Birdland Park and Gardens

The park was opened in 1957 by Leonard W. Hill, a bird lover. In 1970, Hill bought the Jason Islands, the most north-westerly islands in the Falkland Islands archipelago, comprising Grand Jason Island and Steeple Jason Island, both uninhabited. The islands (including some sheep bred by their owner) were offered to Hill for £10,000; after negotiation, he paid £5,500 for the islands without the sheep. Hill made them a private reserve for the many species of bird life visiting or living there, and supplied birds to various wildlife refuges in exchange for different birds for Birdland. Although Hill was a successful businessman, the purchase of the islands and the costs of the Birdland park…

The park contains around 6 acre of woodland, the River Windrush, ponds and gardens. It is a popular tourist attraction in the country, receiving an annual average of 73,000 visitors. The current site housed a trout farm when Birdland took over occupancy and this has been incorporated into the attraction. Prior to this the site was a poplar tree plantation owned by Bryant and May for the production of matchsticks. Over 150 trees still form a canopy for the park.