This is a family run business. We visited during the week, even if it was half term there weren't too many people around. This place is a lot bigger than you expect. And to make it even better they have birds of prey shows twice a day. We attended the second show, we saw three birds of prey plus Baldric the raven. It was a great show. The owner was explaining and doing the show, an absolute showman! He was getting everyone involved. The explanations that he was giving were very easy to understand, which was great to see as there were lots of small kids there. All the staff during the show were really nice. They were great at handling the birds, and made it really entertaining for everyone. It was our first visit, and we took our cameras with us. We found many opportunities to take pictures of the animals. The enclosures are spacious and well maintained. They have a few different types of pig pens, we managed to see llama, owls, a vulture, different types of hawks, a parrot, meerkats, sheep, chickens, birds,... And possibly I may have forgotten some others, but you get the idea 😁 They offer one to one sessions with birds of prey, also photography sessions. We saw some people in a private session, which was handled by one of the keepers. We spoke to four employees, all of them were very informative and happy to take some time to give an explanation. The only thing that it's worth mentioning, and it is not bad, is more of a warning for some of you who may not like to get your white trainers dirty... If it has rained, it will be muddy. So don't forget your boots! Oh yes, and there are smelly parts to it, so don't get offended by it, the animals don't have a choice but to smell us either! 😉 If you have mobility issues, some parts will be a little tricky to visit, but all the main areas are ok with a little help from a friend.

Fantastic! Our Falconer Tamsin was exceptionally welcoming, funny, informative, knowledgeable...the hawks and owls were stunning, and the flying experience was amazing!! Highly recommend.

Just had an amazing bird of prey experience here. Fantastic birds. Very knowledgeable handlers . Unfortunately, and very ignorant of me , I can't remember her name , but she was full of information about each owl and hawk my wife handled and the rest , of the birds of prey.. Great value for money to see such fantastic birds and other animals too . Well done Willows.

My daughter brought us here yesterday( Easter saturday). We had such a lovely day seeing all if the wild animals and watching the amazing displays. My husband took these photos and thought you might like them.

Fantastic way to spend time getting closer to nature. We flew a Harris Hawk which was incredible, walking around the site seeing all the birds of pray up close is amazing and the other animals. Staff are brilliant and very knowledgeable. Well wort a visit.

My wife and I have just spent a very enjoyable day at the Willows birds of prey centre at Coolings Lifestyle, Knockholt, Kent. We did the one day, Introduction to Falconry course. In the morning we were instructed by Jill who went through a good selection of owls with us which we flew and handled. Jill was very knowledgeable and does indeed keep her own birds. After a light lunch which is included in the price of a ticket in the Coolings cafe, we then had an afternoon session with a keeper called Josh, who went through a lot of the birds of prey with us. Again a very knowledgeable chap who has been there quite a few years and also has birds of his own. We have been to willows before on a day ticket for a look to see what it was like before deciding to do the falconry course. In all a very enjoyable day for both myself and my wife and we would highly recommend this centre. We hope to go again next year. Thank you all, for a great day.

I really don't think I can express how much my wife and I enjoyed our visit. Our children bought her a Birds of Prey experience day and booked us a weekend in a local B&B as a joint 50th birthday - 25th wedding anniversary gift. Unfortunately covid happened just afterwards : - ( We eventually got to go this weekend and it was definitely well worth the wait. The staff were brilliant, very friendly, knowledgeable and are obviously passionate and love what they do. Alistair, the lass who was our guide - handler for the experience, was lovely and great fun. She told us so much about each of the birds and their backgrounds it was really, really great. My wife was so thrilled at being able to get up close to and fly some of the birds, I really don't think I can ever do anything that will equal (let alone top) the whole experience. I would definitely recommend a visit to anyone of any age 0-99 if they enjoy not only birds of prey, but animals and wildlife in general. There were lots of children there and they all seemed genuinely thrilled too. Also the blueberry cafe was a great place to stop for a cuppa and a cake. My wife is Coeliac (strict gluten free diet) & was amazed by the choices of options available to her dietary requirements..

