EVER wanted to come up close and personal with a bird of prey?

Your chance has now arrived with the Secret World Wildlife Rescue open weekend on August 29 to 31.

The animal centre near Highbridge is inviting people from all over to learn about and meet different species, including Shadow and Daphne, two rescued owls.

Shadow is a resident barn owls at Secret World, being brought in after mysteriously flying into a stranger's kitchen.

No owner could be traced however, so she now lives on site with her partner Zazoo, a male barn owl.

He had also been kept as a pet, but had to find a new home as he made too much noise for his neighbours’ liking.

Daphne is a rescued European Eagle owl that visitors will have the chance to meet, after she was taken in by Secret World 20 years ago when her previous centre closed.

She now lives on site with her partner Dennis who is over 60 years old.

Visitors to Secret World will be able to get up close to Shadow and Daphne, and other birds of prey, from 10am until 4pm each day of the open weekend.

The team at Secret World have rescued 37 owls this year and are currently caring for a number of owlets on site, who will be released back into the wild when they are big enough, including four orphaned barn owls.

Volunteer bird handler, Helen Ditchfield said: “I love seeing people’s reactions when they meet our birds of prey.

" Children and adults alike are fascinated by their patterns and features and often comment that they had never realised quite how beautiful these birds are.”

Entry to the open weekend on the August bank holiday is free, but all donations will be kindly accepted.

The centre is also in need of donations of wet food, such as tins or pouches, of dog, cat and kitten food to feed badgers, foxes and hedgehogs.