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Barn owl family returns to screens

Live footage of Heligan's owls to air on BBC

For the second time, live footage of the barn owl family at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall, will air on BBC Springwatch.

Three eggs were laid and hatched successfully between June 7 and 12, and both parent owls have been providing a steady flow of treats for their young chicks.

When footage previously aired in 2007, one of the parent owls was lost, leading to a lack of food which caused the eldest chick to eat two of his younger siblings.

Jim Briggs, Heligan wildlife and estate manager explained how the land is managed sensitively to create the perfect habitat and conditions for barn owls, offering hope for this year's brood.

"Our permanent pasture land is not intensively grazed and around hay meadows margins are left uncut, to ensure habitat for voles and mice; the barn owls' primary food source.

"Our wildlife cameras give us an intimate view of the lives of the creatures that we share the gardens and estate with and we are often lucky to witness behaviour not normally seen."

The barn owl chicks will be live on camera throughout the summer, and are expected to fledge in August.

Image credit: Lost Gardens of Heligan/Onshore Media

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Government releases latest bluetongue statistics

APHA has confirmed the number of bluetongue cases that have been logged in the UK since 1 July 2026.

The total number of BTV-3 cases, as of 6 August, is 187. This includes 183 cases in England and four cases in Wales.

There have been no recorded cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The location of premises in Great Britain where at least one animal has tested positive by PCR for BTV-3, BTV-8 or BTV-12 is available on the bluetongue case map. All livestock keepers in Great Britain are urged to familiarise themselves with nation-specific bluetongue control policies.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement that any suspicions, even if livestock has been vaccinated, are reported immediately.