My husband & I received a full day Bird of Prey experience as a gift, and what a gift it was! I know that this isn't cheap, but as an hourly rate or compared to other animal experiences in wildlife parks/zoos, it's very good value for money. We had a personal experience, with plenty of hands on time to fly 8 different birds, throughout our visit. It was never rushed but we also felt the welfare of the birds was paramount. The staff were all so lovely, friendly and knowledgeable and clearly adore the birds. We also got to see 2 demonstrations, look at the other animals once our experience was over and were given vouchers for our lunch. We had the most fantastic day and would recommend this to anyone who loves birds of prey, you won't regret it.

**edit 09/01** I was part of a group that when visited spoke to the staff as well as an email being sent with concerns which as I understand it has not been replied to. If an update can be provided as to whether any of these will be addressed I will happily amend my review. Additionally, I think some of my points are ways quick wins and should be seen as constructive and not aggressive. Tired and in need of some extra attention. We did visit in winter so it was muddy and things obviously don’t look as good as in dry summer months. However, trying to give a balanced view of this place. (We didn’t do the bird experience as children we attended with were too young). Positives: - the bird show (we stayed for the 11am showing) was enjoyable. Three different sets of birds were flown, while show lasting about 30mins. The keepers flying them were happy to answer questions. Responses to questions seemed knowledgeable and covered a lot of the welfare for the birds (I.e, when they get flown, days off etc). Negatives: - The other animals. They seemed to be an after thought with bedding/shelters, in my opinion, seeming inadequate for time of year; either falling apart, lack of straw or lack of heater for certain indoor birds (pictures attached) - lack of information. There were little signs up detailing animal name, conservation status and typical animal traits but it would be nice to know more about the history of the bird; was it a rescue, what does this specific bird like? It feels like the keepers have all the information but it would be nice to have it written down so people could know about them. - better signage round the place

They have a fairly low number of birds but do have displays, weather permitting. We enjoyed one of the "Experience" sessions and a better way to appreciate all that they do for Birds of Prey.

Lovely place to visit - and the Birds of Prey Experience was excellent. Lots of other animals to see, too.

Had a lovely day at willows bird of prey. We had an experience booked and it was amazing. We got a details tour of the birds and learnt a lot about many of them there. We got to handle a few bird and learn a lot about them, and it was surreal to be able to get that close to hawks and owls. Our experience staff member was very friendly and helpful but unfortunately we didnt catch her name. Afterwards we went for cake and tea from the cafe, which was also lovely. Would recommend coming here even without the experience booked.

Had a great time here learning about the birds and watching a few being 'flown'. The highlight was being able to fly the raptors and owls and see them feed while perched at the end of my arm. Would recommend for all who love or have an interest in our feathered friends.

Absolutely beautiful place. We loved it there. Very well organised with excellent staff on hand plus covid restrictions in place.

The staff were friendly, attentive and knowledgeable, with a clear love and passion for the birds of prey. The majority of the park looks very tired and needs refreshing, but mostly adequate for the larger animals. I was slightly concerned for the smaller animals, the guinea pigs, exotic birds etc., as their enclosures (cages) didn't seem adequate for their size and needs. This is based from my own knowledge of the needs of the animals in question. Just personal opinion, but improvements would be pleasing to see. Reasonably priced but I'd probably not choose to return.

I came for the Bird of Prey Experience Day and, though it could be considered a bit costly, the experience you get is well worth it from a personal tour of some of the centre's favourite birds to being able to have a few of them come land on your glove. And all led by very knowledgeable and enthusiastic people. Would highly recommend. Just remember to wear sensible shoes.

The birds of prey experience was amazing. A very personal experience as the group was very small (me and my partner). Charlie who took us round had such amazing knowledge of the birds and you could really tell his love for all the birds and animals that are being cared for. Being able to handle the birds of prey is such an excitement. I fully reccomend this for anyone looking for a fantastic day out. Hopefully we will be back again.

Lovely place to visit. We really enjoyed the nature trail and seeing the animals and birds of prey. There are also talks, demonstrations and ferret racing. You can also look round the garden centre and visit the cafe while you are there.

I brought my elderly disabled mother here as she loves animals. She really enjoyed it. The animals look really well cared for in nice enclosures. The woodland setting is lovely. She coped ok with the paths, there are tree roots et. So might not be suitable for wheelchair users and some people with mobility problems. Carers go free, which is good for disabled people on low incomes. Would definitely visit again and would recommend to others.

