Kynren – The Storied Lands has marked a significant milestone ahead of its summer 2026 launch with news that the aviaries housing its extraordinary new bird collection have won Livestock Building of the Year at the RIDBA Building Awards 2025.
Built by Barnard Castle-based S&A Fabrications Ltd, the structures reimagine the company’s signature Roundhouses as state-of-the-art aviaries designed to house the stars of The Lost Feather, a spectacular new free-flying bird show.
Opening in summer 2026, The Lost Feather will be one of the flagship experiences of Kynren – The Storied Lands.
Performed with 300 birds demonstrating only natural behaviours, the production will tell a powerful conservation story while delivering breathtaking theatre.
The show will take place in a vast oval arena designed to resemble a bird’s nest. With seating for 3,600, the arena will feature a small lake, landscaped hillside performance area and a performance bridge.
Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren – The Storied Lands, said: “The Lost Feather will be unlike anything else in the UK.
“It will inspire, entertain and educate, combining thrilling live performance with a conservation mission.
“This award for the aviaries shows the care and quality that underpin every part of our vision.”
At the heart of the project is a commitment to conservation and world-class animal husbandry.
The show is being developed under the guidance of two of the UK’s most respected avian specialists: Jimmy Robinson, Kynren’s Curator of Birds & Conservation, and Assistant Curator Andy Hallsworth.
Robinson, known for his work at the Hawk Conservancy Trust and the National Centre for Birds of Prey, brings decades of international experience in avian welfare and breeding.
Hallsworth, formerly of ZSL London Zoo and ZSEA Banham Zoo, pioneered the UK’s first mixed-species free-flying bird shows.
Phase One of Kynren – The Storied Lands will debut with The Lost Feather and four other spectacular live-action shows and immersive experiences – including Fina, a Medieval horse spectacular, an epic new Viking show, and a Victorian Adventure featuring larger-than-life characters from the past.
The Legend of the Wear will transform a vast lake into the stage for the Lambton Worm myth, brought to life with daring water stunts and stunning special effects.
Future phases will expand the park even further, with new shows, educational content, and themed experiences inspired by legendary tales such as Robin Hood, Excalibur, and the Tudors.
Beyond the arena, Kynren’s 150-acre site is being sensitively developed as a haven for wildlife, complementing the success of its existing evening show, which has already generated £65.5m for the North East economy.