2nd
Feb

We seemed to wake up to some snow that day!

Chris Packham in front of Jimmy holding the Snowy Owl

Snow hit the Trust! We awoke to find over a foot of snow covering the ground. Staff spent the day checking bird stock and sweeping the net aviary roofs to stop them collapsing under the weight of snow. Sweeney Todd, the Snowy Owl, came into his own, and a quickly arranged press release informed the media of his first view of snow.

Meridian TV took up the offer and filmed him in almost blizzard conditions. This item went out on the evening news that day.

New Springwatch presenter and Trustee Chris Packham visited the Trust to set up a photo session with Sweeney, and agreed to give a piece to camera.

3rd
Feb

A group of photographers that are known to the Trust were invited to a photo session with Sweeney Todd, which resulted in some stunning images, one of which ended up in the Daily Telegraph.

2nd
to
8th Feb

		Far left and left, the grounds under snow. Above, a new member of staff specially recruited to help deal with the snowy conditions!

Snow continued to fall. Sarson Lane was blocked, and the paths and car park were like an ice rink. The Trust decided to close to the public over the weekend for the safety of its visitors. Staff made the most of the quiet weekends by filling their lunch and coffee breaks with building snow men, snowball fights and sledging down the mound. A competition was held to see who could find the best sledge on the grounds. Water bowls, coffee shop trays and carrying cases were brought into use. The Science department won the day.

Home-made sledges.	It will take more than a bit of weather to stop our staff from giving 100% to their duties.

5th
Feb

All First Aiders at the Trust attended a child conversion course in the Griffon Rooms to refresh their child first aid knowledge.

10th
Feb

Paul & Kim attended a first aid refresher course.

14th
Feb

The beginning of school half term and thus of the main opening season for the Trust. This year the grounds open at 10:00am each day and we have introduced an "early bird" special in the coffee shop. 

There are now two Red Kite and heron feeds, at 11:00am and 4:30pm, and the first display of the day now begins fifteen minutes earlier than in previous years, at 11:45am. This allows more time for visitors to enjoy lunch and view the the grounds before the Valley of the Eagles display starts at 2:00pm.

A week of warm spring sunshine arrived at the Trust, and visitor numbers were good for the start of the season.

16th Feb

The Trust supplied some falconry equipment to Andover Framing shop to provide part of a display for its week-long bird of prey artwork feature.

21st Feb

The first of the Spring Owls By Moonlight evenings took place and again the Trust was blessed with good weather.

26th
Feb