Seven Years of Hampshire Hawk Walks A Journey of Birds Passion and Growth
Seven years can pass in the blink of an eye, yet when I look back at where Hampshire Hawk Walks began, it feels like a lifetime of moments, lessons, freezing fingers, early mornings, wow did you see that flight! but most of all the smiles on the faces of customers that the birds bring.
It seems like only yesterday that I started out with London and Neo, full of ideas, hope, and complete infatuation for the humble Harris's hawk. At the time, the dream was simple: to create something genuine. I wanted people to do more than watch a bird fly. I wanted them to walk in woodland, feel the magic as wings pass close by, and understand, even for a short time, just how remarkable these birds really are.
Now, as we are about to complete our seventh year, Hampshire Hawk Walks has grown into something I could only once imagine. I have a team of 13 birds, a business partner, and a fantastic group of volunteers who all help behind the scenes to make the experience what it is today.
And at the heart of it all, there is still that same feeling that started everything.
Awe.
Where the journey began
Hampshire Hawk Walks did not begin as a polished business with everything neatly in place. It began with passion, a small team of birds, and a desire to share something real.
London and Neo were there at the start. They were not just part of the beginning, they shaped it. They helped me learn, grow, and understand what it meant to offer an experience built around trust, patience, and respect.
I was also lucky in those early days to learn the basics from an exceptional falconer, London’s previous keeper. That foundation mattered more than I probably realised at the time. Falconry is not something you pick up from a book and master overnight. It takes guidance, observation, and humility and years of learning from your mistakes.
Birds of prey have a way of showing you very quickly when you need to slow down, listen more, and think carefully.
Those early lessons still sit behind everything we do today. The importance of good handling. The need to read a bird’s mood. The value of routine. The responsibility of giving each bird a life that is safe, enriching, and suited to them.
In the beginning, I knew I wanted people to feel close to the birds, but never at the expense of the birds themselves. That balance has always mattered.
The goal was never to create a rushed activity where people simply tick falconry off a list. It was to build an immersive experience that gave people time to connect with the birds, the woodland, and the moment.
That idea still guides us seven years on.
Building an experience that feels real
From the start, I wanted our walks to feel grounded in the countryside, not staged or overly polished. Birds of prey belong in open air, trees, fields, and woodland edges. That is where their character comes through.
There is something completely different about seeing a bird fly through a natural setting rather than just holding them or seeing them fly to a post in a field. The experience becomes personal. People notice the details.
They notice the turn of a head. the shake of a tail, the focus in the eyes.
That is when the magic happens.
A good hawk walk is not only about the flight. It is about the space around it. It is about the walk between flights, the conversations, the stories, and the small moments when a bird chooses to sit calmly and take in its surroundings and we do too.
Over the years, we have worked hard to make sure our experiences give people that sense of closeness. Not forced closeness, but the kind that comes from careful handling, good training, and trust built over time.
The birds are always the centre of it. Their welfare comes first, every day, whatever the weather, whatever the booking diary looks like.
That means knowing when a bird is ready to fly and when they need more time. It means accepting that working with animals is never about control in the way people sometimes imagine. It is about partnership.
Every successful flight is built on trust.
That trust takes years to develop and daily work to maintain and that's what we want our clients to see and enjoy on our experiences.
The land that made it possible
One of the biggest reasons Hampshire Hawk Walks has been able to grow is the beautiful woodland and land we are fortunate enough to use.
That has not happened by chance.
Good relationships with local landowners have been key from the very beginning. Without their trust and support, we would not have the same safe, varied, and natural places to fly. Those relationships matter deeply.
Land matters in falconry. Not in a vague way, but in a very practical way.
The right flying ground gives birds space. It gives them trees, cover, open stretches, and different routes. It allows them to behave more naturally and gives each walk a different rhythm depending on the season, the weather, and the bird.
In spring, the woodland feels alive with new growth. In summer, the shade becomes a gift. In autumn, the colours make every flight feel special. In winter, the bare branches open up the sky and reveal every movement.
The land shapes the experience for guests too. People arrive expecting to meet birds of prey, but many leave talking just as much about the peace of the woodland and the feeling of being away from the noise of everyday life.
That is one of the quiet joys of this work.
The birds bring people in, but the setting helps them slow down.
