Visitors to the annual Brighton Kite festival held in Stanmer Park this weekend found that kites were not the only high fliers to be found.

A group of beautiful and impeccably behaved owls, were being shown to the public by the Sussex Downs Raptor Club, which was formed by five friends who joined together to share their love of owls and put on shows at public events. The group have also taken the owls into local schools and have raised money for charity, for Martlets Hospice.

One of the most magnificent of the owls was also among the youngest – a one year old European eagle owl called Gypsie, with very piercing and enormously large yellow eyes and a ‘swivel head’!

Owner, Helen Newing, 23, said she had owned owls for 9 years. She had become interested in owls through her neighbour, John, who was also a member of the club.

John said his interest had started 24 years ago, when after hand rearing two baby parrots, he then built an aviary for a blue and gold macaw and he put in two barn owls to keep it company. He had continued having owls from that time.

From the youngest to one of the oldest, little tawny owl Biscuit was very popular with the children. Biscuit is aged 13 and his owner said tawny owls can live for 25 years.

The owls, including a tiny baby owl, will next be appearing in Hove Park today 30th May so there is still another chance to see them there.