What a hoot! Simon’s owls to be teachers
Simon Ellis at Silverwood Garden Centre with his European Eagle Owl Jess, who was born in captivity. Photo: SG100213-115NG
Rescuing and returning owls to the wild where possible is a hobby Simon Ellis pursues in his spare time.
Now he’s going into business enabling the rest of us, and children in particular, to get to know, handle and understand his owls as well as snakes, spiders and reptiles.
You can meet Simon and his owls on weekends at Silverwood Garden Centre, Long Sutton, where he’s set up a commercial unit called Woodstock.
The aim is to carry on the work he’s already been doing as Hoots R Us for more than four years, taking owls into the classroom at local schools to illustrate the ‘nocturnal animals’ part of the curriculum.
Individuals, families and groups will be able to pay for a session familiarising themselves with the owls and other animals and learning how best to care for them.
Simon said: “I used to work at a local owl centre and then thought I could set up on my own. People were already bringing me injured owls or ones they’d got because of the owl in the Harry Potter films then found they couldn’t look after them.
“We had 26 at home near Fleet. All have been returned to the wild or found new homes apart from the three British owls I havefor the business. The reptiles and other creatures will be here next.”
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Weather for Spalding
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 32 mph
Wind direction: North east
