October 2004 - Owls by Torchlight

An unusual and fascinating evening awaited members of the Andover Women in Business Club for its October meeting. Dressed warmly in outdoor clothes, unlike their normal and more business-like attire, nearly 40 members and guests arrived at the Hawk Conservancy, Weyhill for an evening of ‘Owls by Torchlight’.

The evening began with a fascinating insight into the history of the Conservancy from its origins in farming though to its collection of animals and latterly its specialisation in Birds of Prey. Ashley Smith, son of the original owner and now Chief Executive of the Hawk Conservancy Trust, admits to some sadness at moving from being a family business to becoming a charity. He concedes that its change of status is financially beneficial for the park and allows for greater scope in developing the Conservancy’s far reaching breeding programme and its newly built Bird Hospital.

AWIBC President, Kate King at the Owls by Torchlight

Despite weather forecasts to the contrary, the evening remained dry and relatively warm and guests enjoyed a warming barbecue, before being split into two groups to view the ‘Owls by Torchlight’ in their habitats.

From spectacle owls to more common and indigenous barn owls, members of the Club marvelled at the beauty and often vocal owls! Despite the darkness, a flying display, illuminated by carefully positioned torches, showed the birds at their most glorious. Retiring to the Education Centre, many of the Club’s members then had the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of holding an owl, under the careful guidance of husband and wife team, Ashley and Tracey Smith. Despite being an evening unlike most AWIBC meetings, members thoroughly enjoyed the experience and saw at first hand how a small family business can grow to the level of the very successful Hawk Conservancy.