HEADS have been left turning at a Portland farm thanks to a new arrival. Oscar the barn owl is the latest animal to perch up at Fancy’s Farm, adding to the wide variety of animals that already live on site.

The community farm, which is based at the Glacis, received Oscar a couple of months ago.

The six-month-old bird of prey can be regularly found residing on one of the doors inside the main building.

Far from ruffling feathers, Jon Illsley, of Fancy’s Farm, said the owl had settled in well.

He said: “He’s very popular because he’s a barn owl and people don’t often see barn owls in captivity. I don’t want too many people handling him purely because I don’t want to scare him, but we have to keep to a routine.

“Once he gets more confident I will let people hold him up for a picture.”

Su Illsley, of Fancy’s Farm, said: “He was given to someone as a present and basically they had nowhere to keep him, so they asked us if we could have him.

“Nothing bad has happened to him. They just realised they couldn’t keep him how he needed to be kept. They offered him to us and now we have got him.

“He normally sits up on the door and has a snooze all day. He picked that position for himself.”

Aside from Oscar, the farm also has a flock of Portland Sheep, wallabies, goats, ducks, chickens, geese, pigs and Dinky the American micro miniature horse. People are able to sponsor these animals and Oscar, which will help pay for items such as food.

The Dorset Echo’s own Oscar, reporter Oscar Tollast, decided to sponsor his namesake after meeting him.

He said: “I’ve always loved owls so meeting one for the first time was a right hoot. The farm does fantastic work for the local community so I’m more than happy to sponsor him.”

Fancy’s Farm is a community interest company run by volunteers. The company is supported via donations.

If you would like to find out more, please contact animals@fancysfarm.co.uk