Talon Falconry is a soaring success
Oct 19 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal
A FALCONRY fan has turned his hobby into a business and has soaring ambitions to open his own bird of prey centre.
Chris Bennett is operating Talon Falconry alongside his full-time job as a mechanical engineer.
He has spent every weekend over the summer taking mobile displays of birds to country fairs, schools and garden centres for talks and interactive sessions.
Mr Bennett, from Burnhope in County Durham, also has two barn owls which he hires out for weddings where they are trained to deliver the rings to the bride and groom.
He said: “I’ve had an interest in birds of prey since I was a boy but it was only around 10 years ago that I started buying my own birds. Talon Falconry has been really popular so far and my dream is to own a falconry centre and the business is a step towards that.
“At the moment I’m still working full-time in order to guarantee a steady income until the business grows a little.”
Talon Falconry currently has 10 birds of prey, which take up four hours work every day to clean, feed and exercise.
Mr Bennett said: “It is hard work and I do put in a lot of hours but I’m confident that this business will be a success. I’ve been booked up every weekend this summer and if things continue as they are I’ll be looking to take someone on part-time.”
He received support to set up the business from County Durham Local Enterprise Government Initiative (LEGI) Be Enterprising, which works with entrepreneurs in the former coalfields and rural areas of the county.
John Marshall, Mr Bennett’s Be Enterprising business coach, said: “Chris is really passionate about his business and he had a great vision for what he wants to achieve. It was great to work with him, he is already off to a great start and I think he will continue to grow and develop his business because he is doing something that he really loves.”
Since opening for business three years ago, Be Enterprising worked with more than 1,000 people keen to launch their own businesses in County Durham.
