CHILDREN at Blackbrook Primary School, Taunton, enjoyed a visit from Bellatrix the barn owl as part of Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Community Barn Owl Project to get a nest box in every parish.

The project, supported by Western Power Distribution, has already visited 101 schools across the county, with over 5,500 children learning about owls and habitats with visits from Bellatrix and Beau the barn owls.

The Blackbrook pupils had a talk from Chris Sperring, Hawk and Owl Trust conservation officer and vice-president of Somerset Wildlife Trust.

They also watched the project barn owl web camera which is home currently to Boris, Brenda and their six owlets.

Head teacher Stuart Bellworthy said: “The visit from the barn owl was a fantastic experience for the whole school.

“Many children had never seen an owl before and were fascinated by Bellatrix and the owlets on the webcam.

“The children followed up the visit by writing about Bellatrix and completing owl projects.”

The three-year Somerset Community Barn Owl Project is funded by Viridor Credits Environmental Company, a charity that distributes money from the Landfill Communities Fund, and is a collaboration with the Hawk and Owl Trust, a national charity dedicated to conserving wild birds of prey and owls in their habitats.