PUPILS had a hoot at Lifton Primary School recently, after the Screech Owl Sanctuary paid a visit with four hand-reared owls.

The Screech Owl Sanctuary, based near Indian Queens, has been providing a caring home for sick or injured wild owls since its establishment in 1990, introduced by Carolyn and Tom Screech. The sanctuary also promotes the importance of the owls’ conservation needs, whilst working with schools, organisations, and individuals to raise awareness of their work.

On Thursday, March 9, Lifton Primary School welcomed some members of staff from the Screech Owl Sanctuary to give an enlightening and interesting talk on the work they do, whilst showing the children four of their hand-reared owls from the sanctuary.

Each class had a 45-minute session with the owls, and were given an age appropriate talk. During this time, pupils learnt about the owls’ lives, habitats, food, how they fly and hunt, and were able to stroke the owls, of which are all tame and hand-reared.

The children were able to meet Aztec, the spectacled owl; Precious, the Indian Scopy owl; Alinore, the barn owl, and Wheatley, the Tawny owl.

Headteacher, Melanie Cripps, said: “It was lovely. The highlight for me was meeting Precious, the tiny owl, who loved being tickled behind the ear.”

Animal club

LIFTON Primary School has been educating themselves on the importance of looking after their pets.

The school, based just outside of Launceston, has been holding a weekly after-school ‘animal club’ on Thursdays, allowing pupils and parents to bring in their pets, and also caring for the school’s very own pets, gaining a vital understanding of how to take care for animals and their daily needs.

The club, which has been running for the last two terms, has seen dogs and giant rabbits pay a visit to see the attending pupils, overseen by two of the school’s teaching assistants, Mrs Taylor and Mrs Wood.

Each class has their very own pet to look after. In the foundation unit and Pine Martens class, guinea pigs roam in their very own little hutch; whereas hamsters run about in their cage in Otters class; a collection of stick insects hide and camouflage themselves in their tank in Badgers, and fish swim freely in Foxes.

Melanie Cripps, headteacher, told the Post about the school’s focus on animals and nature. She said: “Focusing on this helps the children to know about animal welfare and their needs, and also the science part of animals.

“We also do things about animals around the world and farm animals, and we also let the children do some creative things, such as creating animal stories and making their own animal puppets and clay models.”

She added: “The children love it, and it’s all quite bonkers!”