Holmsley Wildfowl Ltd

B

bigcat speciali

Well-Known Member
Does anyone know of, or worked in a place called Holmsley Wildfowl; Nr Burley, New Forest, Hants?

I worked there back in '85/86 and wondered if anyone has came across this little piece of magic, that was run and founded by Peter Mays. It was way ahead of its time, breeding ornamental waterfowl, selling them as well as helping the re-introduction of the Ne-Ne.

I understand that it was closed, and that there was a huge debate held in the House of Commons regarding the Mays and the business, with the Forestry Commission removing the Mays as they owned the land and tied cottage.

Any info would be most appreciated...;)
 
Hi Bigcat,
Don't know if you'll see this now as it was such a long time since your post, but I found this place which has been abandoned for a long time now. I took a wander around and on my way out guess who I met? Mr Mays himself! He told me they got kicked off 10 years ago at the ripe old age of 73. He was a lovely guy and told me quite a bit about the place. Such a beautiful place and a real shame that they were made to leave, and to add insult to injury the Forestry Commission have since just sat on the land. Which now is mostly a haven for ticks - so beware anyone who decides to visit! I had at least 20 of them on me when I came home.
Would love a place like this some day.
Would love to hear more about what happened - sounds like quite a case!
Lottie
 
Lottie_Lucid said:
Hi Bigcat,
Don't know if you'll see this now as it was such a long time since your post, but I found this place which has been abandoned for a long time now. I took a wander around and on my way out guess who I met? Mr Mays himself! He told me they got kicked off 10 years ago at the ripe old age of 73. He was a lovely guy and told me quite a bit about the place. Such a beautiful place and a real shame that they were made to leave, and to add insult to injury the Forestry Commission have since just sat on the land. Which now is mostly a haven for ticks - so beware anyone who decides to visit! I had at least 20 of them on me when I came home.
Would love a place like this some day.
Would love to hear more about what happened - sounds like quite a case!
Lottie
Click to expand...
Started off as Holmsley Pheasantries (1960s/70s?) went from game pheasants via ornamental pheasants, to specialist wildfowl collection with a few ornamental pheasants on the side. Breeding enclosures had good ornamental planting, and most of the waterfowl enclosures also held a (pinioned) pair of pheasants. There was a large showpiece aviary near the entrance, with a selection of ducks, some pheasants, bantams, touracos and at least one very tame Oystercatcher, that had been at Rode Bird Gardens. Peter Mays also bred a few fancy pigeons, Nuns if I remember rightly.
 
Lottie_Lucid said:
Hi Bigcat,
Don't know if you'll see this now as it was such a long time since your post, but I found this place which has been abandoned for a long time now. I took a wander around and on my way out guess who I met? Mr Mays himself! He told me they got kicked off 10 years ago at the ripe old age of 73. He was a lovely guy and told me quite a bit about the place. Such a beautiful place and a real shame that they were made to leave, and to add insult to injury the Forestry Commission have since just sat on the land. Which now is mostly a haven for ticks - so beware anyone who decides to visit! I had at least 20 of them on me when I came home.
Would love a place like this some day.
Would love to hear more about what happened - sounds like quite a case!
Lottie
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply and though I have not visited the area for a number of years, I am acquainted with the reasons of the Mays being removed by the Forestry Commission. I was not aware that the land stands empty and unused, thank you for your input regarding this. Mr Mays, is one very knowledgeable man, who has a wealth of encyclopedic knowledge and experience and nice man who has been ruined by the Forestry Commission.

House of Commons Hansard Debates for 24 July 2006 (pt 0022)

FBBird said:
Started off as Holmsley Pheasantries (1960s/70s?) went from game pheasants via ornamental pheasants, to specialist wildfowl collection with a few ornamental pheasants on the side. Breeding enclosures had good ornamental planting, and most of the waterfowl enclosures also held a (pinioned) pair of pheasants. There was a large showpiece aviary near the entrance, with a selection of ducks, some pheasants, bantams, touracos and at least one very tame Oystercatcher, that had been at Rode Bird Gardens. Peter Mays also bred a few fancy pigeons, Nuns if I remember rightly.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the history of the company although you are slightly incorrect regarding most of it except the name of Holmsley Pheasantries, the rest of your information is incorrect.