Day out with my 2 kiddos aged 6 and 18 months and both loved it. Birds of prey are taken good care of. Ferrets are cute, loads of woodland play area. Live birds of prey shows which was awesome. Recommend wellies if weather isn't too great as there is muddy areas. Lovely cafe in the garden centre area. In order to get to the wildlife trail you have to walk through the garden centre. Spent at least 3 hours there

Love this place and can't believe we haven't been before. Our daughter did the Hawk Walk experience with Rio the Harris Hawk and her very knowledgeable handler, Jordan. What a fantastic experience! She got to fly and feed the Hawk and walk it back to the perch, she absolutely loved it. The rest of the centre is great too and in a beautiful woodland setting. We walked around the trail and saw owls, parrots, huge pigs, wallabies and ferrets. The garden centre next door has a nice cafe too which was a bonus. I thoroughly recommend this place, an excellent day out

Not expensive. 5 year old and 1 year old loved the birds and the animals. Bit muddy but thats part of the fun. Staff were friendly and interacting with my kids whilst they were cleaning animals etc.

This is a lovely place to go with children on a hot day as most of it is under tree cover. The bird displays were great and even better as we had somewhere to sit.

My 8 year old son did the bird of prey experience today. An amazing morning. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Highly recommended. Ollie was really patient, kind and eager to make sure that my son enjoyed the experience. Really excellent value. The nature trail is fun too. Thank you

Really good afternoon. Took 2 4 years old grandchildren. Unfortunately there wasn't much of a menu for lunch due to short staff but when i asked they managed hot sausage rolls and pasties which kept us happy. Animals to begin with were a bit few and far between due to the heat but the lay out was good. Loads for the children to play with, little houses which they loved, places to run around in. The birds weren't so affected by the heat, or the pigs and ducks so they had a good couple of hours.

We were gifted a Hawk Walk experience for 2, upon arrival we were greeted by Matt and the gorgeous Rio (sorry Matt), he walked us down to the arena and there we got the greatest experience getting up close and personal to Rio, no only that we both learnt so much! Matt was a great and informative bird man :-P the nature trail was also nice, you can see the thought is about the comfort of the animals/Birds and not the visitors entertainment which is lovely to see! I would 100% recommend.

We booked the owl experience with Gill for 2 hours and thoroughly enjoyed it, the weather was perfect and it was not too busy. There's also wallabies, a pot belly pig, a macaw, ferrets, guinea pigs, chipmunks, finches, parakeets, a pony, goats, alpacas and of course falcons. I would recommend booking an encounter/experience with falcons or owls as you get to be right up close and personal and can fly them and feed them! The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly! Really lovely day out!

We had an amazing bird of Prey experience today. Hayley was out guide and she was fantastic. We had such a lovely time handling some of the birds and hearing Hayleys knowledge was just out of this world. Thank you so much for such an amazing time. We would definitely recommend the experience. We are going to bring our children along next time as I know they would love it. Everyone staff wise from start to finish were so friendly and kind.

Spent a lovely morning here. We were lucky enough to make the 11am bird display which was fabulous. The birds were close and at the end had a photo with the bird which we thoroughly enjoyed. The young guy who did the display was confident and knowledgeable and very humorous. It’s a lovely little place to visit where the little ones get a bit of freedom. Very very reasonable on the pocket. The only downside and this isn’t the wildlife walk itself but the cafe in the Coolings Garden Centre is appalling. The food selection is not great at all especially for the little ones. The food we had (toasted cheese sandwich) which was just cheap white bread and cheap tasteless cheese came with salad and potato salad for £9.95. The drinks were nice. But the cakes we selected (caramel shortbread) was really not nice at all. I would suggest popping along the road in the car to the other Coolings site where the cafe is much nicer - or bring some food of your own to eat on a bench in the wildlife walk. We spent over £30 in the cafe and it was not nice at all which I was very surprised at as we have always loved the other cafe in the other Coolings. The staff in the cafe were very nice and polite and was no reflection on them just think with other local garden centres such a Ruxley serving yummy food they need to step up their game a little. Thanks for a lovely day at the walk.

