Falcons on show at castle (From The Oxford Times)

Falcons on show at castle

1:00pm Saturday 31st July 2010 in

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FAMILIES got up close to some impressive birds of prey at Oxford Castle.

As part of the summer season of ‘Oxford Castle Unlocked’ events, more than 400 people got the chance to hold an array of birds, from owls to falcons on Thursday.

Medieval falconers from Fir Tree Falconry, based in Warmington, were also on hand to reveal the history of how the creatures were used.

The largest bird was an African owl, standing at a massive two and a half feet, but baby owls were also around to meet the more faint-hearted.

Marketing and events manager Amanda Coombs said the day had been a great success with local families.

She said: “Everyone has had a fantastic day, especially the children.

“It was entertaining but hopefully educational as well, which is important for our events.

“Everyone had a nice encounter with the birds and hopefully they have learned how they were used in mediaeval times.”