The first of a series of thrilling flying displays by birds of prey takes place at Arundel Castle on Sunday 15 April 2007.

The award-winning Eagle Heights display team will be at the Castle grounds from 11am when visitors can meet and ask questions about some of the rarest and largest eagles, owls, hawks and vultures in the country.  Visitors to the Castle in the morning will not only have the chance to see these beautiful birds at close quarters but some will have the chance to handle them under supervision.      

Two spectacular half-hour flying displays will take place below the Castle battlements at 1.30pm and 3.30pm, when these magnificent birds will swoop over the Castle’s towers and ramparts.

Among the birds on show will be Kayla, a bald eagle from Canada with a six and a half foot wing span, Jade, a lanner falcon that can fly at speeds of up to 180 miles per hour and a white backed vulture from Africa. Visitors will also meet a Harris hawk, a barn owl and falcons.

Watching birds such as the bald eagle in flight is breathtaking, particularly when set against the dramatic backdrop of the Castle battlements. Typically, they can pick up a thermal and rise to a height of up to 3,000 feet where they soar on air currents in a spectacular flying display.

In Medieval Britain falconry became a “sport of Kings” but came from a means of procuring food and eventually became a national sport. Falconry remained very popular among royalty until the reign of George III and Henry VIII was perhaps the most important falcon advocate in medieval times since Federick II.

In the Middle Ages falconry was very popular and the types of birds people owned were a badge of status. Servants, knaves and children could only own kestrels, while hawks were strictly the domain of the nobility.

Falconry Displays will also take place at Arundel Castle on Sunday 3June and Sunday 19 August 2007.

Notes to editors

Arundel Castle has been the home of the Dukes of Norfolk for 900 years; it is the longest inhabited country house in England and furniture, armour, art and antiquities from many periods in its history can be seen. The Castle’s formal gardens create an attractive setting.

Arundel Castle and grounds are open from 31 March to 28 October 2007. 2007 will be the first year that the castle will be open on Saturdays throughout the season; closing on Mondays instead, except for Bank Holidays. Opening times are: Tue-Sun, 10am-5pm (Castle rooms open from 12 noon). Last entry is 4pm.

The historical special events are included in the normal full admission rates which are: £12 for adults, £9.50 for seniors, £7.50 for children and the great value £32 family ticket (2 adults + up to 5 children) for Castle, Fitzalan chapel, gardens, grounds, gift shop and restaurant.

For further information, contact Arundel Castle on tel: 01903 882173, www.arundelcastle.org, email: info@arundelcastle.org.

For press information and photographs, contact Caroline Edmunds at Pennington PR on01892 616647or e-mail: caroline@penningtonpr.com