Ospreys have landed at Carey!

The Secret’s out!

*UPDATE: The Ospreys have returned to Careys again in 2024!* read the latest blog

We are thrilled to be able to offer a fantastic opportunity at Careys Secret Garden - it’s our biggest secret yet!

As a result of Birds of Poole Harbour and the Roy Dennis foundations fantastic work in re-establishing successful breeding Osprey in the South of England (the first in 180 years) Careys Secret Garden is now co-running unique “Osprey tours” from May 2023, giving visitors the chance visit our wonderful gardens and take a guided trek up to our secret location to view the nest site from a safe distance.

Intimate groups will be able to take in the wonderful site alongside a Birds of Poole Harbour expert to ensure you have excellent information on hand and an ample 2hrs to view the gorgeous couple - CJ7 and 022.

To provide a sanctuary to both people and nature is the core purpose of the gardens and to have such a rare and sensitive example of rewilding in action is a true privilege. This gives us hope that there can be a rich and bountiful natural world for future generations, and we are delighted the pair have chosen here to breed and raise their young.

All bookings for the Osprey Tours at Careys are being taken through the Birds of Poole Harbour booking site, use the button below to book.

Brittany Maxted, Osprey Project Manager explains more:

“Since 2017, Birds of Poole Harbour and our partners at the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation have been working together to restore breeding Ospreys to the South Coast. Ospreys were once widespread across the UK, but historical persecution by humans led to their extinction as a breeding species by the early 20th century. Now, thanks to our Translocation Project, they are breeding once again in Southern England for the first time in nearly 200 years! The celebrity pair known as CJ7 and 022 raised two chicks in 2022, and were delighted to see them back for a second season, on the same nest where they were watched by thousands of people last year via our online livestream cameras. The site is shared with local enterprise Careys Secret Garden, who have been fantastic in helping us to monitor and protect the pair. This has been absolutely crucial to securing the Ospreys’ success in their first season and getting to a stage where we can jointly and securely offer members of the public the incredible opportunity to view the nest in person.”

CJ7 (female) and 022 (male) Ospreys on the nest at Careys

View the Ospreys online!

Carey Osprey Nest Cameras are provided by Birds of Poole Harbour

During the winter of 2019-2020, we hosted a fundraiser for an Osprey nest live-stream camera to be installed for the Osprey season in 2020. We received great support during the campaign, including sponsorship from our partners Osprey Europe, along with the Fine Family Foundation and numerous donations from kind members of the public. In early 2022 we also installed a “back-up” camera on a second nest in the harbour area, following the return of 022 and CJ7 in 2021. The foresight paid off, with the pair returning in early April 2022, only to choose the back-up nest instead. Following their first successful breeding season, we upgraded the system during winter 2022 to a new and improved dual camera setup with audio included to provide an even more enjoyable viewing experience.

Osprey Tours at Careys

The Carey Osprey Tours are running three times a day on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays initially during most weeks throughout the season.

The sessions include an in-depth guided tour up to a new Osprey nest viewing platform, with the opportunity to learn more about the Poole Harbour Osprey Project from your guide, as well as access to the stunning walled garden and its facilities for the duration of the day.

More dates will be added as sessions sell out and the season progresses. Please be aware that the tour involves a 1km round walk on uneven ground with a moderate incline, so we advise wearing sturdy shoes.

We are currently working to improve disabled access for our Osprey tours, but due to the incline and ground condition unfortunately the route to the Osprey platform is not suitable for wheelchair access.

If you’d like further information on accessibility at Careys please view the Accessibility Guide.

IMPORTANT

Access to view the Ospreys is strictly by the pre-booked guided tours only.

This exciting new initiative is also being supported by Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team as Ospreys are a Schedule 1 breeding species, meaning that they have the highest level of legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

They’re an incredibly timid bird, and are exceptionally sensitive to human disturbance close to the nest, so the Dorset Rural Crime Team have insisted that people do not trespass to try to find or get close to the nest. Access to the site to view the nest is only possible via booking on the Birds of Poole Harbour events page on their website.