Hampshire Bird Festival Flagship Event at Manor Farm Country Park, Sunday 19 September

Manor Farm Country Park in Pylands Lane is hosting the Hampshire Bird Festival’s flagship event, the Hampshire Bird Fair, this Sunday 19 September, 10am to 4pm.

The programme includes bird walks through the park’s woodland areas and along the banks of the River Hamble, falconry displays, family activities and the chance to see birds of prey up close, plus members of various Hampshire conservation groups will be manning stalls with information on different aspects of birdlife.

The Hampshire Bird Festival was launched in February as a ‘year long celebration of the birds of this county,’ with a variety of events taking place during the year. Festival bird walks continue over the next few months, locally at Titchfield, Lepe, Weston Shore, Hamble and Eastleigh.

Entry to the Bird Fair at Manor Farm Country Park is free, although parking charges (£2.00 per day) apply. For more information about the event visit the Manor Farm website or phone 01489 787055.

If you can’t make the Bird Fair on Sunday but are interested in finding out more about birds of prey, Itchen Valley Country Park is holding a Falconry Photography event on Saturday 2 October, with sessions at 10.30am –12 noon and 1pm – 2.30pm. Talks about the life of a falcon and a flying display will be followed by a photo opportunity with visitors again able to get up close and capture on camera images of the birds of prey.

The event is open to anybody aged 8 and over and the organisers advise that children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

If you’d like to attend, the cost is £7.50 per person and you’ll need to book – phone 02380 466091.

Photo of a kestrel (voted the bird most representative of the county by Hampshire residents at the beginning of the year) from Flickr by Crackers93.