Borders falconry group may have to put down birds after falling through coronavirus funding gap

A Borders falconry business may have to euthanise its 27 birds of prey unless it receives some financial aid.
Helen Chadfield of Falconry Borders with a European Eagle Owl. Photo: Jennifer Charlton Photography.Helen Chadfield of Falconry Borders with a European Eagle Owl. Photo: Jennifer Charlton Photography.
Helen Chadfield of Falconry Borders with a European Eagle Owl. Photo: Jennifer Charlton Photography.

The coronavirus lockdown has meant that the Falconry Borders group, based near Jedburgh, has had no income this year, with events such as festivals and historic re-enactments all being cancelled.

And the birds, some of which are extremely rare, still need to be fed and cared for.

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Owner Helen Chadfield said that while there are government and local authority grants available for businesses hit by the outbreak, it appears her group falls between the gaps.

Helen Chadfield of Falconry Borders with a South African jackal buzzard. Photo: Jennifer Charlton Photography.Helen Chadfield of Falconry Borders with a South African jackal buzzard. Photo: Jennifer Charlton Photography.
Helen Chadfield of Falconry Borders with a South African jackal buzzard. Photo: Jennifer Charlton Photography.

She said: “We have 27 birds ourselves and have just taken on another seven on top of that as a friend was struggling to keep them as well.

“As well as taking part in events, we provide a service for tourists, we go up to Edinburgh and take them out in various locations in the Borders and fly them there.

“We have tried everything to apply for various grants, but everybody we apply to just passes the buck. We fall in between the gaps, we just don’t fit in anywhere.

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“It looks like everybody else can get a grant apart from us.

“I’ve lost count of the emails back and forth between different government bodies.

“It’s a real struggle. Who knows when we will ever see tourists again?”

Helen launched a Go Fund Me campaign, which has raised some money, but more is needed.

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She said: “We did pretty well with that after we appeared on ITV Borders, but there are so many overheads, such as food and vets bills.”

Helen said that unless they are able to offer their services to tourists this year or next, the birds, which include European eagle owls, ravens, falcons and a rare jackal buzzard from South Africa, may have to be euthanised.

She said: “That’s where we are at.

“Some people on Facebook have said ‘We’ll have your birds’, but no.

“Some of them are quite old ... we don’t get rid of our birds, we keep them to the end.”

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Among those who have donated, Christine Davies said: “Helen is a wonderful with birds and cares for them deeply.”

Another, Dale Walsh, commented: “One of my favourite memories of Edinburgh was meeting you and Guinivere on the street and hearing about her and your good work.

“Good luck and all the best from Canada.”