The business had a large number of game pheasants and ornamental pheasants, all for sale and likewise for bantams and a large number of fancy pigeons of various kinds. All the waterfowl were pinioned and there was no show area at the front, never was. There was the lodge house, the small lodge cottage, the entrance which included the lodge cottage and that of the machinery, log store and egg incubator house. There were no touracos and no tame Oystercatcher. Peter Mays who started Holmsley Pheasantries along with Wendy Lander, they both started Holmsley Wildfowl, which become the second largest holder of Ornamental waterfowl in the UK, the first being Lord Leckford's Estate. A price list of the avian species kept and sold at the business is available if anyone wishes to see it, 1984/85 & 1985/86.

BWA Article: Wintering Snow Geese

HOLMSLEY WILDFOWL LIMITED (dissolved)
1971.01.01 - 2000.05.09

Told to get out, after 40 years | Daily Echo
 
PAP said:
Thank you for the history of the company although you are slightly incorrect regarding most of it except the name of Holmsley Pheasantries, the rest of your information is incorrect.

The business had a large number of game pheasants and ornamental pheasants, all for sale and likewise for bantams and a large number of fancy pigeons of various kinds. All the waterfowl were pinioned and there was no show area at the front, never was. There was the lodge house, the small lodge cottage, the entrance which included the lodge cottage and that of the machinery, log store and egg incubator house. There were no touracos and no tame Oystercatcher. Peter Mays who started Holmsley Pheasantries along with Wendy Lander, they both started Holmsley Wildfowl, which become the second largest holder of Ornamental waterfowl in the UK, the first being Lord Leckford's Estate. A price list of the avian species kept and sold at the business is available if anyone wishes to see it, 1984/85 & 1985/86.
Click to expand...
There was at least one White-cheeked Touraco, and definitely an Oystercatcher. The big aviary was on your left after the cottage and other buildings, if I remember rightly. There was usually a few small ducks and a pair of pheasants in there. However, I could not say when the aviary was erected, or whether it was there when the business closed. I took birds there and had birds from there, over the years.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
FBBird said:
There was at least one White-cheeked Touraco, and definitely an Oystercatcher. The big aviary was on your left after the cottage and other buildings, if I remember rightly. There was usually a few small ducks and a pair of pheasants in there. However, I could not say when the aviary was erected, or whether it was there when the business closed. I took birds there and had birds from there, over the years.
Click to expand...

No, sorry but you are incorrect. Message me as I have images and a layout of the business.
Shrike Cottage was on your left hand side. Then there was a main gate in the center. To the right which was a wooden and brick building held the incubators and food store. Following from the right, there were eight wooden and brick buildings, housing the following: log shed, general store shed, car shed, log and pole shed, wire and storage shed, creosote shed, rearing shed and then onto the main field - known as top field. From the left and from Shrike cottage; garage which housed boxes and materials for transit, rearing shed / piping area, shed and bicycle shed. Both left and right areas formed a box shape and there were no enclosures facing the public road and main lawn area of Holmslely enclosure. The enclosures were a further 300 yards away which also included ponds, these areas were not open to the public and were enclosed by the forest itself, the tress went one meter away from the exterior fencing. There was no tame Oystercatcher and no Touraco, Peter can confirm this. I worked there and can 100% say for sure that you are incorrect. There were no "avairies" but there were enclosures. The enclosures had no roofs or ceilings. Please pm me.
 
I knew Peter Mays in the 1960's and visited his business on more than one occassion. I cannot remember anything except open-topped waterfowl enclosures there. There was an injured Hobby (falcon) he was caring for too. Just a few years ago, quite recently, I met him again in the New Forest, quite by chance and he did remember me- just about...from all those years ago.
 
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