Schools & Museums

Schools

There are many falconers who visit schools... so what's special about us? We are uniquely entertaining because we offer something no other falconer can - historical falconry.

We are highly experienced, knowledgeable and genuine professionals who offer a quality learning experience suitable for children of all ages. Most importantly we are insured, CRB checked and have a proven track record over many years.

We are also Tabulae accredited, visit www.tabulae.org for more information.

So what do we offer schools? Normally schools are happy to go along with our set programme which comprises a 1 hour indoor presentation (can be repeated up to 3 times) followed by a 30 minute outdoor flying display.

Our presentations are lively and interactive with the use of props, sound effects and volunteers. The ideal working space is a hall with a hard floor where we can set up a small falconry scene with live birds on perches, furniture, colourful fabrics and equipment, this 'stage' is the backdrop for our presentations. We can comfortably accommodate approx 30 children per presentation.

The outdoor flying display requires a large open grassed area such as playing field. We will set up a simple safety barrier and a PA system and free fly a variety of birds accompanied by full commentary. We cannot fly on a hard surface playground or inside a safety cage. If we are unable to offer you a flying display we will extend the indoor presentations to a duration of 1 and a half hours to include some group workshops.

We offer the following periods of history to schools:-

LATE ROMAN
ANGLO SAXON / NORMAN
MEDIEVAL
TUDOR
VICTORIAN
EDWARDIAN
WWII
MODERN DAY

Presentations include a variety of topics, some unique to each period. Here is an example of the contents of our most popular period presentation.

Tudor Falconry

The time period and monarch
Clothing & class
Hunting, food & sport
The hunter's quarry
Predator & prey
The nature of hawks
The falconer's equipment
Words, phrases & sayings
A folk story
Q & A session

Natural Sciences

We don't have to talk about history at all. Some schools prefer us to focus on natural sciences and talk about owls, nocturnal/diurnal behaviour, the food chain, habitat & camouflage, feathers and the dynamics of flight. We are quite happy to do this.

We can still offer a 1 or 1 and a half hour talk plus outdoor flying display all presented in modern falconer's uniform.

School Rates

We charge a basic rate of £350 + vat per day.

This does not include travel or accommodation. If you contact us with your location we will calculate the expenses and provide you with an inclusive quote.

The price is fixed regardless of the duration of the visit and we do charge a booking deposit. Please email or telephone to discuss your requirements.

Museums and Indoor Exhibitions

We offer a unique service to indoor venues who wish to offer their visitors unusual and insightful entertainment of the highest quality. We have done so at The V & A Museum as part of their Gothic Exhibition, at The British Library for their Henry VIII Man and Monarch Exhibition and worked at smaller regional museums such as the Stoke Pottery & Art Museum and Devizes Museum.

We are demonstrators, performers, interpreters and story tellers... not just falconers, and we don't have to fly birds to be interesting! We can work to themes (sports, monarchy, folklore, rural life), we can compliment visiting artefacts or special exhibitions, we can re-create images from tapestry and art, we can even work as part of a wider social scene e.g. a king's household. And depending upon your facilities we can work inside or out.

Every performance requires a stage and ours is the Hawk Mews; a small period scene created in a suitable indoor space comprising live birds safely tethered to period perches and around them a variety of period props, falconry equipment, pottery, fabrics, furniture and a real falconer. The mews is always a popular attraction in its own right and allows visitors to view the birds, take photographs and ask questions.

We offer 2 different options:-

Option 1 - Timetabled Presentations: A series of 30 minute talks structured in parts throughout the day during which visitors are invited to handle hoods, try on a glove, listen to stories and learn all about the life and duties of a period falconer.
Option 2 - A Craft Demonstration: Suitable for a regular flow of visitors who pass by without stopping for long. From the mews we demonstrate various falconry crafts such as the making of leather equipment, mixing medicines, dressing lures and imping feathers.

We offer the following periods of history to museums:-

LATE ROMAN
ANGLO SAXON / NORMAN
EARLY MEDIEVAL
LATE MEDIEVAL
TUDOR
ELIZABETHAN
VICTORIAN
EDWARDIAN
WWII