HawkTalk Issue 90 Spring 2022

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HAWKTALK SPRING 2022 ISSUE 90

100 Club The 100 Club has been going from strength to strength over the past few years, and we are so thankful for the continuing support of all our 100 Clubbers, particularly during the upheaval of the past two years. At the time of writing, our 195 Members hold 262 shares between them, and there is £13,000 in our bank account ready to hand over to the Hawk Conservancy Trust. In March we met with Penny Smout (CEO) and Andy Hinton (Head of Development and Bird Team Mentor) to learn of the Trust’s plans for 2022, about damage caused by the three storms in February and necessary improvements to infrastructure on the park. We have agreed the 100 Club will make donations towards a new Outdoor Classroom and two “launch pads” for the vultures and other large birds to help them get airborne. Andy explained about a drainage issue in front of the Discovery Barn which needs urgent attention. Due to the demand for builders and supplies, it is proving difficult to cost and staff these schemes, but we will keep everyone advised as and when we make donations to the Trust. If you are not yet a member of the 100 Club but would like to learn more, please visit the support section of Hawk Conservancy Trust website, to find “The 100 Club” which gives brief details of how we fundraise for the Trust’s vital conservation, research and education work. John and I will be at the Hawk Conservancy Trust Members’ Evening on Saturday 11 June so please come and have a chat. Finally, invitations are going out to 100 Club Members to attend an exclusive evening at the park on Friday 20 May , so please mark the date in your diaries. James Knight (Bird Team) has agreed to give us a presentation and it is hoped that Jennie Marshall (Bird Team Apprentice) will be presenting a flying display, along with Ben Cox and/or Tom Morath (Bird Team). Tea, refreshments and a raffle are included. These special evenings are always enjoyable, we look forward to seeing as many of our members as possible. Thelma and John Cobbold Members’ Event Book your tickets for Members’ Evening on Saturday 11 June, from 5pm We would like to invite you to our exclusive annual event for members to thank you for your continued support. It will be a fun-filled evening with some exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, updates on our conservation and research work, announcement of the overall winner of our 2021 Photographic Competition and a delicious Barbecue (£5.50 per person) There is a limited capacity, so please pre-book your place on our website or by calling us.

Welcome Lauren

We’re excited to introduce you to our newest team member! Lauren Collins joined our Marketing Team in February. Name: Lauren Job role: Marketing and Communications Executive Favourite thing about working at the Trust: Getting to know all the incredibly passionate people working towards the conservation of birds of prey. Greatest achievement: I didn’t go to university, so working my way up from part-time work at 16 to a career in conservation marketing is a dream come true! A keen environmentalist, Lauren is passionate about protecting and conserving the natural world around us and is looking forward to inspiring others to do the same in fun, new, creative ways. When she’s not at work, Lauren can be found cuddling her rescue cat Pepper, and is looking forward to hopping on a plane again soon to continue travelling and hiking on new adventures!