A Roundhouse Like No Other: Our Kynren Aviary Project

Ali Bell • June 18, 2025

At S&A Fabrications, we’ve been building Roundhouses for years—mainly for livestock, feed storage, or agricultural machinery. But every now and then, a project comes along that takes us in a completely new direction. That’s exactly what happened when the team from Kynren approached us with an unusual brief: to create custom Roundhouses to house birds of prey for their upcoming live outdoor show.

A Home for the Stars of the Sky

Kynren, based near Bishop Auckland, is renowned for its spectacular open-air performances that bring British history to life on a grand scale. Their latest production includes a feathered cast—birds of prey trained to fly during the show. To keep these birds safe, comfortable and well looked after, they needed specially adapted housing—and that’s where we came in.

We supplied three Roundhouses and a selection of traditional shed-style structures to be used as aviaries. It was the first time our Roundhouses had been used to house birds rather than cattle—and it presented a fascinating challenge.

Adapting the Roundhouse

Although the internal layouts and fit-outs were handled by others, the buildings themselves had to suit the unique requirements of the project. Each Roundhouse was designed to accommodate multiple sections, making it easy to divide the space while retaining access from a central handling area.

One of the most effective features is this central pen, which allows for straightforward care and handling of the birds—a major plus for the team managing them day-to-day.

A New Look and Feel

Instead of our standard galvanised finish, the structures were painted, and the interiors were timber-clad by others to create a warmer, more immersive atmosphere. The result is something quite special—still unmistakably a Roundhouse, but with a completely different feel that fits perfectly within the theatrical world of Kynren.

Built with the Environment in Mind

Our Roundhouses are well-suited to open rural environments thanks to their practical design and robust build. They also include rainwater harvesting systems, which help reduce water consumption on site. Their low-profile roofs and sympathetic colour finishes help them blend discreetly into the landscape—ideal for projects where appearance matters just as much as function.

A Proud Collaboration

While we didn’t carry out the internal works, we’re proud to have played a part in such a creative and ambitious project. The feedback from the Kynren team—especially their Head Bird Keeper, who has years of experience including at London Zoo—has been overwhelmingly positive.

This project is a brilliant example of how agricultural design can be reimagined for something completely unexpected. Whether it’s livestock, machinery, or now falconry—our Roundhouses continue to prove just how adaptable they are.

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What’s Changing Next: UK Steel Prices from July 2026

By Simon Pelly • April 26, 2026

Following our recent update on steel market volatility, further changes are now set to impact pricing across the UK from July 2026. These developments are driven by a combination of government policy and ongoing supply-demand imbalance. The UK’s Ongoing Steel Shortfall The UK continues to use significantly more steel than it produces domestically. On average: UK production sits at around 5–6 million tonnes per year Demand typically reaches 9–11 million tonnes per year This gap means the UK relies heavily on imported steel to meet demand—often accounting for around half of total supply. New Import Tariffs and Quotas From 1 July 2026 , new government measures will tighten control over steel imports: Import quotas (the volume allowed in without penalties) will be reduced Any steel imported above these quotas will face a 50% tariff These changes are designed to limit the volume of low-cost steel entering the UK market and to support domestic producers. What This Means for Prices Because the UK cannot meet its own steel demand: Businesses will still need to import steel However, those imports will now be more expensive and more restricted At the same time: UK producers will face less competition from cheaper overseas steel This is likely to contribute to higher overall market prices In short, the cost pressures are coming from both sides—restricted supply and increased import costs. The Wider Context These policy changes are part of a broader strategy to: Protect the UK steel industry from underpriced global competition Maintain domestic steel production capacity Support jobs and long-term supply resilience While these are important long-term goals, the immediate effect is expected to be price increases across the supply chain . What This Means for Our Customers At S&A Fabrications, we are continuing to: Monitor market conditions closely Work with our supply chain to manage cost increases where possible Provide transparent updates so you can plan ahead with confidence Summary To recap: The UK does not produce enough steel to meet demand Imports are becoming more expensive due to new tariffs and tighter quotas This combination is expected to drive steel prices up from July 2026 We’ll continue to keep you informed as the situation develops and will share any further updates as they arise.

Why Steel Prices Are Increasing in the UK (and What We’re Doing About It)

By Ali Bell • March 23, 2026

If you’ve noticed steel prices creeping up recently, you’re not alone so we thought it was worth explaining what’s going on, in plain English. There’s no panic here, but there are some real factors behind the scenes that are affecting costs across the UK. The biggest one? Energy. Put simply, it costs more to make steel in the UK than it does in much of Europe, largely because electricity prices are higher. And because steel production uses a lot of energy, those costs inevitably feed through into the price of materials.

Encouraging More Diversity in Agriculture and Engineering

By Ali Bell • March 17, 2026

Agriculture and engineering have traditionally been male-dominated industries, but that is slowly beginning to change. Across the sector, more women are building careers on farms, running rural businesses and working in the industries that support agriculture. At S&A Fabrications, we believe that’s something worth encouraging.