Re: [SLN] Digest for swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com - 6 updates in 3 topics

[Ailsa Wish]

Dear All,

 i have been reading the sad saga of the Dorking Swifts and feel unable to add anything useful but would like to express my admiration for the battle.

It seems to me that the current laws and by-laws seem to be unfit for purpose should be replaced by  a new law specifically for house nesting birds that is clear and enforceable;

 

'Do not block sites or put up scaffolding April - Sept. Out of season, make good  any loss of nest sites by installing swift bricks.'

This seems  a pipe dream in current times  so one must pray for greater public awareness and common sense  with positives about what can be done by individuals and groups.

Local and regional planning departments are the people who set the conditions and permissions and so must be the ones to be held accountable.

Having seen what happens in Lincolnshire when protected trees are felled, planning and building regulations are flagrantly ignored too simply  because there is 'insufficient funding' to pursue cases through the courts,thus the enforcement officers need a bigger budget. 

In my experience locally, it does come down to individuals who care, to oppose developments that would disregard ecological needs. We do have to utilise the local planning portal, and private individuals do have to drill down into law themselves and point out to the authorities things they should know, with evidence and turn to requesting freedom of information when something smells rotten.

Best wishes

Ailsa Wish 

(Caistor Swifts)

On Wed, Jun 24, 2026 at 7:58 AM <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

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• Encouraging nest location change? - 2 Updates
• Regent House - 22 swift nests destroyed - 3 Updates
• New Hampshire Swifts Blog - 1 Update

Encouraging nest location change?

bob <b...@keenes2.uk>: Jun 23 08:31AM -0700 A friend has swifts on a nest in his loft accessed by a hole under the eaves. He has had fatalities in the past due to young not being able to find their way out. He is asking if, after the breeding season, putting a nest box with a caller right next to the hole might attract them next season, so that they don't use his loft. My feeling is that the returning pair will stick with their existing hole unless we block it during the winter and I'm reluctant to try that. Any experience of using that method, anyone?   Kind regards   Bob Keene   Bisham Nest Box Group   www.bnbg.org.uk   Kind regards   Bob Keene   Bisham Nest Box Group   www.bnbg.org.uk

Heidi Collishaw <heidico...@googlemail.com>: Jun 23 10:15PM +0100 Might it be possible to build a temporary box around the existing nest site, within the loft space, such that they can't leave except via their normal entrance? At the same time, perhaps create an alternative nest site (or several) to give the existing nesters another option, and/ or to grow the colony?   Regards Heidi

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Regent House - 22 swift nests destroyed

Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group <huntlysw...@gmail.com>: Jun 23 02:58AM -0700 Dear Tony & Anne   DO SHARE THIS, EVERY TIME please. It is extremely important we all know and understand what goes on in these tragic circumstances, otherwise what are we all fighting for? OK i am firey and like to shout out about this. The law is useless and makes people believe the swifts are protected when they are NOT!!! I have had similar issues, some with WCOs who argue with you when they should be working with you. The amount of people who say 'contact the RSPB' - again not directed at you Laurinda (you represent and get all the flack! X) but so many people DO rely on the RSPB when they do not get involved with these things. Far too much reliance on ecologist reports - and again i believe many times over that many ecologists are NOT swift experts and one or two visits are simply not enough. So many failures, it has to stop. I'm behind you all the way, justice MUST be done. This is a red listed bird for goodness sake, does this mean nothing? Cally     On Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 9:27:25 AM UTC+1 the.crofties~Hathern wrote:

