The Devon Bird of Prey Centre – attraction website & experience bookings, Newton Abbot

Responsive website for The Devon Bird of Prey Centre at Fermoys Garden Centre, Newton Abbot – WooCommerce shop for bird-of-prey experiences, local search and easy updates.

The Devon Bird of Prey Centre gives visitors close encounters with some of the world’s most spectacular birds of prey, showcased in a distinctive and intimate way that reflects the centre’s high standard of care and Zoo Licensing. Based at Fermoys Garden Centre on the A381 between Newton Abbot and Totnes, the centre needed a website that could explain visits and flying displays, promote adoption and education, and – crucially – let customers book Bird of Prey Experiences online.

The team wanted a site that felt professional and on-brand, with clear navigation to Visit, Experiences, Adoption and Education. They needed online booking for experiences (from Ruby taster sessions to Diamond keeper days) so that visitors and gift-buyers could choose, pay and secure a date without back-and-forth. The site also had to work well on phones and tablets for people planning a day out or buying an experience as a gift.

The brief

The Devon Bird of Prey Centre required a website that could:

• Reflect the brand – Professional, wildlife-focused and credible, with a clear link to Zoo Licensing and the care given to the birds.
• Drive experience bookings – A shop where customers can book Bird of Prey Experiences (taster sessions, half-day, full keeper day, child sessions, therapeutic sessions) with clear pricing and spectator options.
• Support visit planning – Opening information, Find Us (Fermoys, Ipplepen, Newton Abbot), directions and practical details for families and visitors.
• Work on every device – Reliable on phones, tablets and desktops for browsing, booking and checking visit details.
• Support local search – Strong foundations for terms like bird of prey experience Devon, owl experience Newton Abbot, falconry South Devon and things to do Newton Abbot, with clear structure and meta data.
• Integrate key tools – TripAdvisor reviews, Instagram feed, newsletter sign-up (Join the Flock) and basket/checkout for experience sales.

The solution

We built a Ecommerce website so the centre can showcase the birds, explain visits and education, and sell Bird of Prey Experiences online. The result works well for visitors searching for a bird-of-prey experience in Devon or things to do near Newton Abbot and Totnes.

Design and user experience

• Clear navigation – Visit, Experiences, Adoption and Education in the main menu, with a prominent basket for experience bookings and a hero area that sets the scene.
• Experiences at the heart – A dedicated Experiences page introduces what’s involved (handling, training, flying birds to the glove) and links through to bookable products: Ruby (taster), Emerald (half-day), Diamond (keeper day), Child’s 1 Hour and Therapeutic Sessions, with pricing and spectator options.
• Readable, on-brand look – Typography and layout suited to an attraction and gift-buying, with clear calls to action and Find Us (map and address) for visit planning.

Mobile-friendly

On phones and tablets the menu toggles cleanly, and the basket remains accessible so customers can add experiences and checkout on the go. Layout and content scale so the site stays usable whether someone is planning a visit from home or checking details near Newton Abbot.

Shop to book experiences

• WooCommerce for experiences – Each experience is a product; customers select options (e.g. spectators), add to basket and pay. The centre can manage availability, pricing and product copy without touching code.
• Cross-sells – “Add Spectators” and related options are presented at checkout so the booking flow stays simple and complete.
• Basket and checkout – Clear basket icon in the header and a straightforward checkout (including Stripe) so gift-buyers and experience bookers can complete their purchase with confidence.

Easy updates and local search

• Simple content updates – WordPress and WooCommerce let the team update opening messages, experience copy, Visit info and imagery in the admin.
• Built with search in mind – Page titles and descriptions help the site perform for bird of prey experience Devon, owl experience Newton Abbot and falconry South Devon, with clear sections for visit, experiences, adoption and education. Relevant for visitors from Newton Abbot, Totnes, Torquay and across South Devon and the Kingsbridge & Dartmouth area.

Integrations

• TripAdvisor – Review slider on the homepage to build trust and showcase feedback.
• Instagram – Feed from the centre’s account so the site stays visually up to date.
• Newsletter – “Join the Flock” sign-up (Mailchimp) for updates and offers.

Outcome

The Devon Bird of Prey Centre now has a fast, easy-to-update website that reflects the character of the centre and works well on phones, tablets and desktops. Visitors can find visit details, read about experiences and book (including spectators) online, and the site is set up to perform well in local search – so people looking for a bird of prey experience in Devon, things to do near Newton Abbot or falconry in South Devon can find the information and booking flow they need.