Re: [SLN] Digest for swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com - 9 updates in 4 topics

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Edward Mayer

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Aug 5, 2026, 12:06:37 PMAug 5
to swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com

Hi Cally, Well, I guess you and your group could always organise a demo at the NTS site involved? Nothing the NTS (or NT for that matter) would hate more than a decent legal demo right in front of their fee paying members and visitors I would guess? Showing them up for trashing their wildlife would not go down well with their members who are paying fees to protect nature I am thinking? It might concentrate their minds and if you do get locked up as a consequence, I will for sure send you a cake.... All the best, Edward

On 05-Aug-26 7:58 AM, swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com wrote:
Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group <huntlysw...@gmail.com>: Aug 04 03:27PM -0700

hi Andrew
Can i ask where you got this information? For my own understanding.
 
I was aware from folk at our LA that the swift brick 'win' would be at
least 12 months in the consultation period. Being a cynical kind of person
i assume also there will be numerous exemptions and i worry if they will
actually consult with swift experts or rather their own
ecologist/researchers etc etc.
 
As far as NTS are concerned i have come to the unfortunate conclusion that
NTS do NOT care for building reliant species which is shameful since they
deal with buildings in the most part. They have Rangers, who dabble in
certain species conservation but seem to dislike consulting anyone with any
expertise. So they go forth and mess up repeatedly. We had a great deal
of problems with a certain Castle and its house martins which NTS had
completely overlooked and we now are having a huge worry about a swift
colony.
It beggars belief.
Cally
 
On Monday, August 3, 2026 at 9:13:10 PM UTC+1 brownick824 wrote:
 
Peta Sams <peta...@btinternet.com>: Aug 04 12:34AM -0700

Well done - why is always such a battle? Even with NTS who are one of your
partners at another site. Everyone claims to be 'wildlife friendly' until
work/money gets involved. Good that you manage to rescue this from near
disaster for the young birds.
 
On Monday, August 3, 2026 at 8:16:37 PM UTC+1 andrewjturney wrote:
 

Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group <huntlysw...@gmail.com>: Aug 04 03:19PM -0700

Well done Andrew!
Unfortunately we are having no joy with NTS on a number of counts. They
have pretty much refused to communicate with us on a very significant swift
colony on one of their castles. I am not best pleased with them i can tell
you. If there is any way what you have managed to agree upon can influence
the people in question here then maybe we can chat at some point.
Cally
 
On Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 8:34:04 AM UTC+1 Peta Sams wrote:
 
Edward Mayer <edward...@zen.co.uk>: Aug 04 06:32PM +0100

Oh dear, looks like the Scottish Swift Bricks have been very much kicked
into the long grass, does it not? What on earth does one have to do to
get any beneficial change in our Island nations? Well, I would say we
must make Swift Bricks a "must have item" for all property
owners/buyers. There are no laws saying people must have dish washers,
microwaves or to use deodorants, but for nearly everyone these are "must
have's". So I suggest we look at how people are persuaded to buy these
things, and copy that! It all boils down to "influencers", advertising,
and social pressure to conform. And we can ALL be influencers! We can
start NOW! For example, I just tell people that having House Martins on
your home brings you good luck. I certainly believe it! Best wishes, Edward
 

Dick Newell <dick....@gmail.com>: Aug 04 06:45PM +0100

I do like your ideas Edward, If we just battle on winning people's hearts
and minds, we will get there.
Dick
 
On Tue, 4 Aug 2026 at 18:32, 'Edward Mayer' via swiftslocalnetwork <

Jean Stafford-Baker <skych...@yahoo.com>: Aug 04 06:10PM

Well said! And I shall say having Swifts on your home brings joy & spiritual healing. I certainly have found that to be true!
What a great idea!
Jean (Norwich)
 
Yahoo Mail: Search, organise, conquer

On Tue, 4 Aug 2026 at 6:46 pm, Dick Newell<dick....@gmail.com> wrote: I do like your ideas Edward, If we just battle on winning people's hearts and minds, we will get there.Dick
On Tue, 4 Aug 2026 at 18:32, 'Edward Mayer' via swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
 

Oh dear, looks like the Scottish Swift Bricks have been very much kicked into the long grass, does it not? What on earth does one have to do to get any beneficial change in our Island nations? Well, I would say we must make Swift Bricks a "must have item" for all property owners/buyers. There are no laws saying people must have dish washers, microwaves or to use deodorants, but for nearly everyone these are "must have's". So I suggest we look at how people are persuaded to buy these things, and copy that! It all boils down to "influencers", advertising, and social pressure to conform. And we can ALL be influencers! We can start NOW! For example, I just tell people that having House Martins on your home brings you good luck. I certainly believe it! Best wishes, Edward
On 04-Aug-26 7:58 AM, swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com wrote:


| swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com | | Google Groups |
 
Topic digest
View all topics
- Update on Broughton House Kirkcudbright - 3 Updates
- Swift Bricks in Scotland - 2 Updates
- SAW summary - 1 Update
Update on Broughton House Kirkcudbright
| Andrew Turney <andrew...@gmail.com>: Aug 03 08:16PM +0100

