Things to do in North Yorkshire, England: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas

Enjoy the thrills and excitement of falconry at the Birds of Prey and Conservation Centre, with over 70 birds and 30 species.Eagles, falcons, hawks, kites, vultures and owls will swoop and dive around you as you sit in a beautiful arena. Our skilled handlers will explain why the birds hunt and fly as they do, where they come from in the wild and how they are trained.We also provide falconry experience days for both adults and children, experiences days start from £30..

Located within a purpose built complex on our 175 acre site, you'll find our awe-inspiring Lightwater Valley Falconry, which is home to over 50 amazing raptors including Owls, Falcons, Eagles and Hawks. There are also Rheas, Snakes and our inquisitive Ferrets too!Established to raise awareness of a wide selection of breath-taking birds, this facility offers a truly unique experience. As well as having the opportunity to see how these amazing birds are trained and handled and to learn about every aspect of their daily lives, visitors have the chance to watch dramatic flying shows every day (during theme park opening hours). In fact, you could even volunteer to pull on a gauntlet and allow our trained raptors to land on your arm or have your photo taken with one of the magnificent creatures.Lightwater Valley Falconry is open all year round, and in addition to the main Bird of Prey Centre also offers a unique range of falconry attractions including Hawk Walks and Owl Experiences.

FROM 12 April 2021 WE ARE OPEN AS NORMAL The National Centre for Birds of Prey at Duncombe Park is the largest collection of these amazing birds in the north of England. You will find over 100 owls, eagles, vultures, falcons, hawks kites and more in a spacious 10 acre setting. We are a leader in the captive breeding, welfare and conservation of these awesome birds. Please don't compare us to other bird of prey centres, we are in a different league! We have a team of trained bird who fly twice times a day at 11.30 and 14.00. Different birds are flown at each demo. We even have an indoor area if the weather isn't being kind. In recognition of the quality of the National Centre for Birds of Prey - we won our category in the White Rose Awards, the UK's largest regional tourism awards and then we won best attraction in the Visit York awards

Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve covers 100 acres of moorland edge adjacent to Cambrai Lines at Catterick and has a remarkable mix of habitats and species. The reserve contains semi-natural woodland, heathland, flower-rich grassland, streams, ponds, a lake, willow and Alder carr, coniferous woodlands and wet meadows. The patchwork of habitats across Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve is home to more than 2440 species. At the heart of the reserve is a modern, purpose-designed Field Centre, a great place to start your visit and learn more about the wildlife of Foxglove Covert. The diverse habitats of the site mean that a variety of bird species is either resident or passing through on migration and bird ringing is one of the most important aspects of conservation on the reserve. In common with all other bird ringing sites, Foxglove Covert carries out its work under the auspices of The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). We are located as part of Catterick Garrison so identification is required to access the site. Please see our website for further details on access and directions. Access to the site is free, however any donations are gratefully received to help us find the £100,000 it costs each year to keep the reserve open. We are open every day (except Christmas, Boxing and New Years Days); Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.00pm and weekends and bank holidays 10.00am-4.00pm.

York Bird Of Prey Centre is home to over 80 Stunning Birds Of Prey. Including owls, vultures, hawks, falcons and even eagles! We pride ourselves on giving a HANDS ON EXPERIENCE here so we have an exciting daily program which includes flying demonstrations, regular educational talks, and the opportunity to handle our birds throughout the day. We offer one to one experience packages which gives customers an experience they will never forget, we are also available for outside events such as school visits, weddings and other functions. Sponsorship packages are also available for all of our birds, and we do run several special events throughout the season such as car shows, and photography days! Check out our website for further details! Please note we are disabled accessible, we have an onsite cafe serving cold food and hot drinks, unfortunately dogs are not allowed on site. We are also closed on Tuesdays and would also close in severe rain and wind. Please contact us for any further information!

Alpaca walks most afternoons by appointment only, you can arrange to meet our herd of friendly alpacas, find out all about these facinating creatures and learn how to look after your chosen alpaca on your walk. Alpacas are curious animals so like to stroll along the bridleways taking in the views and sampling the fresh grass, occasionally getting down for a roll! We walk for around a mile and when we get back to the farm you can meet and feed the mums with their cria (baby alpacas) making sure you get lots of pictures to remember your day.

A 60 minute package in which you will accompany one of our experienced and knowledgeable staff members on a walk through our delightful undulating farm land, forestry and pastures with views of the North Yorkshire Coast and the North Yorkshire Moors. During the trek you will walk with and lead your your very own Alpaca companion. You will have ample time for your own photographs and we can even a

100 acres of beautiful woodland gardens and the UK's finest Bird of Prey & Wildlife center. Walks, trails and glades to explore. One of the finest collections of trees in the North of England. As well as the gardens founded by Sir Leonard Ropner, Thorp Perrow also includes Milbank Pinetum planted by Lady Augusta Milbank in the nineteenth century and the 16th century Spring Wood. Thorp Perrow is home to five National Plant Collections; Tilia (Lime), Fraxinus (Ash), Cotinus (Smoke Bush), Laburnum and Juglans (Walnut) and boasts 66 Champion trees in its collection. Thorp Perrow is also home to a Bird of Prey and Mammal Centre. Situated in the old walled garden is a collection of birds of prey and mammals. With daily flying displays and tours lots for all the family to see and do! Children can let off some steam in our woodland playground whilst parents can enjoy a nice cup of tea and some delicious cake from our tearoom. A fantastic day out all year round