Flights of Fancy: Birds at Waddesdon
22 May – 27 Oct
House & GroundsFlock to Waddesdon this summer for a celebration of birds. Throughout the Manor, Aviary and Gardens discover a range of bird-themed exhibitions, events and activities for all the family.
Flights of Fancy is a rare chance for bird enthusiasts and art lovers alike to explore this beautiful subject through our birds and remarkable displays of porcelain, paintings, drawings and prints.
In the Manor
The exhibition features the life and work of the recently rediscovered Louis-Denis Armand (1723-1796), a painter at the world-famous Sèvres porcelain manufactory. Widely acknowledged as the most talented bird painter at Sèvres, his birds were initially ‘flights of fancy’, drawn from his wild imagination but as time went on, they gained ornithological accuracy. He also drew exotic birds from life, picking and choosing elements to combine and exaggerate.
Highlights
Porcelain
Madame de Pompadour’s pot-pourri vase is reunited with her snuffbox, for the first time since the 18th century.
Drawings
See over 30 drawings by Armand from private collections that enabled the rediscovery of his identity and that have never been publicly displayed before now. Find out more in our short film A Painter of Birds
Paper Sculptures
As if the birds have broken free, there are a series of interventions throughout the Manor by paper artist Andy Singleton, responding to the collections, the Aviary and Armand’s art.
At the Aviary
View gallery
Highlights
The Mynah Birds
Don’t miss overhearing the Mynahs in the Aviary, who mimic the sounds they hear. The Common Hill Mynahs at Waddesdon can often be heard saying “hello”, beeping like a truck and laughing heartily.
Tell It To The Birds
Tell it to the Birds by Jenny Kendler is a contemporary multisensory art installation, located at the Aviary, which invites you to tell a secret to the birds and hear your words translated into birdsong!
Sponsor A Bird
We are introducing ‘Sponsor a Bird’ at the Aviary. The sponsor packs make wonderful gifts and will soon be available to purchase at the Manor Shop. Proceeds contribute to the upkeep of our Aviary, its birds, and their conservation.
In the Gardens
View gallery
This summer our carpet bedding brings to life Armand’s artistry. Inspired by Flights of Fancy, our gardens team have designed the carpet bedding at the Parterre and the Aviary to translate a drawing of two orioles into a bed of succulents. Perched nearby are the impressive 3D birds, who are showing off their wonderful fancy plumage.
Bird-themed Events and Activities
Flights of Fancy Exhibition Tour
Wed 14 Aug & 14 Sept, 11am–2:30pm
Enjoy a fascinating Flights of Fancy themed day, starting with a curator-led tour of the Flights of Fancy exhibition in the Manor. This is followed by a visit to the Aviary for a Meet The Keeper talk to discover more about our live birds and life at the Aviary. There is an opportunity to book lunch after the tour and enjoy the gardens at your leisure.
Behind the Scenes Tour
Wed 31 July & 28 Aug, 2pm–3:45pm
Join us at the introductory “meet the Keeper talk” at the Aviary and then follow us for special behind the scenes access to see all that is involved with the running of a modern zoological collection at the Aviary. Advance booking is recommended. Kids go free.
Berkshire Birds of Prey
Fri 23 – Mon 26 Aug
Join us for the August Bank Holiday to get up close and personal with birds of prey. Learn about their habits, habitats, and history as well as how you can help them in the wild. Feeling brave? Put on a handlers glove and have the chance to hold the birds yourself.
Bird Spotting Trail
Pick up a copy of our Waddesdon Bird Spotting Guide which is available from our new Conservation Hub, located by the Woodland Playground. See what birds you can spot on your walk through Miss Alice’s Drive and around the grounds.
Gardens and Gatherings
We have partnered with Bicester Village to celebrate Flights of Fancy. Enjoy 20% off Bicester Village shopping packages when you book a visit to Waddesdon Manor until 31 August 2024. Subject to availability at the time of booking a shopping package. Find out more (terms and Conditions apply).
Autumn Game Dinner
Enjoy a five-course menu specially designed by Head Chef, Ben Thurkettle, to showcase the best of classical Autumnal produce, including paired wines to enhance each dish. With a focus on game, we will be using locally and ethically sourced ingredients, including seasonal produce from the estate.
Press coverage links
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New Range by Madeleine Floyd
Birds have even taken over the Manor shop, with the introduction of a new product line designed by artist Madeleine Floyd, inspired by encounters with the work of Armand and the inhabitants of the Aviary themselves.
Waddesdon’s environmental conservation work extends beyond the Aviary and its breeding programmes too, into the managed habitats of the wider garden and on the Waddesdon Estate. The exhibition in the Manor also explores this important activity, including the creation of new wetlands on the Estate, now home to around 130 species of migratory birds and other animals.
Birds have long fascinated successive generations of the Rothschild family. From collecting, breeding and studying them to collecting art that represents both real and fantasy birds, no other living creature has proved quite so captivating to the Rothschilds. The first Rothschild family parks and gardens included ornamental birds and buildings for them to occupy – aviaries, model farms with dovecotes, lakes with duck houses, and even a temple inhabited by flamingos!