The National Birds of Prey Trust was initiated by Jemima Parry-Jones MBE while she was still Director of the National Birds of Prey Centre at Newent in Gloucestershire.  Originally the concept was eventually to place the Centre into the Trust.  However, this was sadly not possible at the time.   Nevertheless the work that Mrs Parry-Jones wanted the Trust to achieve was and still is very relevant, and not reliant on the Trust having involvement with the Centre.  She remains the founding Trustee.

It was decided to continue the Trust's work in a slightly different direction and instead to aim it more towards a grant making Charity at least for the time being, intended to assist students, researchers, rehabilitators with their various projects that would then enhance and benefit birds of prey worldwide.

In 2001 the Trust had its official launch at the National Birds of Prey Centre on a damp September day. The Princess Royal who kindly agreed to be Patron of the Trust came and launched the Trust in her usual first class manner. The day was a great success with many friends of the Trust coming and the sun finally gracing the day enough for the Centre staff to give an excellent flying demonstration to finish off the celebrations

The following year was a consolidating year, with various possibilities of fund raising events, but difficulties in dates and venues. Towards the end of the year the possibility of a large legacy took up time and effort from the Trustees, this finally came through and the Trust will be eternally grateful to the late Mrs Keneally and her Executors and in particular to her brother Stuart Turner, for their magnificent support.