & most important, our Owl Conservation team are always on the end of the phone from 9am to 9pm daily to offer important support as & when required. (Tel: 01452 383999)
- Published Case Study report. http://www.centriforce.com/files/6614/5805/9028/CaseStudy13-Barn_Owl_Centre.pdf
Volunteers Wanted
Can you spare a few hours to help out
Office/Admin Volunteer
We are currently looking for an active volunteer who can spare a few hours during the week to help out in the office. If you have good computer skills, good communication skills & enjoy working in an office environment working to support Owls, we would love to hear from you. Please call us on 01452 383999
Owl Box Workshop Volunteers
We are currently looking for active volunteers who would enjoy helping out in our busy workshop where we make and assemble a range of Owl Nest Boxes.
Basic carpentry or workshop experience is an advantage but training will be provided.
Volunteers for Nature Reserve
In addition we're also looking for volunteers who can work with us to help maintain the farms natural environment. Tasks include the mowing and upkeep of a long trail of grass paths that gently feed through the farms 12.5 acre nature reserve, other tasks include some habitat management, forexample the pruning of some of the habitat growth that grows out from the nature trails. All Tools and Ground Keeping equipment is supplied
Ideal for people enjoy being active!
The above offers some great opportunities for all ages especially for those who are now retired. We have a great environment that works tirelessly to support wildlife and a sanctuary that supports Owls and Raptors that have come into our sanctuary from a growing Pet Trade.
There is always something to do and to get involved in.
If you're interested or know someone who could be interested, please give us a call to make arrangements to pop over. We would love to show you around and to connect with you to get you actively involved.
Telephone 01452 383999
Office hours are from 9am to 9pm, 7 days a week
Kindest Regards
Vincent Jones
Founding Trustee/Director
The Countess Bathurst joins our charity as Patron
20th September 2016
We are delighted to announce and to welcome The Countess Bathurst @CotswoldLadyB has our Patron.
We feel very honoured to welcome her on board, she is an amazing person to work with, she's very passionate and supportive of our work and the wider community.
To learn more about the Countess Bathurst please visit here
More to follow shortly
Welcome to the re-launch of our long awaited Gloucestershire Owl Project 2016-19
Gloucestershire Owl Conservation Project
Please spread the word if your a Gloucestershire Landowner or an active local Volunteer who enjoys supporting local wildife.
Over the last few months our conservation team have been working very hard behind the scenes in preparing the re-launch of our long awaited Gloucestershire Owl Project 2016-19.
This will be an exciting Owl Project that will run for 3years, our aim is to connect this project to would be volunteers & to local communities across the county of Gloucestershire.
Our dedicated conservation team have finalised a working plan to bring forward a very large scale Owl Project that will provide much needed support for Gloucestershire's Barn Owls, Tawny Owls, Little Owls & Kestrels.
As we move forward we will report the progess of our project by creating news stories that will be backed up with images & video footage.If you wish to support or get involved as an active team player, please give us a call on 01452 383999.
For anyone kind enough that is able offer the project a supportive donation, please (CLICK HERE)
Workshop Volunteers Wanted
If you are interested in volunteering your time & have the skills we require to make this project a real success, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
We are looking for one or possibly two additional volunteers that have reasonable or good woodworking experience, full training will be provided.
With the expansion of our workshop we need help from skilled or semi skilled people that are confident using tools such as nail guns & cross cut saws, etc.
If you have any spare time on your hands and would like to offer your time, please call 01452 383999 and ask to speak to Vincent Jones.
All travelling expenses occurred will be reimbursed.
Please get in touch & become part of a great Conservation team at the Barn Owl Centre.
Thank you for visiting this page to learn more about our Sanctuary and our Birds
Here we run a specialised Sanctuary to support Captive Bred Owls & Birds of Prey
Established in 1997, our Sanctuary is dedicated to the lifelong care and protection of a significant number of Captive-bred Owls and Birds of Prey. Over the years, we have offered refuge for birds that have been placed in care by their keepers as unwanted pets, as well as a large number of Owls and Birds of Prey that were placed in our care by the RSPCA, this followed a legal case of cruelty, where the keeper was prosecuted.
Many of the birds in our care have complex histories, behaviors, and traumas. To ensure their well-being, we operate a 24-hour Sanctuary that is not open to the Public. By opening our doors to the Public would require us to apply for a Zoo License, this would not be in the best interest of our Sanctuary, when considering the sensitive nature of all the birds now in our care.
Our Sanctuary operates with a core ethos of Bird Welfare, Conservation, and Education. We strive to provide a safe, nurturing environment where our birds can thrive without the stress of operating as a registered Zoo, prioritising the birds welfare is important to our Charity.
The below relates to a Cruelty Court Case, all 26 birds were placed in our care, video evidence below was shown in cour & in media.
Full News Story below plus video evidence was reported by main media outlets
A 68-year-old man who claimed to be running an animal rescue centre in Shropshire has escaped an immediate prison sentence after being found guilty of kicking and punching several birds of prey.
William MacKenzie was filmed by neighbours mistreating several protected species of owl at his Shrewsbury home over a two year period.
