Re: [SLN] Digest for swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com - 16 updates in 8 topics
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Edward Mayer
Apr 10, 2026, 1:31:40 PMApr 10
to swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
Today I saw a bat box made of stout plywood and fitted to newish Council flats near where I live that had just rotted to destruction and was hanging in pieces off the wall. My own feeling about plywood, after a string of disasters to my projects when boxes just rotted, is simply this, don't use it. I only recommend non-rotting alternatives, including solid wood. There is a solid wood nest box in easy view from our flat which has stayed the same for 6 years now. You have to buy good solid wood though. In my own work I have found that the basic pine wood sold in UK timber yards to be very poor quality indeed, and at one professional seminar I attended we were informed that the UK buys the worst timber available in Europe for its buildings. Am I surprised? A rather bitter learning experience!
On 10-Apr-26 7:58 AM,
swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com wrote:
- UK SAW2026 Update No. 1 at 9th April - 1 Update
- Swift box roofs - 5 Updates
- urgent call for network rail to unblock nests - 2 Updates
- Glyphosate use in UK farming increases by 1,000% since 1990 - 1 Update
- Cairngorms National Park LDP consultation - 1 Update
- SwiftMapper - 3 Updates
- building regulations - 2 Updates
- Nesting boxes going free - 1 Update
Nick Brown <brown...@gmail.com>: Apr 09 08:27PM +0100
Hi Everyone
As the first swifts arrive back in the UK, now might be a good time to get
your *UK Swift Awareness Week 2026* events organised, ie before the birds
reappear at your local nest sites in early May.
Last year there were over 100 events which was an excellent result so we
hope for a similar if not greater number this time! The dates this
year are *Saturday
27th June to Sunday 5th July 2026* inclusive.
*PLEASE NOTE*
Things are different this year because Peta Sams will receive the details
of your events and add them to the national list which will appear on
the *Action
for Swifts *blog as usual.
This list is then used by RSPB who help to promote our events and Peta is
going to try to map events too so that people can see what is happening
near them.
Nick will continue to 'coordinate' the week, liaise with any media, deal
with any queries e.g. from newcomers to SAW and send out regular reminders
to SLN members to get their events organised during the next couple of
months and ideally asap!
*IMPORTANT NOTE for EVENT ORGANISERS*
In the past, despite there being an event form, Nick received event details
from many organisers in all manner of formats from posters to long
explanations. Each one required re-formatting which was tedious and time
consuming.
This year, events will *only be accepted* for the national list if they are
entered via the Google form which can be accessed via the following link -
https://tinyurl.com/SAW2026eventregistration .
The form is designed to collect information about a wide range of events
from active walks to static displays. If you find any issues please contact
Peta using her SLN address (swiftsloc...@gmail.com) and not her
personal one.
If you have general queries about the week, eg about what sort of event or
'action' to organise or how to generate publicity, then please get in touch
with Nick using his gmail address (brown...@gmail.com) .
To see the national list click on Action for Swifts
<https://actionforswifts.blogspot.com/> and then on the SAW logo though
there are no events listed so far.
*UK SAW 2026 LOGO**: *Please use the national logo on all your local
publicity.
This is very important as it will show that your local event is part of a
big national push to raise awareness of swifts across the UK during the
week.
For a high res version of the logo click on the logo at the top of the SAW
blog page and it opens in another window. If you then 'right click>save
image as' you get the full high resolution version (1600 x 1100).
If for some reason you don't want the dates to show you can simply crop the
image.
Best wishes
*Nick Brown (UK *SAW Coordinator) and Peta Sams (UK SAW Events Manager)
Ps. The next Update will discuss Events vs. Actions mainly for newcomers to
SAW.
Mike Priaulx <michael...@yahoo.com>: Apr 09 01:44PM +0100
Hi all,
An unusual subject - someone in NE London has been making and installing Model 30 type boxes.
However, the lids are not screwed in and are blowing off in the wind.
So in summary:
The lids do blow off if not screwed in!
If anyone knows who this might be making them then let me know, and I'll tell them about this flaw.
I have seen a Model 30 lid blown off where it had a single screw each side, as the plywood inner roof must have given way leaving the screws in place...
so for windy locations a double screw connection (like the current Action for Swifts Model 30 boxes), or screwing down the roof from above, is maybe a good idea?
