Gauntlet Birds of Prey – Eagle & Vulture Park, Knutsford Reviews Summary

Staff and Presenters

Pros:

• "All the staff were fabulous and very informative."
• "The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about conservation and the care of their birds."
• "Presenters are very knowledgeable and try very hard to educate visitors."
• "All the staff are really friendly and knowledgeable about their charges, in short a really good day out!"
• "The staff were very friendly, the displays are great."
• "The staff are very friendly, welcoming and informative as are the birds."
• "The staff are very passionate and knowledgeable, and all clearly love and understand the birds."

Cons:

• "Perhaps too little staff to run it successfully."
• "Cafe needs a couple of staff for busy lunchtime."
• "Some of his descriptions were a little inappropriate for children."
• "As for the facilities they need a little bit more TLC as felt it was a very run down and cafe was poor."

Animal Care and Conservation

Pros:

• "Birds are all very well looked after and also theres goats, meercats, ferrets and other animals."
• "The conservation and breeding programmes this place is involved in is a credit to them."
• "The education in a bird I often thought was nothing important the Vulture, it's so underestimated how this bird is a Necessary part of not only our eco system but the whole natural animal food chain which we rely on."
• "Also love the conservation work Gauntlet staff are involved in."
• "The staff are very passionate and the love and care they have for the animals is outstanding."
• "The keepers are so passionate about the care and welfare of the birds and do a lot for conservation."
• "They are doing great work to help the survival of endangered species."

Cons:

• "Its not quite big enough for a full day out tho and I wish the birds had larger enclosures."

Facilities and Cleanliness

Pros:

• "Parking is free."
• "There is plentiful and free parking, and a cafe (with lovely warm fire) and children's playground on site."
• "Great use of the space for social distancing, benches one per family for the shows and lots of hand sanitising stations, toilets were lovely and clean too."
• "Fairly even ground so fine for buggies and great play area for kids."
• "Superb play area for children of all ages!"
• "Good play area including sand pit and lots of birds to see."
• "Clean environment without stinky smells even there are many birds."

Cons:

• "Only small issue.. the play area and equipment could have been a little cleaner (play slides etc)."
• "The play area and equipment could have been a little cleaner."
• "Toilets accessible but need some hourly attention."
• "One very minor issue was that there was not much in terms of food available in the cafe."

Education and Entertainment

Pros:

• "Great environment to watch the birds fly in safety, very entertaining."
• "The talks and meets were full of information and made fun for the little ones."
• "Really good and informative experience, about education as much as entertainment."
• "The flying displays are the best I've seen in the country! The 3pm show is always spectacular."
• "The display of flying birds at 3pm was an incredible sight."
• "The flying shows are superb and the care that the birds receive is of the highest standard."
• "The displays were magnificent and the final display was out of this world."

Cons:

• "The say they do a big fly with 25 to 30 birds at the 3pm talk but I only counted 12 birds."
• "Expensive for what it is, they do fly them inside when the weather is bad but although the display is good, for the money you pay its not very long, maybe 20 minutes."

Visitor Experience

Pros:

• "Fabulous full day out so great value for money."
• "What a fantastic day out, the staff are so passionate and friendly."
• "We will definitely be returning."
• "A great family run sanctuary with knowlegable enthusiastic staff."
• "The people who run this place clearly have a passion for the welfare of their animals, and through conservation work they are clearly trying to make the world a better place."
• "The staff were super friendly and welcoming, and we learned so much."
• "The members of staff are incredibly friendly and informative."

Cons:

• "I thought the place was expensive for what it was but didn’t mind paying for the animal upkeep really."
• "Was very glad we bought our own food since the cafe and shop didn’t look especially inviting."
• "Only down side is that the cafe doesn't have a food selection other than choc/crisps/pot noodles."
• "Better to take your own food and drink as little is available on site."