CHILDREN got a fun taste of nature at Abergavenny castle at the weekend.

A nature day was one of the highlights for children in this year's successful Abergavenny Festival, and was organised by Monmouthshire Countryside Service, the Brecon Beacons National Park staff, Gwent Wildlife Trust and Ty Morwydd environmental centre.

Countryside warden Mark Langley said: "We worked in a marquee with the children making a collage of insects, clay leaf jewellery and colouring in a big paper butterfly which then flapped and flew.

"Considering it was raining so heavily in the morning, we were very busy, but members of the wildlife trust and Ty Morwydd still managed to take some of the children pond dipping."

The flying displays by nine birds of prey from Halsband's Falconry had to be postponed in the morning because of the rain, but went ahead in the afternoon when the sun came out.

Owners of the falconry, Roger and June James, took along an eagle owl named Hoo Hoo as well as a barn owl, Harris hawk, falcons, buzzards and a kestrel.

The couple are planning to open a falconry at Wernddu Farm, Llantilio Pertholey this autumn and are hoping to get planning permission in September.

* Pictured: Iwan Mullin, of Abergavenny, with Hoo Hoo, a European eagle owl