All the best,
Mike
Machynlleth & District Swift Group <machs...@gmail.com>: Apr 09 01:59PM +0100
Hi Mike,
I make the Model 30 boxes here in Wales. I get them flat pack and screw
them together. Our initial batch of boxes (around 80 boxes) were made by
local carpenters based on the John Stimpson model. The lids were screwed
‘upwards’ through the inert plastic plywood panel into an uPVC roof. The
boxes had been up a couple of years when some of the uPVC roofs separated
from the inner panel. This was a very worrying situation as someone could
have been injured. Adhesive as well as screws were used to secure the roof
onto the inner panel but some still came off in high winds. On our Model 30
project boxes ‘now’ I ensure that I screw no less than four stainless steel
screws from the outside of the box into the inner plywood panel ‘and’ I
also apply ‘Gorilla’ adhesive to secure the uPVC roof to the inner panel. I
am confident that the roofs would never detach now on our present model.
I’m probably ‘going over the top’ with my efforts to ensure that the roof
stays on the box but I can sleep well at night confident that they won’t
blow off and hurt someone!
If you are copying John Stimpson’s model 30 swift box make sure you use
enough screws to secure the roof an inner panel. I have used bolts on some
boxes but they are an expensive alternative. Now I use special stainless
steel screws.
Best wishes
Elfyn
On Thu, 9 Apr 2026 at 13:44, 'Mike Priaulx' via swiftslocalnetwork <
Alistair <alis...@alofanglia.plus.com>: Apr 09 04:00PM +0100
I’ve also noted some locally built(unsure of the ply quality) ply only roofed nest boxes delaminating after a couple of years too…so if I do any more Zeist boxes they’ll have a upvc roof too…
Cheers
Alistair
Machynlleth & District Swift Group <machs...@gmail.com>: Apr 09 07:56PM +0100
Hi,
The plywood we were initially using on our project swift boxes was from
‘Travis Perkins’ and certified ‘BS 1266’ standard but it was poor quality
and like your experience Alistair the plywood roof started to delaminate
after only being up a couple of years. Of course anything made of wood will
rot eventually. We now source our plywood from an FSC certified supplier.
Apparently according to our box supplier it’s down to the quality of the
glue used in the plywood that determines the longevity of the wood used.
I mentioned in my last email that I fit robustly constructed uPVC roofs to
my swift boxes. I ‘also’ give them a coat of non toxic water based wood
preservative and following that I paint the exterior of the box with three
coats of high grade water based white paint. Taking this course of action
will extend the life of the box which is important because if swifts take
up occupancy of a specific nest box then they may use the same box for
several years or more so it’s important to provide your birds with good
quality boxes.
Regards
Elfyn
Dick Newell <dick....@gmail.com>: Apr 09 08:00PM +0100
If you can keep wood out of the sun and the rain, then quality wood
properly treated should last indefinitely.
Dick
On Thu, 9 Apr 2026 at 19:56, Machynlleth & District Swift Group <
Hannah Bourne-Taylor <hannahbou...@gmail.com>: Apr 09 10:48AM +0100
Hi everyone,
In case some of you dont know about this:
there are 3 swift nesting sites blocked in Chapel Milton viaduct,
Derbyshire. The local swift group has been trying everything in their power
to help the swifts - actually from when the maintenance work started as
they told the workers to leave the nesting sites and sadly 3 were blocked.
I have only just found out about this but this is an ongoing saga with
police involved and all sorts as the swift group has tried to get Network
Rail to unblock the nests since the work was done, to no avail.
With the swifts on their way back, the group, led by Deb Pitman, is
appealing to everyone to contact the CEO of Network Rail, Jeremy Westlake -
jeremy....@networkrail.co.uk asking him to organise the unblocking of
these nests. This is a last resort after failed attempts for several
months.
The group are holding a 'vigil' this coming Saturday in the hope their
emergency campaign is taken more seriously by network rail (see poster
embedded):-
If you want to help more actively or specifically, contact Deb on
debsp...@hotmail.com
Deb is knowledgeable, articulate, diplomatic and dedicated so there is no
need to advise her about what to do - she is doing a really good job - but
if you can offer help then I'm sure she would be pleased.
The Guardian is covering this so look out for the story online on Friday
and in print on Saturday, all being well.
Best wishes, Hannah
[image: SwiftVigil.jpg]
--
To buy
<https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/nature-needs-you-the-fight-to-save-our-swifts-hannah-bourne-taylor/7727231>
Ben Stammers <Ben.St...@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk>: Apr 09 02:00PM
I’ve forwarded the message to a Network Rail contact – someone we’ve been working with on installing swift boxes with over here – she may be able to help – or know who to ask within NR. Will let you know if anything comes of it.