I mentioned last month that we were shocked that the National Trust for Scotland had erected scaffolding on Broughton House to facilitate the external painting of the building even though there were swifts present in 2 possibly 3 nest sites and compromising another nest site close by on an adjoining property … after considerable effort I managed to negotiate the removal of the scaffolding close to the nest sites. We were pleased that this happened before the young fledged.
I am hopeful that before too long we will have detailed conversations with senior property managers within the National Trust for Scotland to ensure that they update their systems to ensure that this does not happen at any of their properties.
Bw
Andrew
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| alofanglia <alis...@alofanglia.plus.com>: Aug 03 09:34PM +0100

Well done good work!
Alistair
Sent from my iPhone
 
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| Heidi Collishaw <heidico...@googlemail.com>: Aug 03 09:56PM +0100

Well done Andrew. Hopefully you'll be able to continue dialogue with NT,
and swifts will be respected and kept safe.
 
Regards
Heidi
 
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Back to top Swift Bricks in Scotland
| Andrew Turney <andrew...@gmail.com>: Aug 03 07:01PM +0100

Just to share a rather disappointing update that I received over the weekend - I was not aware that there was likely to be such a delay in implementing the ground breaking guidance this side of the border.
Bw
Andrew
 
Building regulations: swift nest box
The provisions relating to swift nesting features are not included within the October 2026
commencement package. Given the interaction with building standards legislation,
commencement of these provisions will need to be carefully aligned with the statutory
processes required for changes to building regulations and supporting technical guidance.
Any changes to building regulations must follow a formal review process, including
consideration of impacts on building performance, maintenance, health and safety, and
accessibility. This process involves research, stakeholder engagement and consultation, and
sufficient time must be allowed for the outcomes of that work to be fully reflected in
regulations and guidance.
As part of this process, engagement will be undertaken with stakeholders across the
housing, design and construction sectors, supported by appropriate communications activity.
We will provide a further update on commencement plans as this work progresses.
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| Nick Brown <brown...@gmail.com>: Aug 03 09:12PM +0100

Talk about obfuscation Andrew.....and using ten words when one will do.
Great that you got the scaffold around the nests taken down but surely the
NTS, which like its English counterpart, promotes itself as a nature
conservation organisation, should have been aware of what was nesting in
their buildings.
The trouble is most of the NT/NTS staff have no interest or knowledge of
wildlife, particularly those concerned with buildings and their contents.
Very disappointing but do keep at them!
 
Nick
Derbyshire (where, at an NT property local to me, 25 years ago house martin
nests were being routinely knocked off the facade of the stately home until
I complained.....)
 
|
 
Back to top SAW summary
| Peta Sams <peta...@btinternet.com>: Aug 03 06:45PM +0100

Thanks to everyone who sent in a report about the event(s) they held
during SAW
 
I have now summarised these and they are in the document (hopefully)
attached to this email
 
If you can't see it try this link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1syEQ02wFB-a7hY1lnx_r_9Z7ZzMnU8Cf/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1syEQ02wFB-a7hY1lnx_r_9Z7ZzMnU8Cf/view?usp=sharing>
 
It makes impressive reading so do please pass onto any of your contacts
who might be interested.
 
 
 
Peta
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Jo James <joeyma...@googlemail.com>: Aug 04 08:21AM +0100

Hi Peta
 
I can't access the file
 
Jo
 
On Mon, 3 Aug 2026, 18:45 'Peta Sams' via swiftslocalnetwork, <

Jo James <joeyma...@googlemail.com>: Aug 04 08:21AM +0100

Sorry... ignore that!
 
On Mon, 3 Aug 2026, 18:45 'Peta Sams' via swiftslocalnetwork, <

Amanda Randall <a.l.ran...@gmail.com>: Aug 04 12:23PM +0100

Hi Peta,
 
Thank you for the summary - as you say, it's very impressive.
 
Much as I would love to be associated with the hard work of Askrigg Swifts,
this has to be credited to Amanda Killip! I am only responsible for the
swifts of Harbury!
 
Amanda Randall
 
On Mon, 3 Aug 2026, 18:45 'Peta Sams' via swiftslocalnetwork, <
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