News

Six Owlets Take Flight at Harefield Farmhouse

June 2026

There's exciting wildlife news from Harefield Farmhouse in Dorset, where six barn owlets have successfully fledged and taken to the skies to start their hunting journey.

The arrival of the owlets is an encouraging sign of the thriving natural environment surrounding the farmhouse. Set within the Dorset countryside, Harefield Farmhouse is part of an ongoing rewilding journey that has focused on restoring species-rich grasslands and creating habitats that support local wildlife. It's not uncommon to spot hares darting through the fields or deer grazing nearby, and now the resident barn owls are flourishing too.

The story began back in 2019 when Richmond Bell Architects director James Bell attended a rewilding workshop led by Jonathan Thomson at Underhill Wood Nature Reserve. One of the key lessons was the importance of providing properly designed nesting boxes for barn owls. Inspired by the workshop, James built and installed a barn owl box of the recommended specification at his own home, Harefield Farmhouse.

The results have been remarkable, not just at Harefield but at Underhill too, where over 30 barn owlets have fledged over the last decade.

Size Matters!

Unlike many commercially available owl boxes, which can be too small, these larger structures, as recommended by Jonathan at Underhill, are designed to give growing owlets enough room to safely develop their flight muscles before leaving the nest. Smaller boxes can force young birds to leave prematurely, increasing the risks they face before they are able to fly confidently.

The specially designed box at Harefield Farmhouse is about 1.5 metres tall and provides ample space for the young owls to mature safely. This year, six healthy owlets have successfully fledged from the nest – a fantastic outcome and a testament to the value of thoughtful habitat creation and wildlife-friendly design.

Projects like Harefield Farmhouse demonstrate how architecture, landscape restoration and biodiversity can work together. Through grassland restoration, habitat creation and a commitment to rewilding, the site continues to support an increasing variety of wildlife, proving that even small interventions can have a lasting impact.

For everyone involved with Harefield Farmhouse, watching the young owls emerge and begin their first flights has been a captivating experience. Barn owls are among Britain's most iconic birds, and witnessing them glide silently across the Dorset landscape at dawn and dusk is a powerful reminder of the rewards that come from creating space for nature to thrive.