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Owl Trust Widens its View from a Hotel Window
Stirk House Volunteer Event

The World Owl Trust first came into partnership with Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn in 2008, when we were approached by the owners Paul and Anne Caddy to help them with their vole problem. The whole site had just been planted with native trees, making it more attractive to wildlife, unfortunately the trees proved too attractive and were slowly being chewed by many species, including voles. Since visiting and becoming completely enchanted with the place, the Trust and the Hotel set up a joint project. The aim is to encourage owl species to the site, improve the habitat for other species and give people the opportunity to learn more about the local wildlife.

With diversity of habitat ranging from long tussocks of rough grassland, to over 5000 newly planted native trees, the opportunities to come face to face with the wildlife is widespread.

New Native Plantation and Grassland © Paul Caddy

Beneath the grassland the tunnels and runs of the Field Vole are apparent, while the immature trees allow tantalising glimpses of Roe and sometimes Sika Deer. The mature copse is crisscrossed with many a Badger track and is also home to a pair of hooting Tawny Owls.

Tawny Owl Box © Paul Caddy

With the hotel having already provided the myriad of habitat to support these species, all that was left for the Trust to do, was to take that enthusiasm and run with it. The generous offer of improving on the conservation of the site would make this a project to reach even further than we currently can from Muncaster.

The list of species already on-site include Hare, Woodpecker, Badger, Deer, Tawny and Little Owl, along with Waxwing, Great Tit, Bats and Butterflies. Since starting, the site now has a plush wildlife hide for spotting many of the species in comfort. The site has also been interspersed with many nest boxes for both owl and small birds alike and over the coming year, work will begin on planting some new hedges, along with creating a nature trail for people to follow. Bird feeders complete with a camera are to be installed along with two nest box cameras, which will then beam pictures back for people to view, while enjoying a treat in the hotel lounge. There is even the idea of a literary resource centre, to be created so that anyone, young and old, can access varying levels of the world’s leading information on owls and their conservation.

So far the project has engaged many WOT members at our AGM, held at the hotel for the past two years, however as all conservation organisations know, it is support from the local community which measures the success of our projects and Stirk House is no exception.

Although many of the guests who stay at the hotel come from afar to enjoy the sights and sounds of the ground’s wildlife, it is the local people which Stirk House would like to encourage and who can make the difference here. There has been a fun day for the local Gisburn Primary School, to learn more about the project and the work which the hotel and the Trust are trying to achieve at the site. Now however, it is your turn to get involved with a project, designed to get you closer to your local wildlife.

Gisburn Primary School © Paul Caddy

The Trust aims to run an awareness event at Stirk House to help recruit local volunteers to the project with the chance to be involved in some of the wildlife monitoring on-site and helping to spread the message of owl conservation and the efforts of the site to other interested parties. The event will include a chance to meet an owl up close and personal from our Centre at Muncaster, have a guided tour to detect some of the signs left behind by the many secretive species found on-site and also witness some of the more conspicuous residents of Stirk House.

The event which will be held during the evening will take place on Thursday 16th June starting at 7pm and finishing approx 9pm. It is mainly aimed at adults, but all accompanied children are welcome and suitable outdoor clothing and footwear will be needed to wrap up warm. Refreshments will be available. If you are interested in volunteering some of your time or would like to know more about the event please contact Hilary Lange at the World Owl Trust on 01229 717393.

Hilary Lange
UK Conservation Officer

World Owl Trust Registered Charity Number: 1107529 Limited Company Number: 5296745

The World Owl Trust is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). The Trust relies on a dedicated membership, visitors, donations and legacies.