Ben
From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Hannah Bourne-Taylor
Sent: 09 April 2026 10:49
To: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [SLN] urgent call for network rail to unblock nests
Hi everyone,
In case some of you dont know about this:
there are 3 swift nesting sites blocked in Chapel Milton viaduct, Derbyshire. The local swift group has been trying everything in their power to help the swifts - actually from when the maintenance work started as they told the workers to leave the nesting sites and sadly 3 were blocked. I have only just found out about this but this is an ongoing saga with police involved and all sorts as the swift group has tried to get Network Rail to unblock the nests since the work was done, to no avail.
With the swifts on their way back, the group, led by Deb Pitman, is appealing to everyone to contact the CEO of Network Rail, Jeremy Westlake - jeremy....@networkrail.co.uk<mailto:jeremy.westlake@networkrail.co.uk> asking him to organise the unblocking of these nests. This is a last resort after failed attempts for several months.
The group are holding a 'vigil' this coming Saturday in the hope their emergency campaign is taken more seriously by network rail (see poster embedded):-
If you want to help more actively or specifically, contact Deb on
debsp...@hotmail.com<mailto:debspitman@hotmail.com>
Deb is knowledgeable, articulate, diplomatic and dedicated so there is no need to advise her about what to do - she is doing a really good job - but if you can offer help then I'm sure she would be pleased.
The Guardian is covering this so look out for the story online on Friday and in print on Saturday, all being well.
Best wishes, Hannah
[cid:image0...@01DCC831.A55A3F20]
--
To buy <https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/nature-needs-you-the-fight-to-save-our-swifts-hannah-bourne-taylor/7727231> [https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4y98ZX8UD9wdBJa4Xg8WqaHi_DQwoXAfDYV-geQKcxHySo8aSypKfi3TcpiDbikBdBiH2wcODKWzQ7c]
--
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Edward Mayer <edward...@zen.co.uk>: Apr 09 02:00PM +0100
Interesting! And as a result I am buying organic oats now for my
breakfasts....
Glyphosate use in UK farming increases by 1,000% since 1990
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View this email in your browser
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*Dear Edward*
Analysis of official government data
<https://pan-uk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e05a3abdc20c1dc79f85ed27a&id=3915c0a8fe&e=5ba32964d5>
– launched today by PAN UK – reveals that the amount of glyphosate being
applied to UK crops has risen from 200 metric tonnes per year in 1990 to
more than 2,200 tonnes in 2024.
Glyphosate – often known by its most common brand name, Roundup – has
been the cause of controversy for many years due to the ever-growing
body of evidence that it has the potential to cause irreversible harms
to both human health and the environment. In the US, it has been the
subject of a spate of court cases *which has seen the manufacturer pay
out $11 billion to cancer-sufferers who claim that the herbicide caused
their non-Hodgkin lymphoma or related cancers. *
The chemical has also been shown to have wide-ranging negative
environmental impacts, from contaminating water to directly
and indirectly harming a range of wildlife including amphibians, bees,
and other pollinators.
In 2023, the EU banned the use of glyphosate in pre-harvest desiccation,
a practice which involves dousing a crop in chemicals just before
harvest to dry it out.**However, the UK continues to allow glyphosate to
be used in this way, despite it often leading to high residue levels in
food.
Read more on the ways in which glyphosate use has increased, as well as
the upcoming glyphosate license renewal due in December, by clicking
here
<https://pan-uk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e05a3abdc20c1dc79f85ed27a&id=cf11512586&e=5ba32964d5>.
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Glyphosate in children’s playgrounds
PAN UK recently tested
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for pesticide residues in thirteen playgrounds across three English
counties and two London boroughs.
Herbicide application in a playground. Credit J. Wilson
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Glyphosate and its toxic breakdown product - AMPA - were found in eight
of these playgrounds. Children are more vulnerable than adults to the
health impacts of pesticides since their brains and bodies are still in
development and less able to cope with toxins.
READ MORE
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Cambridge City Council leading the way
Over the last 10 years, PAN UK has been helping councils
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end their use of pesticides (mostly weedkillers like glyphosate) in
public spaces in villages, towns and cities across the country.
We were delighted to be invited to visit Cambridge City Council
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recently as they demonstrated the ways in which they have eliminated
their use of pesticides across the city to Defra Minister Emma Hardy.
