I’m Debbie, and I have been visiting the Hawk Conservancy since 1987.

Debbie dressed for the ball ...

I used to bring my daughters here and now I bring my son and my grandson, they really enjoy it. I have seen many changes over the years with the park going from strength to strength.

I have been a volunteer for two years and love it! I am here most weekends and Mondays. I help with most things from cleaning water bowls and scrubbing aviaries, digging up and planting palm trees and other vegetation (Ash has got the idea that I know about plants), to helping Sam put stepping logs in the Pond (I’m not sure Sam has forgiven me yet for soaking him in smelly pond water). Whatever the job, I just do it. I enjoy working directly with the birds; it may be bringing out holding birds or helping with the displays or in the hospital.

Working with the public brings a variety of challenges, laughs and cries for help. I have the privilege of hosting Activity Days and Owls by Torchlight, and giving tours of the hospital and talks about the Oriental White-backed Vultures.

This Autumn I was able to move forward my career at the Trust.

... and the children dressed to kill

I got to dress up as a ghoulish monk, for the very popular Halloween Owls by Torchlight special. The guests arrived and enjoyed their meal in and around the Coffee Shop. It was a cloudy night but dry, the wind rustled the leaves on the trees, and fiendish shapes were seen flying from tree to tree around the picnic area, then there came the shrill screams and the low moaning. A brilliant job was done by some of the junior members on the team that night, namely Patrick, Hugh, Milly, Jamie and Alex (my son).

Once dinner had been eaten, Bob gave everyone a short (for Bob anyway) talk on the history of the Trust, while we took up our positions.

The guest were divided into groups, armed with a guide for the evening and embarked on their tour of the park’s owls.

Don't Tracey and Cedric make a handsome couple?

Unfortunately - however, no one seemed to mind - there were several ghosts, ghouls and other scary apparitions creeping around the park. The night air was full of screams and laughter, as time after time the guests were surprised and frightened during their walk from aviary to aviary. In the brief, before we started, Ashley had instructed us to not to make the children cry, because that upsets him, and to allow the hosts to talk about the owls, and not frighten the guest during the talks. I almost managed to do this, but not quite. No, I did not make a child cry, but I did stand behind one of the guests while Bob was telling them about the tawny owls and, technically, I did not frighten the guest while he was talking, but as Bob stopped talking the guest turned round and bumped right into me and jumped out of her skin. If you are that guest I am truly sorry, honest.

Once the tours were over the highlight of the night started, with Jane and Mike flying the owls. It is an eerie sight seeing owls appear out of nowhere as silently as ghosts, to land on a post in front of you. The hush of the audience heightened the experience as Molly the Great Grey Owl flew low over our heads; just magical. The sight of Barns Owls flying ‘silently’ out of the shepherd's hut was spectacular (if a little noisy), and I could see why these wonderful owls are linked with witches and magical goings on.

With the flying display over Alex took the opportunity to hold a barn owl and then we were off, leaving the others to close up for the night.

I enjoyed the evening so much that next year I think I will book my family on to the Halloween OBT, just so I can scare them to bits!

On a serious note, I would like to thank all of the staff and volunteers at the trust for making the experiences I have had here so memorable and wish them all good times in the future.