It also reminds us that experiences like this depend on caring for more than the birds. We need to respect paths, gates, fields, wildlife, nesting seasons, livestock, and the people who kindly allow us to use their land.
We have always tried to treat those places with the care they deserve. They are part of the story.
Growing from two birds to a team of 13
To go from those early days with London and Neo to a team of 13 birds is something I feel proud of, and still a little amazed by.
Each bird brings something different. Some are steady and calm. Some are bold. Some are full of attitude. Some seem to enjoy attention, while others make you earn every bit of trust.
That variety is part of what makes the work so rewarding.
People often think of birds of prey in broad terms. Hawks, owls, falcons, eagles. But when you work with them every day, you quickly learn that each bird has a distinct personality and way of seeing the world.
A team of 13 birds also brings responsibility. More birds means more feeding, cleaning, training, record keeping, equipment checks, weather decisions, and daily care. It means planning ahead and being ready to adapt.
Behind every peaceful walk or exciting flight, there is a lot of work that most people never see.
There are early starts. There are wet days. There are repairs, routines, weighing sessions, and careful decisions about which bird is right for which experience. There are days when everything comes together beautifully, and days when nature reminds you that you are not in charge of everything.
That is part of the truth of working with birds.
It is a privilege, but it is never something to take lightly.
The people behind the scenes
Although the birds are the stars, Hampshire Hawk Walks would not be where it is now without people.
Having a business partner has changed what is possible. It means ideas can be shared, decisions can be talked through, and the weight of running things does not sit on just my shoulders all the time.
That matters more than people might think.
A business built around animals is not a normal nine-to-five. The birds need care every day. Bookings need attention. Guests need clear communication. Equipment needs checking. The land needs maintaining. Plans need adjusting when weather changes or a bird needs a different approach.
Having someone alongside you who understands the demands and shares the commitment makes a huge difference.
Then there are the volunteers. Good volunteers are worth their weight in gold. They give time, energy, care, and support, often in ways that are quiet but essential. They help with practical tasks, and the daily jobs behind the scenes that keeps everything running.
What seven years have taught me
Seven years working with birds of prey, guests, landowners, volunteers, and the unpredictable British weather teaches you a lot.
Some lessons are practical. Always check the forecast. Always have a backup plan. Always watch the bird more than the clock.
Some lessons are personal. Patience matters. Consistency matters. Gratitude matters.
The biggest lesson is that growth only feels worthwhile when it stays true to the reason you began.
For me, that reason has always been the birds.
It can be tempting, when something grows, to focus on numbers. More bookings, more visibility, more plans, more everything. But the heart of Hampshire Hawk Walks is not size. It is quality.
It is the look on someone’s face the first time a bird lands on their glove.
It is a nervous guest relaxing as they realise how calm and controlled the experience is.
It is a child asking thoughtful questions.
It is someone walking away with a new respect for raptors, not just a photo.
Those moments matter because they show that the experience is doing what it was meant to do.
The best days are the ones when people leave with more than a memory. They leave with a deeper respect for birds of prey.
That is what I hoped for at the start. It is still what I hope for now.
Remembering London and looking ahead
The photo of good old London from 2019 brings back so much.
Without him, none of this would have been possible. That is not an exaggeration. Some birds shape your path in a way that stays with you forever. London was one of those birds.
He was part of the beginning, part of the learning, and part of the reason this all became real. When I look at that photo, I do not just see a bird from the early days. I see the start of everything that followed.
I see the lessons, the mistakes, the proud moments, and the quiet determination to keep going.
Seven years later, there is so much to be thankful for. Thankful for London and Neo. Thankful for the falconer who helped me learn the basics. Thankful for the landowners who trusted us. Thankful for every bird in our care. Thankful for the business partner and volunteers who help carry the work forward.
Most of all, thankful that the original dream is still alive.
Here is to the next chapter
Seven years is a milestone, but it also feels like a beginning.
There is still more to learn, more to improve, and more people to introduce to the wonder of birds of prey. The team has grown, but the purpose remains simple: to offer honest, immersive experiences that show these birds at their best and help people understand just how special they are.
From London and Neo to a team of 13 birds, from early lessons to trusted land, from one idea to a shared effort, this journey has been built one day at a time.
And if the next seven years are anything like the first, they will be full of hard work, unexpected lessons, and moments that make every bit of effort worthwhile.
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