"Hello there. I'm Derren Brown Off Of The Telly. As an important celebrity, I'm more than happy to do a bit of charity work every now and then as long as it doesn't involve meeting too many weird or embarrassing people. Hence my involvement with Parrot Line and the National Parrot Sanctuary, where I've only met one peculiar person: Steve who runs the place. Peculiar, perhaps, because he has devoted his life to ensuring the welfare and rehabilitation of some of our most engaging and beautiful creatures. And when I talk to Steve about how the sanctuary started, I'm hugely impressed and touched by his motives. He started as a guy with a few tame parrots, who would bring them round to children's hospices and let the kids play with them. Soon though, the outside risk of introducing infection to such places meant that Steve wasn't allowed to continue, to the disappointment of his little fans. So he built an aviary at home so that the kids could come and visit. From these beginnings the project grew, and now Steve runs the largest parrot rescue centre in the country, and uniquely is dedicated to researching and protecting the species through his charity. If, like me, you have owned parrots, you'll know that they are stunning creatures. It's like having a toddler around the house – only one who can fly. I've had breakfast at the Sanctuary and had one of their wards, a Panama Amazon called Hercules, come and stand on the table and wait to be given something from my plate.

Each time he's given something, he says ‘Thank you'. The first few times, you can't believe your ears. By the time you've given him half of what you have just to keep hearing his polite response, you realise that he has you trained far better than someone trained him.

Because parrots are so intelligent, they need very dedicated owners, and can easily become unhappy as pets. Of course we live in a world where far more disastrous things happen than a cockatoo plucking a hole in its chest or an African Grey shouting rudenesses at old people. Many terrible things are worthy of our attention, and occasionally even a little of our time or money. I confess my own charitable instincts are probably not what they could be, but Parrot Line and the sanctuary are all about preserving enjoyment , and I think that enjoyment is a very important thing. The enjoyment that a patient owner can derive from a parrot at home. The enjoyment that a parrot can find again after being neglected. And the sheer delight of visiting a countryside haven where, for the small price of an admission fee and a bag of bird food, you can spend all afternoon in the loud and curious company of parrots. Some will tell you what they think of you. Others will mimic your ring-tone. Some you'll fall in love with. A few, inexplicably, will just whistle The Simpsons theme tune as you walk past.

Steve and his dedicated staff offer themselves as your hosts, and are happy to pass on their enthusiasm and knowledge to you. Enjoy a delicious lunch and experience one of the most delightful, touching and memorable places our countryside offers. Just be prepared to share your food"!

Derren Visit Derren at: www.derrenbrown.co.uk