Today, my dad had his bird of prey experience. He suffers with chronic back pain and very limited mobility. We were fortunate enough to have the very lovely Alistair leading his session. We could not have asked for anyone nicer!! They were so super accommodating of my dad and went above and beyond to adapt the session according to his limitations and even brought a chair to the different locations around the centre for him to use. On top of being so kind, caring and considerate, their knowledge of all the animals, not just the birds he handled, is second-to-none!! Any questions we had were answered. We could not have had a better experience and that is all down to Alistair’s fantastic manner! Thank you so very much for making it so special and accessible for my dad!

Fantastic value, the staff were great, a fair amount of animals, and plenty of entertainment for the little ones, the cafe is fantastic too

A nice selection of owls, birds of prey, a parrot and smaller birds. They also have wallabies, tortoises and guinea pigs. The bird displays are fun and interesting, the keepers are very passionate and knowledgeable about their birds. You can spend around 2 hours or so here. There are a few wooden houses dotted around for the kids to go in but not a specific play area, as far as I can remember. Entry is through the other side of a small garden centre, which has a nice cafe attached.

Booked the bird of prey experience followed by tea and cake for two for a birthday present. We had a really informative, engaging and relaxed tour with Ollie. We got to fly some owls and a buzzard, as well as watching two demonstrations. There's a large array of birds to look at and the tea and cake afterwards as great too. Definitely worth the money and travel, (we came from London) and will come back again!

Visited yesterday- I first visited in October 2021. I had to make a complaint about the state that the guinea pigs were living in. Received an email back then from the owner Karl to say the member of staff had been fired. Disappointingly after the visit yesterday 29 Dec 2023) guinea pigs are not in a suitable environment- no hay (they are susceptible to the cold), dilapidated hutches, no fresh food. The boy Guinea pig has been kept on his own for a long time even tho they are social animals and need to be kept in groups. Budgies* The budgies should not be kept out doors without space for an indoor area with a heater. *Pigs* The pigs didn’t have any straw - The RSPCA states that pigs must have comfortable bedding and materials to root in and manipulate. The shelters weren’t secure and falling down. *********** Hi Karl, It is well within my right to leave a review. Pictures are evidence, not subjective opinions. To say I harassed the members of staff is incorrect. They were happy to speak to me. – not the actions of someone who was being harassed. i don’t think it is correct either that you have openly stated this person has had to go off in the reviews. Not very professional. The fact of the matter is nothing has changed since you ‘sacked’ the person in 2021 where you blamed them for the shortcomings. By me speaking to the members of staff would not have had an effect on the cages that haven't been cleaned for quite some time, nor the lack of investment you put into the site. You have not addressed any of the issues for the pigs, budgies and Guinea pigs. I was told differing things about the male – too old, wouldn’t pay, too scared of it dying. It is ashame, that this male has had no quality of life being on its own for years. I do hope this guinea pig has been placed in a loving home and this review will encourage you to take more care of the animals you have in your possession. Regards,

A lovely place to spend an afternoon! I went for a bird experience and got to fly a wide variety of happy Owls and Hawks supported with careful advice and demonstration from the handlers who have a great wealth of information and facts about the birds. After my experience, I had a walk around the trail which is home to many animals such as birds, pigs, guinea pigs, ferrets, wallabies, goats, and meerkats. On my walk I noticed the centre keepers tending to the animals and all were approachable and polite and answered my questions in regard to animal behaviour, diet and other fun facts. I would definitely visit again and I have been recommending Willows to friends and family.

Probably the BEST experience we have had. The lady Vicky was amazing she really showed how much she cared, the way she interacted with our girls making it fun aswell as educational with all her knowledge was 5+ stars all round. Such a hidden gem of a place, will cannot wait to come back and book the experience again. Vicky and the team thank you for today we have 2 very happy girls

Had a brilliant bird of prey experience package for 2 people. On the day we both handled 3 owls and a hawk. Tom was extremely knowledgeable and patient. After our experience package, we had a good walk around the centre to see the other birds and animals. Plus watched a couple of the show demonstrations. A thoroughly entertaining day and would highly recommend a visit or an experience package.