Barbara Anglezarke <Barbara.A...@beacons-npa.gov.uk>: Jun 23 12:06PM [like] Barbara Anglezarke reacted to your message: ________________________________ From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group <huntlysw...@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, 23 June 2026 09:58:00 To: swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: [SLN] Regent House - 22 swift nests destroyed   Dear Tony & Anne   DO SHARE THIS, EVERY TIME please. It is extremely important we all know and understand what goes on in these tragic circumstances, otherwise what are we all fighting for? OK i am firey and like to shout out about this. The law is useless and makes people believe the swifts are protected when they are NOT!!! I have had similar issues, some with WCOs who argue with you when they should be working with you. The amount of people who say 'contact the RSPB' - again not directed at you Laurinda (you represent and get all the flack! X) but so many people DO rely on the RSPB when they do not get involved with these things. Far too much reliance on ecologist reports - and again i believe many times over that many ecologists are NOT swift experts and one or two visits are simply not enough. So many failures, it has to stop. I'm behind you all the way, justice MUST be done. This is a red listed bird for goodness sake, does this mean nothing? Cally     On Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 9:27:25 AM UTC+1 the.crofties~Hathern wrote: Dear Anne & Barrie   Completely agree with everything you say in this email.   What's the point of this legislation if no one upholds it...   It's compliance for the protection of all house nesting birds that matters and it's clear no one is going to enforce it or penalise companies that flaunt the regulations...   It's simply outrageous that these companies can flaunt the rules as the councils, police, etc don't enforce them or subject the builders and planners to prosecution for not following them or enforceing them! They just don't take any of it seriously!   The whole thing is a shambles and smells of something wrotten!   Best Regards Tony & Anne   On Sun, 21 Jun 2026, 09:04 Banstead Swifts, <banstea...@gmail.com> wrote: Morning   We questioned whether to share this here as there was little response (we acknowledge and are grateful to those that did) to our post regarding legals and changing things nationally to save swifts.   The Police, developers, contractors and council are witholding the building survey that was carried out 48 hours prior to demolition but they have relied upon for evidence to supercede that of eye witnesses. We have now submitted an FOI to the Police and council for this.   The publics submissions on the planning application should have been online within 5 days of submission, but 7 months on they are not online and the council is not replying to advise if we maynview them in the office, so we have submitted a complaint on that too.   No support on the case came from RSPB. SWT. No NGO at all.   It is disgraceful that 22 nests can be lost in one fell swoop and it is left to a handful of unpaid volunteers to hold multiple businesses and local government to account. It may have helped morale and the public if the NGOs had released a written statement on the incident offering their view and support for justice for the swifts. But nothing for the swifts at all.   The general public consistently ask what the RSPB amd RSPCA are doing to help and we have to say 'nothing'. They didn"t believe it till they started emailing themselves. BTW this is not an attack on you Laurinda, it is of the policies of the RSPB to not get involved.   Despite this we are still continuing our work on justice for the swifts of Dorking. We will continue to dig for information and a route to legal advice and a private prosecution.   We have already submitted a complaint to Surrey Police regarding Nest 1. Pound Road,Banstead<https://www.google.com/maps/search/1.+Pound+Road,Banstead?entry=gmail&source=g> Colony but we shall be submitting another on their whole month of sitting doing nothing whilst the general public flagged up swifts in the building and a wildlife crime occuring.   Thanks to Mike Priaulx for his continued support and lead, with his expert knowledge, he is one in a million.   Best Annie & Barry                     URGENT NEWS - Surrey Police   It is what we expected.   14:17 update: We do not intend to drop this. We will continue to pursue justice for the swifts and nature. This is not the end, it is the beginning of the next chapter.   =======   Response from Surrey Police on Regent House Demolition and Destruction of up to 22 swift nests:     Good afternoon,   In regards to Regent House I am now in a position to give a fuller update in regards to your police report.   As part of the investigation, I have spoken with 10 complainants to determine whether or not we have sufficient evidence to proceed with any form of criminal proceedings. Accounts from all 10 persons have been obtained, either over the phone or via email. Contact has been made with both the council and the demolition company to obtain their record of documents as well as two ecologist reports that were obtained, one of which post partial demolition to ascertain if there was any evidence of active nesting, or if there was any evidence that there had been prior to demolition beginning. There appears to have been a CCTV camera that would have captured the site at one point; however, Network Rail have confirmed that this camera was owned by a different company, which has since dissolved and is not part of the train network.   Having obtained a timeline of events as produced by yourselves, with the videos and accounts by the complainants, as well as the ecologists reports. This matter was submitted to the National Rural Crime Team for their review and advice. They have confirmed that with the evidence submitted, it would have been "likely" that the swifts would have returned to nest if left undisturbed. The unit note that there is a lot of circumstantial evidence and presumptions, however this is not supported by factual evidence. This, coupled with the ecologists report (the second one not the tree one), along with the fact that scaffolding and monoflex sheeting had been erected prior to nesting season, would completely undermine a prosecution.   Further to this, we have the requirement to prove intent, from the documentation that we have been provided, the company appear to have complied with all legislation to protect nests. There is no offence of "recklessness" in English law, there for intention to destroy would have to be proved, not that they were reckless or negligent in the fact. This is how Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act is written.   In the reviewing officers opinion, there is no realistic prospect of a prosecution.   Based on this, no further action is being taken by Surrey Police in regards to this allegation and this matter will now be filed. I appreciate that this is not the news that you wanted to receive, however as stated above, the lack of physical evidence and the way that the legislation is written means that we will not be able to prosecute in this matter.   Many thanks   PC 40387 Grout Mole Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team   ======       -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to swiftslocalnetw...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CADcwg4n%3D0NQmYjn8g%3DyV88tBrY-t0PEK5J_9dUhSS1n4X5-9vg%40mail.gmail.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CADcwg4n%3D0NQmYjn8g%3DyV88tBrY-t0PEK5J_9dUhSS1n4X5-9vg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.   -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to swiftslocalnetw...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>. To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/2b9711f2-00fd-48cf-b5a8-45acabac5e0an%40googlegroups.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/2b9711f2-00fd-48cf-b5a8-45acabac5e0an%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. Croeso i chi gysylltu â ni yn Gymraeg. Byddwn yn ymateb yn Gymraeg, heb oedi. You are welcome to contact us in Welsh. We will respond in Welsh without delay.

