International Centre for Birds of Prey
The International Centre for Birds of Prey, nestled in the rolling countryside of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley area near Newent in Gloucestershire, is one of the oldest and most respected falconry and bird of prey centres in the world. Founded in 1967 by the legendary falconer Philip Glasier, it was among the first dedicated facilities in Britain to combine public education with serious conservation breeding work. Today it is widely regarded as a flagship attraction for anyone with an interest in raptors, falconry, and wildlife conservation, drawing visitors from across the United Kingdom and internationally. The centre is home to over 150 birds representing more than 60 species, making its collection one of the most diverse in Europe.
The history of the centre is deeply intertwined with the life and work of Philip Glasier, who devoted decades to the art and science of falconry and was instrumental in developing captive breeding techniques that helped save several raptor species from decline. His daughter Jemima Parry-Jones continued and expanded this work after succeeding him, becoming a celebrated figure in her own right as an author, broadcaster, and advocate for birds of prey. The centre has been involved in breeding programmes for species including the Eurasian eagle owl, peregrine falcon, and various hawk species, and its expertise has contributed to reintroduction and conservation efforts far beyond its Gloucestershire home.
In person, the centre has a wonderfully informal and naturalistic character. The grounds are laid out across several acres and feel more like a carefully tended country estate than a traditional visitor attraction. Weathering lawns where birds sit tethered on their blocks give way to a series of flight aviaries housing owls, eagles, hawks, and vultures. The sounds are unforgettable — the sharp keening of kestrels, the deep whooping call of eagle owls at dusk, and the sudden, muscular rush of wings as birds are flown during demonstrations. The air carries the clean scent of grass and woodland, and the whole atmosphere is one of quiet dedication to the birds themselves.
The surrounding landscape is quintessentially English countryside. Newent sits in a gentle pastoral vale between the Malvern Hills to the east and the ancient Forest of Dean to the west, and the lane leading to the centre winds through hedgerows and orchards typical of this part of Gloucestershire. The broader area offers excellent walking country, with the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty only a short drive away. The town of Ledbury is nearby, as is Ross-on-Wye, and the region is well suited to a day or multi-day countryside visit combining the centre with local pubs, cider farms, and historic market towns.
Flying demonstrations take place several times daily throughout the main visitor season, and these are genuinely theatrical events that allow visitors to see birds performing natural hunting behaviours at close range. Owls glide silently over the heads of seated visitors, harris hawks stoop through the trees, and larger eagles demonstrate their astonishing speed and power. The centre also offers falconry experience days for those who wish to go beyond spectating and actually fly and handle birds under expert supervision. These sessions are popular and tend to book up in advance during the summer months.
The best time to visit is between spring and early autumn when the full programme of flying demonstrations runs and the grounds are at their most pleasant. The centre is also open during school holidays and offers educational programmes for groups. It is situated just outside Newent off the Falconry Centre road, and while it is most conveniently reached by car, visitors arriving without transport can sometimes arrange local taxi connections from Gloucester or Ledbury. Access to the main pathways is broadly manageable for wheelchair users, though the informal nature of the grounds means that some areas are on grass.
One of the more fascinating aspects of the centre's legacy is its role in the revival of British falconry culture in the second half of the twentieth century. When Philip Glasier established the centre, falconry was an ancient art in serious decline in Britain, practiced by only a handful of dedicated enthusiasts. His work helped spark a renaissance in the practice that has seen British falconry listed as part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The centre has trained generations of falconers and raptor keepers, and its influence on how birds of prey are kept, displayed, and understood by the public cannot be overstated.