• Lear House, Darmonds Green, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 5DT

Abbeyfield
Hoylake & West Kirby

An Afternoon with Furry & Feathered Friends

It’s not every day you get to cuddle a skunk and hold an owl – but that’s exactly what happened last week at Abbeyfield Hoylake & West Kirby!

We were absolutely delighted to welcome back John (better known to us all as The Owl Man), along with his beautiful birds Sam and Holly – and, of course, the ever-popular Chrissy the skunk.

On a calm afternoon, a man holds a large owl on his gloved arm while two elderly women in chairs observe, one gently touching their feathered friends leg.
An elderly woman sitting on a sofa smiles as she gently strokes a large feathered friend perched on the arm of a gloved person indoors.
An elderly woman sits in a chair, smiling as she reaches out to touch a feathered friend perched on a handler’s gloved arm in a sunlit room.
An elderly woman seated in a chair smiles and gently strokes an owl, one of her feathered companions, perched on a mans gloved hand indoors.
An elderly woman seated in a chair reaches out to touch a feathered friend—an owl perched on a man’s gloved hand indoors, with sunlight streaming through the windows behind them. British English rewrite: An elderly woman, seated in a chair, reaches out to touch a feathered companion—an owl perched on a man’s gloved hand indoors, with sunlight pouring through the windows behind them.
Two elderly women are seated on red chairs indoors; one smiles as she strokes a large feathered companion, a sizeable owl being held by a man nearby. A balloon and windows showing rooftops outside create the backdrop for a cosy afternoon gathering.
An elderly woman sits on a red chair, smiling at a large owl perched on a handler’s gloved arm indoors during an afternoon event with feathered friends.
An elderly woman seated in an armchair gently strokes an owl, one of her feathered companions, held by a man standing in front of her.
An elderly woman in a care home smiles and gently strokes an owl, one of the feathered visitors at the afternoon event, held by a man in a green shirt.

It’s always a special kind of afternoon when our residents get up close with these incredible animals. There’s something truly calming about stroking soft feathers or gently cuddling a surprisingly silky skunk! For many of our residents, it sparks memories of pets past and brings a real sense of comfort and joy. This is what life-enriching activities for older adults should look like – full of smiles, surprises and gentle connection.

Holly the owl was on her best behaviour, perched proudly and patiently as residents took turns to hold her. And Chrissy? Well, she stole the show as usual. Everyone always comments on how unbelievably soft she is – and once you’ve had a cuddle, you’ll understand why!

An elderly woman sits in an armchair on a quiet afternoon, smiling as she strokes one of her furry companions—a skunk resting on her lap, partially covered by a blue blanket.
An elderly woman sits on a red armchair one afternoon, gently holding and stroking her furry companion, a skunk, on her lap.
An elderly woman sitting in an armchair smiles while holding a black and white furry companion, possibly a skunk, on her lap with a checked blanket underneath.
Elderly woman with white hair, wearing a leopard-print jumper, sits on an orange chair and enjoys a quiet afternoon as she strokes a black and white skunk—one of her favourite furry friends—on her lap.
An elderly woman sits in an orange armchair, gently stroking a skunk that is resting on her lap, enjoying a quiet moment with one of her furry companions.
An elderly woman with white hair and a pink jumper sits in a chair, stroking a black and white skunk on her lap, enjoying the company of her unusual furry companions.
An elderly woman sits in a chair at an afternoon event, gently stroking a black and white animal—likely a skunk—resting on her lap, showcasing the special bond between furry companions.
Two elderly women sit in armchairs, enjoying a quiet afternoon with their furry and feathered companions—one holds an owl, while the other cradles a black-and-white animal, possibly a skunk. Both appear deeply engaged with their companions.
A man holding a barn owl allows two elderly women on a sofa to interact with their feathered companion during an afternoon event, with a 90th birthday balloon glowing in the bright room.

Our mission is all about caring for older people with dignity and respect, and events like this help create a warm, stimulating environment where meaningful moments really shine through. Whether it’s the thrill of meeting a wild animal up close or simply watching others enjoy the experience, these visits offer something for everyone.

We’re proud to offer friendly residential homes for older adults that feel homely, not clinical. That means putting real thought into how we create joyful, shared experiences – from music afternoons to wildlife encounters – in a safe and social setting for ageing well.

An elderly woman seated in an armchair looks down and smiles at a barn owl, one of her feathered friends, perched on her gloved hand.
An elderly woman in a pink jumper sits in a chair one afternoon, gently stroking a feathered companion—a barn owl—perched on her gloved hand.
An elderly woman in glasses and a light jumper smiles as she gently strokes a barn owl, enjoying a peaceful afternoon with her feathered companion perched on her gloved hand.
An elderly woman sitting in a chair smiles as she reaches out to touch a barn owl, one of the feathered friends featured at the animal event. Another elderly woman sits nearby.
An elderly woman sitting in a chair gently strokes a barn owl, one of the feathered friends at this animal event, perched on a mans gloved hand inside a room, while another seated woman looks on.
An elderly woman in a care home sits in a chair and strokes a large tortoise held by a man wearing gloves during an animal event; another woman sits nearby, smiling.

Families often tell us how much peace of mind it brings to know their loved ones are not just being looked after, but also truly living. It’s that balance between personalised care for older residents and thoughtful activities that makes all the difference.

This visit from John and his animal companions is just one of many ways we aim to offer supportive senior living in Wirral, where each day can bring something new to enjoy.

Until next time, Holly, Sam and Chrissy – we’ll have the tea and biscuits ready!

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