THIS year Gigrin Farm, the Red Kite Feeding Centre, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, writes Elizabeth Denham.

For the last three decades the centre has been welcoming visitors to view its unique conservation efforts, located just outside Rhayader.

After encouragement from the RSPB, the farm officially opened its doors in 1993 as a way to increase the survival rate of Red Kites in Powys by providing a supplementary feeding to aid the birds during harsh times.

Gigrin Farm is located in the heart of the rolling hills of Mid Wales where the majority of remaining native kites had established their stronghold in the late 20th century.

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Thanks to the support of the public and visitors the farm has seen an encouraging increase in the once endangered species’ population, and today it feeds anywhere up to 600 Red Kites a day, every day.

Gigrin Farm is an independent, self-funded conservation effort that relies solely on its visitors to be able to continue supporting these majestic birds.

Over the last three decades the farm has gained worldwide recognition and is credited by many organisations for single-handedly increasing the numbers of native wild Red Kites not only in Wales but in the UK overall.

The Red Kite can now be found almost all over mainland Britain but is still considered synonymous with Wales, and was officially named as the national bird of Wales in 2007.

In recent years Gigrin Farm has collaborated in international conservation programmes aimed to reintroduce Welsh Kites to Ireland to establish and enhance the Irish population. Now entering its third decade, Gigrin Farm hopes the public will continue to support them in their goals of protecting the Red Kites and helping them flourish, while educating visitors about these amazing animals.

Pictured are Steven Weekly, Liz Denham, Colin Horlock, Dominique Nixon and Meg the collie.