Laurinda Luffman <Laurinda...@rspb.org.uk>: Jun 23 03:20PM Dear All   I have just checked with the RSPB Investigations Team and they have no record of anyone contacting them about this incident.   So I’m not sure who Annie spoke to – was it someone in the Wildlife Team? Please always do feel free to use me as a contact point, though admittedly I have not been very proactive recently due to my mother being very poorly in hospital for a couple of months.   As we all know, it is extremely hard to get enough evidence for this kind of crime, such that the police can take it further. It was certainly a really useful talk we had from the Wildlife Crime Unit at the Lancaster conference which outlined what might be needed for a successful prosecution, as well as highlighting all the other atrocious wildlife crimes out there (like monkey torturing – still can’t get that out of my head) they have to deal with.   As you can all imagine, the RSPB Investigations team also has a lot of awful crimes to deal with and therefore have to prioritise focusing on cases which have video/other strong evidence to give us a chance of us winning in court or cases involving Schedule 1 birds or raptors, since raptors face a really awful level of sustained and persistent persecution currently. I can assure everyone that my colleagues are very committed and care about all birds, including Swifts, even if they are unable to help in specific cases such as this.   It is of course, deeply frustrating, that the burden of proof is so high and so difficult to obtain for Swifts and I greatly admire any local group willing to pursue a case like this, and get greater understanding and awareness, if nothing else.   We all bear the scars of cases in our own locations, so it’s fantastic that we can all support each other emotionally and with any tactics we have tried.   Laurinda     From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group Sent: 23 June 2026 10:58 To: swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: [SLN] Regent House - 22 swift nests destroyed   Dear Tony & Anne   DO SHARE THIS, EVERY TIME please. It is extremely important we all know and understand what goes on in these tragic circumstances, otherwise what are we all fighting for? OK i am firey and like to shout out about this. The law is useless and makes people believe the swifts are protected when they are NOT!!! I have had similar issues, some with WCOs who argue with you when they should be working with you. The amount of people who say 'contact the RSPB' - again not directed at you Laurinda (you represent and get all the flack! X) but so many people DO rely on the RSPB when they do not get involved with these things. Far too much reliance on ecologist reports - and again i believe many times over that many ecologists are NOT swift experts and one or two visits are simply not enough. So many failures, it has to stop. I'm behind you all the way, justice MUST be done. This is a red listed bird for goodness sake, does this mean nothing? Cally   On Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 9:27:25 AM UTC+1 the.crofties~Hathern wrote: Dear Anne & Barrie   Completely agree with everything you say in this email.   What's the point of this legislation if no one upholds it...   It's compliance for the protection of all house nesting birds that matters and it's clear no one is going to enforce it or penalise companies that flaunt the regulations...   It's simply outrageous that these companies can flaunt the rules as the councils, police, etc don't enforce them or subject the builders and planners to prosecution for not following them or enforceing them! They just don't take any of it seriously!   The whole thing is a shambles and smells of something wrotten!   Best Regards Tony & Anne   On Sun, 21 Jun 2026, 09:04 Banstead Swifts, <http://banstea...@gmail.com> wrote: Morning   We questioned whether to share this here as there was little response (we acknowledge and are grateful to those that did) to our post regarding legals and changing things nationally to save swifts.   The Police, developers, contractors and council are witholding the building survey that was carried out 48 hours prior to demolition but they have relied upon for evidence to supercede that of eye witnesses. We have now submitted an FOI to the Police and council for this.   The publics submissions on the planning application should have been online within 5 days of submission, but 7 months on they are not online and the council is not replying to advise if we maynview them in the office, so we have submitted a complaint on that too.   No support on the case came from RSPB. SWT. No NGO at all.   It is disgraceful that 22 nests can be lost in one fell swoop and it is left to a handful of unpaid volunteers to hold multiple businesses and local government to account. It may have helped morale and the public if the NGOs had released a written statement on the incident offering their view and support for justice for the swifts. But nothing for the swifts at all.   The general public consistently ask what the RSPB amd RSPCA are doing to help and we have to say 'nothing'. They didn"t believe it till they started emailing themselves. BTW this is not an attack on you Laurinda, it is of the policies of the RSPB to not get involved.   