Friday, 20 Aug 2010
Youngsters from Medway met with an international celebrity last week. Ten pound bald eagle Alaska - whose picture appears on the cover of the latest album from rock legends Kings of Leon - flew by the Lower Lines Park in Gillingham where she met a number of children from the local community.
Alaska and a variety of feathered friends from Eagle Heights in Eynsford were on display at the new park off Medway Road last Tuesday. The visit formed part of a children’s education day funded by L&Q Housing and the Friends of the Admirals Garden group.
In addition to bald eagle Alaska, local children were also invited to meet a 30 year old Harris hawk, a falcon and a barn owl called Crusty. The magnificent birds, which go on around 100 school and community visits each year, flew under the supervision of expert handler Max Foreman.
The community event, which was open to everyone living in L&Q Housing in the Gillingham area, was organised in partnership with MidKent College and Kent Police. MidKent College employee and supervisor of the Lower Lines Park, Kev Woolford, said the event aimed to engage and educate local youngsters. “The summer holidays can be too long sometimes. It’s hard for parents to keep their children occupied. This has been great - a free opportunity for children and their parents to do something fun and educational at the same time.”
Seven year old Keegan Adams of Johnson Avenue said he enjoyed the day. “I liked the barn owl,” he said. He added: “She did funny things when she was flying, like landing on our umbrella.”
As well as viewing a number of bird demonstrations, the children also took part in an organised treasure hunt through the park’s woodland.
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