Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, visited the new site for the World Owl Centre in Himley Hall to meet with volunteers and help them clean up the area.
Gavin joined volunteers and trustees of the Trust, including Alan Peace the Chairman of the World Owl Trust, in their work to prepare the site for building work. Volunteers meet each Saturday to clear the ground ready for construction work.
Gavin recently became a RSPB ‘species champion’ in Parliament for the Barn Owl and was keen to learn more about the bird, especially after learning that the World Owl Centre would be relocating from Cumbria to Himley Hall. Gavin had the opportunity to meet Barney the Barn Owl who Alan rescued when he was found starving in July 2015.
The World Owl Trust currently has a collection of 196 owls. The centre aims to preserve and conserve owls, including some of the rarest and most endangered species in the world. Their conservation programmes protect populations of endangered owls until their habitat has been restored. This has already been achieved for the European Eagle Owl and British Barn Owl.
It is hoped that the new centre will be fully operational in the Spring of 2017 and that it will provide a full day’s experience for visitors where, as well as seeing the finest collection of owls in the UK, facilities will also include a gift shop, restaurant and picnic area overlooking the on-site lake.
Chairman of the Trust Alan Peace said: “The World Owl Trust was founded by Tony Warburton MBE over 30 years ago and the trust moving to the West Midlands is very exciting. In addition to its prime function as a conservation organisation, it is going to provide visitors to the new centre with a unique experience and the opportunity to see owls which they possibly cannot see anywhere else.”
After his visit Gavin commented: “I had a fantastic time meeting the volunteers at the Himley Hall site and helping clearing out the site. The Trust does fantastic work in the protection of Owls. It was an honour to meet Barney, especially after becoming a Barn Owl species champion recently and hearing how the trust has helped the Barn Owl species as a whole.
“It takes a lot of hard work for the site to be prepared and I’d like to thank all those that are putting in so much dedication to ensure that the site is prepared for the next stages of building. I am really looking forward to coming to the Centre after it opens next year. This is going to be a major tourist attraction for South Staffordshire and will be an important draw in bringing people to visit our area.”