Support Us
Be a Part of the Action
There are so many ways that you can help support Bird Gardens Scotland CIC. Whether through monetary donations or volunteer opportunities, we are always looking for passionate people to help share our vision of a fun and educational zoo experience. Contact us to today to learn how you can help make a change.
WELCOME TO BIRD GARDENS SCOTLAND CIC
Conservation: one hatch at time.
Situated in the Scottish Borders, 25 minutes south of Edinburgh on the A68, Bird Gardens Scotland aims to become a leading conservation breeding centre for birds from all over the world, as well as being a visitor destination where people can enjoy the nine acres of gardens and the birds that live within them.
Coffee shop news
We are in the early planning stages of building a straw bale coffee shop with a living turf roof, so that it will be as low impact as possible, blending gracefully into the beautiful landscape of Lauderdale.
We plan that the coffee shop will become known for its quality coffees and other beverages, light lunches and most importantly: fabulous cakes!
Wherever possible we shall be using ingredients grown in our exhibition kitchen gardens, and we aim to shop as locally as we can using fairly traded ingredients.
We plan to build a children's playground area outside so parents can enjoy their coffee whilst keeping one eye on their children. There will be hand feeding opportunities allowing you and your family to get up close to many of our birds.
Come and meet our birds
Our collection currently comprises many species of waterfowl, most of which are endangered or threatened in their native environments. We also keep rheas, emus, domestic ducks and rare breeds of chicken.
We have re-homed several birds from the parrot family including a flock of black cheekeded lovebird, a pair of African grey parrots and several budgies and parakeets. We plan to offer a long term rehoming service for these often long lived birds which can require specialist care.
As well as birds we keep bees in our newly planted orchards, a small flock of Castlemilk moorit sheep, a lowland Scots minority breed and a small group of wallabies.
Incubation, hatching and rearing facilities
We are in the process of reinstating an old barn that blew down here several winters ago into a world class facility, where chicks can be hatched and reared under specialist conditions unique to each species. Like the coffee shop it is of straw bale construction.
The facility will comprise a large "wet rearing room" for birds such as ducks, geese and flamingos. Also "dry rearing room" for birds from the pheasant family among others.
One of the species that we are planning on working with in the near future are Chilean flamingos. Owen is one of the few people in the world who has hand reared these beautiful birds.
Our expertise
Owen Joiner is our expert bird breeder, he has work for over 20 years with some of the worlds most endangered bird species - and some of the most challenging to breed. Owen has experience working in zoos, private collections and in the field in places such as high altitude Pakistan and Madagascar.
One of the bird families that Owen has had a lot of experience with is the pheasant family, the Galiformes, he has had many successes breeding these often challenging birds and we plan to continue that work here.
We plan to build a series of gardens and exhibits highlighting the plight of some Scottish species such as capercaillie which are in danger of going extinct in Scotland for a third time.
Opening Hours
Every day except Christmas day.
10.00 - 18.00 (or dusk if earlier)
How You Can Support Us
There are so many ways that you can help support Bird Gardens Scotland CIC and the work we do. Whether through monetary donations or volunteer opportunities, we are always looking for people to help share our vision of a fun and educational experience. Contact us to today to learn how you can help make a change. There is always something to do and take part in.
Contact Us
Get in touch with Bird Gardens Scotland CIC to learn more about our birds and events.
Address:
Oxton, Lauder, Scottish Borders TD2 6RA
Email:
Phone:
07912 376598