Aviary birds stolen from allotment Trelusswell, Falmouth

John McLeod, the owner of the birds, which include a collection of finches, java sparrows and mini Chinese painted quail, discovered the theft when he went to the aviary at one of the three allotments at Trelusswell on December 26.

Mr McLeod celebrating his 82nd birthday at the allotment in 2020 (Image: Emma Walker)

Posting on Facebook his daughter Emma Walker said they were devastated by the thefts and it came on top of a number of thefts from his fruit and veg stall this year which had forced him to give it up.

“This is my dear Dad, 85 who runs three allotments,” said in the post. “Today he has discovered that someone has broken into his aviary at Treluswell allotments and stolen his birds.

A quail he hatched after incubating (Image: Emma Walker)

“A collection of finches, java sparrows and mini Chinese painted quail. He is so upset. My Dad works incredibly hard and the birds are company when he is working.

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“I’m so devastated for him as he has already had a number of thefts from his fruit and veg stall this year, which he has now had to give up.”

She says she is reporting the incident to the police but asked if anyone is offered any birds for sale or has any information about it to let her know.

“I’m going to report this to the police but if anyone is offered any birds for sale or knows any information please let me know,” she said. “Please get as much info as you can if someone tries to sell these to you. Many Thanks!”

The prize winning flowers he grows (Image: Emma Walker)

Emma, Mr McLeod's youngest daughter told the Packet that her dad took up his first allotment at Chyanhall Treluswell as a hobby in 2016 to grow his fruit and veg. Over the next 18 months he took on a second plot and then a third and now grows a large range of fruit and veg and a range of beautiful flowers.

Although retired he spends many hours at the allotment come sun or snow caring for the crops. He has always loved birds and added an aviary to his third plot around four years ago.

He kept a variety of finches, Java sparrows, Japanese quail and Chinese painted quail.

"He enjoyed sitting and watching the birds while he had a rest" she said. "The quail were eggs he had been given by one of his daughters, and had incubated and hatched them at home with his grandsons.

"The boys aged 13 and 6 are also very upset about the missing birds.

My dad used to sell his fruit and veg on a stall at his home in Penryn but due to a number of thefts this year where produce was stolen and the cashbox broken in to, he was forced to give this up. The money he raised from the sales would pay towards his seeds, bulbs, plants and materials for the following year."

She said the birds were taken between 12pm on Christmas Eve and 11am on Boxing Day which is when he made the discovery.

The aviary was locked so whoever took them must have unscrewed the latches to access the birds. Around 20 birds were stolen.

Mr McLeod took on his first allotment in 2016 (Image: Supplied)

Red and black cheeked zebra finches, Bengalese finches, Java sparrows and Chinese painted quail.

"It’s come as a real knock to my dad who has worked tirelessly for the last seven years," she said. "He is well known by fellow 'allotmenteers' as he is there most days and has helped his neighbours out with advice and guidance as well as fixing other people’s gates and being a general helpful neighbour.

She said the allotments are far more than just a hobby. He was asked by the organiser of Mylor Horticultural Show to be a guest speaker one year and shared his story and experiences to the audience who could also ask questions.

"He is a well respected member of the Penryn community and always willing to help anyone."

You can see the post here if you have any information for Emma.