Herbicide application in a playground. Credit J. Wilson
<https://pan-uk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e05a3abdc20c1dc79f85ed27a&id=797698225b&e=5ba32964d5>
The council has managed to go pesticide-free without support from
central government. We do hope that this showcase inspires the UK
government to introduce support to help other councils end their use of
toxic pesticides. Urban pesticides have already been banned in other
countries and it’s time the UK followed suit.
READ MORE
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Council elections
We have created a handy resource
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help you take action in the weeks leading up to the council elections.
You may want to ask candidates to
publicly commit to making your council pesticide-free if elected. Or put
the question to candidates at your local hustings.
Either way there are plenty of ideas in our election guide
<https://pan-uk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e05a3abdc20c1dc79f85ed27a&id=6d44b8b9a8&e=5ba32964d5>.
<https://pan-uk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e05a3abdc20c1dc79f85ed27a&id=c2cdd9bae5&e=5ba32964d5>
Pet flea treatments found at damaging levels in Welsh rivers
A new study
<https://pan-uk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e05a3abdc20c1dc79f85ed27a&id=4c9e644154&e=5ba32964d5>
in Wales, reinforces patterns in England, revealing that two pesticides
banned in agriculture - imidacloprid and fipronil - are widespread in
local waterways. Occurring respectively in 77% and 44% of Welsh samples,
the flea-treatment chemicals were more likely to occur in urban rivers,
where concentrations exceeded safe levels in almost half of the samples,
for example downstream of wastewater treatment plants.
Herbicide application in a playground. Credit J. Wilson
<https://pan-uk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e05a3abdc20c1dc79f85ed27a&id=5e6e256b35&e=5ba32964d5>
The highest concentrations were in a small Cardiff stream, Roath Brook,
at 11 and 45 times safe levels, respectively. With no inputs from
wastewater treatment or sewer overflows, only misconnected sewers could
explain such elevated concentrations. This is where drainage from
washing machines, dishwashers, showers, sinks or toilets have been
mistakenly plumbed to surface drains rather than foul sewers. In some
hot-spots, as many as 20% of properties could be affected.
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A few final things…
The Big River Watch
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takes place between 24th and 30th April 2026. Anyone can take part in
this citizen science survey to help build an important picture of river
health across the UK and Ireland.
And as we swing into spring, you may want to contact your councillors
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asking them to make your town or city pesticide-free. You can also use
our informative and fun pavement plant guide
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to get to know what’s growing in your local neighbourhood.
The fight for a healthier and more sustainable future continues.
Thank you for being part of it.
In solidarity,
the team at PAN UK
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Mike Priaulx <michael...@yahoo.com>: Apr 09 01:03PM +0100
Hi all,
I've been alerted to the Cairngorms National Park's current consultation for its Local Development Plan, closing on 12/06/26.
This is topical as Abernethy Forest lies within this national park:
https://cairngorms.co.uk/taking-part/consultations/the-next-local-development-plan/call-for-ideas#form
If you can contribute, especially if you're relatively local, then please email me at swifts....@gmail.com.
Please mention if there's something you wish to include. I'll reply to everyone by 19/04/26 with suggestions for your responses.
Some more detail:
Swifts are not specifically included in the current National Park policies;
This is an early-stage "Call For Ideas" consultation so essentially a blank page at present;
Building Regulations changes in Scotland will overtake the plan, but we don't know the details of the regs changes at the moment so it could be possible to get a stronger local policy;
Local Development Plans are equivalent to the Local Plan in England, and only cover planning-related issues but this can potentially be protection of existing locations.
All the best,
Mike
Member of SLN Swifts & Planning Group
Tim Norriss <t...@norriss.me>: Apr 09 09:34AM
Please could someone put me in touch with a person at RSPB who can answer questions about Swift Mapper (asking for Surrey Wildlife Trust)
Many thanks
Tim
Hampshire Swifts
Laurinda Luffman <Laurinda...@rspb.org.uk>: Apr 09 10:43AM
Hi Tim
If you put them in touch with me via the SLN (my Bedfordshire Swifts email is: lluf...@gmail.com), I’ll put them in touch with the right person at the RSPB.