MacKenzie, of Boscobel Drive, Heath Farm, was eventually reported, which followed the birds being taken away from him on the 6th October 2011, on the same day all birds, 26 in total were transported and placed in the care of a well established Owl charity located in Gloucester.
On the 12th September 2012 William Mackenzie was finally found guilty of nine animal welfare charges and was handed a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He was also given a lifetime ban from keeping any type of animal and ordered to wear an electronic tag for six months as well as pay £500 in costs.
During the two-day trial on the 11th and 12th September 2012, Shrewsbury Magistrates Court was shown video footage, filmed by neighbours, The video evidence showed MacKenzie striking and kicking several birds in his garden, including a Snowy Owl, an African Spotted Eagle Owl & a Barn Owl.
MacKenzie was also captured on video mowing his lawn next to a number of distressed Owls, whilst grabbing & throwing to one side like a rag doll on separate occasions a Barn Owl & a Tawny Owl.
Chairman of the magistrates’ bench Mrs Maxine Taplin, said: “There is clear evidence of suffering.” This he clearly denied even after being shown the video evidence played in court!
Following the verdict of Guilty, RSPCA inspector Dave McCartney said: “His behaviour is exaggerated by the fact that he was running a rescue centre supposedly caring for sick and injured birds. He was, in his own words, ‘experienced and knowledgeable’ and should have known what he was doing was wrong. “For some birds there was no escape. They were tethered when they were grabbed, punched & kicked.”
MacKenzie said it was his hobby to rescue birds which had been abandoned as pets or involved in road accidents. He was known to exhibit these birds at shows and events across Shropshire to raise money to support his interest
Reported by BBC News - Link)
Reported by Daily Mail Online (Link)
plus other media outlets
'1st Row of Images below shows the garden environment and how the birds were kept
'2nd Row of images below show their new environment and life here at the Barn Owl Centre'
2015 - Great News for Gloucestershire Barn Owls, Little Owls, Tawny Owls & Kestrels
2nd January 2015
Added support given to Gloucestershire Owls & Kestrels
Following on from a very successful 2014 breeding season, the Barn Owl Centre is pleased to announce that it will be joining forces with the newly formed Gloucestershire Barn Owl Monitoring Group (GBOMP). Our dedicated conservation team will assist in what ever way we can.
For 2015 onwards, additional projects sites within the Gloucestershire Countryside, this will be created to provide an important boost to the number of important breeding sites for Barn Owls, Little Owls, Tawny Owls & Kestrels.
To get involved or to find out more, please call the Barn Owl Centre's Conservation Team on 01452 383999 or visit this link to GBOMP's WEBSITE.
For up to date news on how this important work moves forward, please visit our active Twitter Pages
Barn Owl Centre on Twitter (CLICK HERE)
GBOMP on Twitter (CLICK HERE)
Barn Owl Centre helps PTS rescue a Bird of Prey
13th November 2014
Sparrowhawk Rescue
We were called out today to help rescue a male Sparrowhawk trapped in a building owned by PTS Plumbing, Gloucester.
Other organisations were contacted by PTS but sadly no help was offered even though they were national organisations.
Being a small local Rescue Charity we arrived to site very quickly & the Sparrowhawk was quickly rescued & released successful back to the wild by the branch manager Ian Riliey
Well done PTS Plumbing Supplies - Gloucester for taking the time to help a trapped Sparrowhawk.
IN MEMORY OF A VERY SPECIAL BARN OWL & FOUNDER 'GYZMO'
Gyzmo's Legacy
Due to a recent & complicated illness, which we thought he was getting over, Gyzmo all of a sudden took a turn for the worst & went downhill. It is with a massive amount of sadness that we have to announce that this well loved Barn Owl, our closest ever friend, gently fell asleep in our hands on the morning of 7th June 2014 at 1.30am. Typing this with tears is hard
Gloucestershire Wild Barn Owls 2014
21st May 2014
Nest Box 2 - Contained a brood of 5 Barn Owlets & 1 adult female
Nest Box 3 - Contained a female Mandarin Duck on 4 eggs
Nest Box 4 - Contained a brood of 6 Barn Owlets & one adult female
Nest Box 5 - Contained a brood of 5 Barn Owlets & one adult female.
All adults were ringed, one adult was already ringed & due to age of the young, only 5 Owlets were rung, which means a revisit is required. The Mandarin Duck was also ringed.
Looking at other data coming in from around the UK, it looks like Barn Owl numbers will increase significantly this year!!! Looking forward to visiting more nest boxes & hearing about the results from others who also work to support Barn Owls.
Image seen here was taken as a record of a brood of 6 Barn Owlets from Nest Box 4. Beautiful aren't they & yes they are true wild Barn Owlets & not captive bred Barn Owlets which is very important!
Barn Owl Manors now off to Malaysia
9 July 2013
Barn Owl Manors attract international interest
The Barn Owl Centre are pleased to announce that we have won an international contract with a Malaysian Company, this was to supply & ship over to Malaysia, two of our super sized Barn Owl Manors.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Barn Owl Centre Documentary
7 March 2006
The Barn Owl Centre are please to provide web viewers & supporters with a televised recording of a programme called "Heart of the Country" This outlinings just some of the problems we as a charity have to deal with regarding the captive breeding of Barn Owls as Pets.