From Gedney to Qatar – the planned route for birds of prey

Gedney might not have too many links to the Middle East but it could soon be supplying birds of prey reared in the village.

And if a planning application to South Holland District Council is successful, it’s claimed that it could help reduce the frequency of birds being taken from the wild in Asia.

The man behind the plan is Mohamed Soliman and the site is Holme Leigh Farm in Hunts Gate.
He wants to build a wooden single-storey unit which would be used to rear and develop falcons “for use by the applicant primarily to hunt with in Qatar but also to give as gifts”.
The building would be divided into pens internally where the birds are bred and reared by hand and become used to human interaction.

Agent Robert Doughty said: “The birds will be bred and reared in captivity and then exported to Qatar where the birds are used in field sports by the applicant or given away as gifts.
“Falconry in the Gulf States has a long tradition stretching back almost 5,000 years.
“The rearing of birds in captivity reduces the dependency on birds being taken from the wild and smuggled, often illegally, from places such as Pakistan, China and Afghanistan.
“The British climate is better suited to the rearing of the birds whereas in the Gulf States, large air-conditioned buildings are necessary to deal with the climatic conditions.”

A decision on the planning application is due in early December.