Thanks
Laurinda
From: 'Tim Norriss' via swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: 09 April 2026 10:35
To: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [SLN] SwiftMapper
Please could someone put me in touch with a person at RSPB who can answer questions about Swift Mapper (asking for Surrey Wildlife Trust)
Many thanks
Tim
Hampshire Swifts
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Tim Norriss <t...@norriss.me>: Apr 09 11:08AM
Thank you Laurinda, I'll do that
Tim
From: 'Laurinda Luffman' via swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: 09 April 2026 11:44
To: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [SLN] RE: SwiftMapper
Hi Tim
If you put them in touch with me via the SLN (my Bedfordshire Swifts email is: lluf...@gmail.com<mailto:lluffman@gmail.com>), I'll put them in touch with the right person at the RSPB.
Thanks
Laurinda
From: 'Tim Norriss' via swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com>>
Sent: 09 April 2026 10:35
To: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SLN] SwiftMapper
Please could someone put me in touch with a person at RSPB who can answer questions about Swift Mapper (asking for Surrey Wildlife Trust)
Many thanks
Tim
Hampshire Swifts
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Aylsham Swift Group <aylsha...@gmail.com>: Apr 09 09:11AM +0100
Hi,
I've recently had a minor victory in persuading the National Trust at
Blickling Hall to remove bird combs they had installed in a couple of their
estate cottages. I support of my arguments I sent them a copy of the
NFRC-GN57 Guidance Note "Encouraging roof-nesting birds" and Sheffield
Swift Network's "Guidance to Builders" - thank you Sheffield people! I'm
planning now to contact the NT Director of Land and Nature (Harry Bowell)
to ask if they have a national policy on swifts. Mr Bowell held a senior
role with RSPB before taking his current job and before that worked for the
Norfolk Wildlife Trust so I'm hoping to get a sympathetic reception.
Can anyone give me chapter and verse on building regulations and bird
guards as I'd like to have something authoritative to quote? In a recent
post, Mike Priaulx said they are "not a legal requirement but just the
modern way" but we are constantly being told that "it's building
regulations".
Can anyone help me with this?
Thanks,
Pat
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Aylsham Swift Group
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Swifts (SOS) <swi...@suffolkbirdgroup.org>: Apr 09 11:35AM +0100
The guards are shown on the 'Best Practice' guide for eaves. Felt manufacturers quote this when installing their products.
If there is a warranty claim and combing isn't there then the installers become liable for any claim, hence their inclusion.
SuffolkBirdGroup.org
On 9 Apr 2026, at 09:11, Aylsham Swift Group <aylsha...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi,
I've recently had a minor victory in persuading the National Trust at Blickling Hall to remove bird combs they had installed in a couple of their estate cottages. I support of my arguments I sent them a copy of the NFRC-GN57 Guidance Note "Encouraging roof-nesting birds" and Sheffield Swift Network's "Guidance to Builders" - thank you Sheffield people! I'm planning now to contact the NT Director of Land and Nature (Harry Bowell) to ask if they have a national policy on swifts. Mr Bowell held a senior role with RSPB before taking his current job and before that worked for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust so I'm hoping to get a sympathetic reception.
Can anyone give me chapter and verse on building regulations and bird guards as I'd like to have something authoritative to quote? In a recent post, Mike Priaulx said they are "not a legal requirement but just the modern way" but we are constantly being told that "it's building regulations".
Can anyone help me with this?
Thanks,
Pat
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Aylsham Swift Group 01263 731128
Aylsham Swift Group | @AylshamSwifts | Make a donation
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Edward Mayer <edward...@zen.co.uk>: Apr 09 09:47AM +0100
Good morning! Any takers for Susan's Swift nest boxes? Looks like a
bargain! All the best, Edward
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Nesting boxes
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2026 07:52:25 +0000 (UTC)
From: susan hauser <susanha...@yahoo.co.uk>
To: ma...@swift-conservation.org
Hi there,
I have 2 redundant nesting boxes for swifts - would you be able to
suggest to whom I could donate them to ?
Thank you
Susan
07870 966 851
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Dick Newell
Apr 11, 2026, 8:24:53 AMApr 11
to swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
I have had plywood boxes on my house for about 24 years now, and they are still in good shape.
I used marine ply and treated it properly. The tops of some of the boxes were originally wood, and they needed replacing with 50 year MDF and they have been fine since.
In general one should not put plywood where it can be exposed to sun or rain. If you obey this simple rule, treat the ply properly, then it should last indefinitely.
An example of what I am talking about is a Model 30 made of a combination of plywood and uPVC, picture here
Inside, apart from the back, all surfaces are plywood. No sun or rain should hit the plywood front or bottom.
Dick
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/8ba5f237-c580-4122-890e-46ff0ae4a76e%40zen.co.uk.
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