The Raptor Foundation

We are a bird of prey conservation and education center with over 30 years of experience
and are home to around 180 birds of prey and some 33 different species, some that are
critically endangered. Our reptile house also has a variety of species, some that we can
get out for the children to look at, and 4 species in there are critically endangered.

We can offer unique opportunities to learn outside the classroom, where our learning
sessions are linked to the national curriculum and are suitable for all ages and abilities.
These sessions are interactive for all by using live animals and bio facts. You can choose
from sessions made for foundation, key stages 1,2,34 and post 16 or if you contact us we
can taylor your visit to make it extra special.

This venue is accredited by VAQAS (Visitor Attreaction Quality Scheme)

Managed by VisitEngland and, through its network of regional assessors, boasts an incredible reputation for instigating, modifying and shaping change to the customer experience at visitor attractions across England.

LOtC Member.

We can offer unique opportunities to learn outside the classroom, where our learning sessions are linked to the National Curriculum and are suitable for all ages and abilities. These sessions are interactive for all using live animals and bio facts. You can choose from sessions made for foundation, key stages 1, 2, 3, 4 and post 16 or schools can contact the centre and we can tailor your visit to make it extra special.

The birds can be a focus for Art, Geography or History projectsThe birds can be a focus for Art, Geography or History projects
In Literacy the bird can be a major inspiration for creative writing, explanation and instructional writing.

An example of the session:

FOUNDATION

ADAPTATIONS find out how different animals move to find food. Find out how snakes slither, millipedes walk and birds fly.

FOOD CHAINS & HABITATS find out what they eat, how they eat it and what happens after they eat it. This session will look at a variety of animals and their food, including owl pellet dissection.

KEY STAGE 1

SENSES this session aims to look at how humans and animals use their senses to explore our world.

LIFECYCLES during this session we will explore different animal’s growth, development and producing off spring by using artefacts such as eggs and skins.

ADAPTATIONS find out how different animals move to find food. Find out how snakes slither, millipedes walk and birds fly.

FOOD CHAINS & HABITATS find out what they eat, how they eat it and what happens after they eat it. This session will look at a variety of animal and their food including owl pellet dissection.

KEY STAGE 2

ADAPTATIONS find out how different animals cope in different environments and defend themselves from predators’.

SENSES this session aims to look at how humans and animals use their senses to explore our world.

LIFECYCLES during this session we will explore different animal’s growth, development and producing off spring by using artefacts such as eggs and skins.

KEY STAGE 3

ADAPTATIONS find out how different animals cope in different environments and defend themselves from predators.

SENSES this session aims to look at how humans and animals use their senses to explore our world.

LIFECYCLES during this session we will explore different animal’s growth, development and producing off spring by using artefacts such as eggs and skins.

KEY STAGE 4 AND POST 16

WHAT DOES A CONSERVATION AND RESCUE CENTRE DO? This session will aim to give the students a behind the scenes glimpse of our role; this will include a look at our hospital. It will also include how we train our animals, enclosure design and a chance to quiz the keeper about their jobs.

ADAPTATIONS find out how different animals cope in different environments and defend themselves from predators.

SENSES this session aims to look at how humans and animals use their senses to explore our world.

LIFECYCLES during this session we will explore different animal’s growth, development and producing off spring by using artefacts such as eggs and skins.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

When booking sessions for main stream classes with SEN individuals or for SEN groups, any information you can provide about the needs of your students will help us to make provisions for them.

All visits will also include an opportunity to watch some of our three day flying displays. Should the weather try to spoil your visit, we have a large indoor flying area and education room on site, both of which will be at your disposal for the whole day.

We can cater for group sizes up to 90 children, with plenty of picnic areas, as well as a cafe and gift shop on site.

We provide a teacher pack that can help the teacher prep the children prior to their visit or after we have left the school. Information contained would be about native species, word searches, crosswords, as well as useful information about how to make a nest box and where to position it.

There are no restrictions on photos being taken so long as they are only for personnel use and not commercial gain.

Risk assessments are available upon request, but we do encourage teachers and group leaders to visit the center free of charge to carry out their own risk assessments and find out where toilets etc. are located.

Contact person is Mrs E Blows

The charge for a child ( up to 15 years) is £4.95 with 1 adult going free with every 10
children. Costs for college students etc price on application.

Dress according to the weather. The site has blocked pathed paths. Bring a coat.

All Staff are fully first aid trained.

Shop, canteen, toilets. Pocket money as deemed by teachers. There is plenty of
outdoor space when the weather is good but we also have a large indoor space where lunch can
be eaten.

Yes the venue is completely accessible for those with walking difficulties or in a wheelchair. There is also a disabled toilet.

We have wheelchairs that can be used on the day. We are not DDA compliant and we do not have any SEN staff.

Our normal opening hours are from 10-5 pm.

It is an amazing place and you cannot see the park until you walk through the Gift shop and the Meerkats are the first to greet you. Then through an arch, where some birds are set out on lawns for closer viewing. Your eye is then drawn to the various sized aviaries where other birds are housed. A quiz will take you around the park where you have to find the answers on the animal display boards.

There is ample parking for cars and reserved parking for coaches.

We try to make the visit fun but with learning at its core and we hope that a visit by
a school group encourages them to write about the visit, draw the birds but go away
talking about it for many days.