A NORTHWICH couple are giving young and old alike a simple way to get up close and personal with some of nature’s most admired creatures. Earlier this month, the Guardian’s Emma Rigby was able to do just that...

AS a self-confessed animal lover, I’m never one to turn down the chance to get up close and personal with anything furry so when I heard that Vale Royal Falconry Centre, in Acton Bridge, had added a family of meerkats to its collection, I just had to find out more.

Meerkats have been taking the nation by storm ever since the mammals first appeared on our television screens in 2009 as part of Compare the Market’s advertising campaign.

The four-legged critters fast became one of the country’s best-loved animals, with the mammal becoming the top attraction at most zoos and at Vale Royal Falconry Centre, things are no different.

The centre is owned by husband and wife team Phil and Nanette Hudson.

The pair, who have lived on the 14-acre site for the last 10 years, decided to follow their dreams and set up their own centre when Nanette was made redundant.

“We’ve been doing off-site shows and exhibitions for years but having our own centre is something we’ve always wanted to do – it’s always been a dream – so when we found ourselves in the position to do it, we decided to go for it,” said Nanette.

“We decided to apply for a zoo licence which means we’re now a fully registered zoo.”

Visitors to the centre will learn about the art of falconry and how its skills are used to show the birds’ natural behaviour.

The pair, who have more than 60 years of falconry experience between them, also help aspiring falconers to achieve the Lantra Award.

“We’re passionate about native species and educating people about them, their habitats and encouraging conservation,” explained Nanette.

“This is a place where people can come in and look around and have a feel of the birds and the meerkats – it’s a different experience, it’s personalised.

“Having the meerkats here means we’ve got the predator and its prey under one roof – it’s a new way of experiencing things,” explained Nanette as she prepared me for my meerkat experience.

Sat on a stone in the sandy Meerkat Mews - that’s where Alexsandr, Sergei, Simples and Stumpy live - I was slightly nervous as the four meerkats approached and jumped up onto my lap.

Stumpy is notoriously known for her love of climbing high onto visitors’ heads and scanning her surroundings and with me, she was no different.

Having a meerkat standing on your shoulder, paws firmly resting on your head, is an impossible feeling to describe but one that the child inside of me was extremely chuffed.

With more than 40 birds of prey and a family of meerkats on, it’s clear to see that there’s a bright future for Vale Royal Falconry Centre.

For more information about the centre, or to book your experience day, visit valeroyalfalconry.com

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THERE are many words and phrases that we use today that derive from falconry. Here are just a few...

Fed up: When a hawk has eaten its fill, or is ‘fed up’, it won’t want to hunt. Nowadays, the term is used when someone is unwilling to do something or put up with something any longer.

Cadger: A falcon’s perch used to be known as a ‘cadge’ and was carried by the ‘cadger’. Cadger was an unpaid position and they had to beg for tips to get any money. Nowadays, the term is used for someone who tries to get freebies, ie. Cadge a lift.

Hoodwinked: The hood is a leather hat that covers the raptors head – and eyes - when it is being trained. The expression has moved from covering a bird’s eyes to blindfolding a person or tricking someone.

Under the thumb: When the bird is on a falconers arm he or she puts the bird’s leash, called a jess, under their thumb to stop it from flying away and gain control of the bird. Nowadays the term is used when someone is under someone else’s power or influence.