Education at the ICBP

ICBP’s goals for achieving education in the conservation field are to be found on many levels. We aim to educate every visitor that comes through the gates. As many are only here for a day out, we try to make our education programmes interesting, informative and fun. They are best achieved through our daily flying demonstrations, where between them, the birds and the staff often teach more than any written information can achieve. However in the education centre, on the enclosures and around the centre is written information to be utilised and our guidebook should add to the experience.

We run a number of different specialised courses. These are designed to cover education on various different levels. A one-day Falconry Experience course, a full five-day Falconry Course, a two-day police Wildlife Liaison Officers course, owl courses, photography days and courses, and external hunting days in other parts of the country, are a part of our education philosophy.

The bird staff offers external lectures on raptors and many other curriculum related topics to schools and other groups. All booked parties that visit the Centre receive a guided tour covering the conservation of birds of prey, or other subject matters if specially requested.

Many work-experience students come to the Centre, from schools, colleges, veterinary colleges and foreign establishments, learning and experiencing the care and understanding required for such a large and specialist collection. The longer they work with us the more they learn and the better we like having them.