Despite this we are still continuing our work on justice for the swifts of Dorking. We will continue to dig for information and a route to legal advice and a private prosecution.   We have already submitted a complaint to Surrey Police regarding Nest 1. Pound Road,Banstead<https://www.google.com/maps/search/1.+Pound+Road,Banstead?entry=gmail&source=g> Colony but we shall be submitting another on their whole month of sitting doing nothing whilst the general public flagged up swifts in the building and a wildlife crime occuring.   Thanks to Mike Priaulx for his continued support and lead, with his expert knowledge, he is one in a million.   Best Annie & Barry                     URGENT NEWS - Surrey Police   It is what we expected.   14:17 update: We do not intend to drop this. We will continue to pursue justice for the swifts and nature. This is not the end, it is the beginning of the next chapter.   =======   Response from Surrey Police on Regent House Demolition and Destruction of up to 22 swift nests:     Good afternoon,   In regards to Regent House I am now in a position to give a fuller update in regards to your police report.   As part of the investigation, I have spoken with 10 complainants to determine whether or not we have sufficient evidence to proceed with any form of criminal proceedings. Accounts from all 10 persons have been obtained, either over the phone or via email. Contact has been made with both the council and the demolition company to obtain their record of documents as well as two ecologist reports that were obtained, one of which post partial demolition to ascertain if there was any evidence of active nesting, or if there was any evidence that there had been prior to demolition beginning. There appears to have been a CCTV camera that would have captured the site at one point; however, Network Rail have confirmed that this camera was owned by a different company, which has since dissolved and is not part of the train network.   Having obtained a timeline of events as produced by yourselves, with the videos and accounts by the complainants, as well as the ecologists reports. This matter was submitted to the National Rural Crime Team for their review and advice. They have confirmed that with the evidence submitted, it would have been "likely" that the swifts would have returned to nest if left undisturbed. The unit note that there is a lot of circumstantial evidence and presumptions, however this is not supported by factual evidence. This, coupled with the ecologists report (the second one not the tree one), along with the fact that scaffolding and monoflex sheeting had been erected prior to nesting season, would completely undermine a prosecution.   Further to this, we have the requirement to prove intent, from the documentation that we have been provided, the company appear to have complied with all legislation to protect nests. There is no offence of "recklessness" in English law, there for intention to destroy would have to be proved, not that they were reckless or negligent in the fact. This is how Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act is written.   In the reviewing officers opinion, there is no realistic prospect of a prosecution.   Based on this, no further action is being taken by Surrey Police in regards to this allegation and this matter will now be filed. I appreciate that this is not the news that you wanted to receive, however as stated above, the lack of physical evidence and the way that the legislation is written means that we will not be able to prosecute in this matter.   Many thanks   PC 40387 Grout Mole Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team   ======     -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to http://swiftslocalnetw...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CADcwg4n%3D0NQmYjn8g%3DyV88tBrY-t0PEK5J_9dUhSS1n4X5-9vg%40mail.gmail.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CADcwg4n%3D0NQmYjn8g%3DyV88tBrY-t0PEK5J_9dUhSS1n4X5-9vg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "swiftslocalnetwork" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to swiftslocalnetw...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>. To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/2b9711f2-00fd-48cf-b5a8-45acabac5e0an%40googlegroups.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/2b9711f2-00fd-48cf-b5a8-45acabac5e0an%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.   This email and any attachments may contain material that is confidential, subject to copyright and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the named recipient you must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication. If you have received this in error, please contact the sender and then delete this email from your system. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 207076 and in Scotland no. 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New Hampshire Swifts Blog

timothynorriss <t...@norriss.me>: Jun 23 03:05AM -0700 Hi all   You can read here about more boxes that we have installed recently in Basingstoke as part of the Basingstoke Swift Streets project. https://www.hampshireswifts.co.uk/post/basingstoke-swift-streets-1   Tim Norriss Hampshire Swifts

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[Edward Mayer]

How about just trying to improve the chick's access so they can emerge more easily???