Roof and soffit/fascia work on local authority owned housing - providing substitute nest sites for swifts etc

[Catharine Gale]

Does anyone know whether their local council has a policy of providing substitute nest sites for swifts when they re-roof or replace soffits/fascias on their housing stock?    This could take the form of an external swift box, a soffit box or holes cut in the soffit or fascias.   

Winchester City Council offers tenants a swift box when they do such renovation work to their homes, but tenants can decline this and many do. 

Southampton City Council are currently updating their Biodiversity Action Plan and one of their ecologists has been discussing with me how best to ensure swifts can still nest on council-owned housing once the roof/soffits/fascias have been renovated.     It would be useful to know whether there are other local authorities who have a policy as regards this.

best wishes

Catharine Gale

Hampshire Swifts

-

[Andy Bullen]

Hi Catherine

The Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk (BCKLWN) doesn’t have such a policy in place

Details of any examples, such as this initiative, by other Councils which can be shared with Councillors, Council Officers, Cabinet Members can only help using the “you’re not alone”, “it’s being done by other Councils”, “why aren’t you doing this?” approach. 

Often, and BCKLWN are an example, local Government hold the largest housing stock and are often the largest property developer in a particular area/region. As they are often also the Planning Authority they should be easy to persuade to adopt such policies.

I would welcome details of this and other initiatives to send to our Council

Thanks

Andy

SOSSSH

--
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 on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CAA%2BULJJC0Su-Y1qZ0x-YOmyHxjjMPELmD5EehBd3Xz_rpRsrCw%40mail.gmail.com.

[@EssendineSwifts]

Wouldn't soffit boxes be the best solution? 

Tenants would probably prefer this too because they are enclosed, and invisible. 

[Alistair]

Unsure of Bromley councils policy for council houses  but their other documents for swifts look very good!

https://www.bromley.gov.uk/conservation/bromley-biodiversity-species-action-plan-swifts

Alistair

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/8778bc17-50aa-4e2c-ac12-431c5324ecdbn%40googlegroups.com.

[Catharine Gale]

Hi Andy

Thank you for this.   If Southampton City Council agree, as part of their revised Biodiversity Action Plan, to install substitute nesting places (whether external swift boxes or soffit boxes) when they re-roof and replace soffits/fascias on their housing stock, I'll certainly let SLN members know the details.

best wishes

Catharine

Hampshire Swifts

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CANZC6jA1pHonFDTA3LxhjojCr%3DkAyRSdD1btUQDROv6ioUyJeA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Catharine Gale]

The Southampton City Council ecologist who is working on revising their Biodiversity Action Plan is going to discuss with her colleagues how best to provide substitute nest sites for swifts when work is done on the eaves/roofs  of their housing stock.  Soffit boxes are going to be considered as well as external nest boxes.

best wishes

Catharine

Hampshire Swifts

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/8778bc17-50aa-4e2c-ac12-431c5324ecdbn%40googlegroups.com.

[Catharine Gale]

Thank you for this helpful information, Alistair.  I'll pass it on to the Southampton City Council ecologist who's working on their revised Biodiversity Action Plan.

best wishes

Catharine

Hampshire Swifts

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/F6C395A8-9D1B-4BE6-9D9D-D9FBA4C0E0CC%40alofanglia.plus.com.

[Laurinda Luffman]

Hi Catherine

 

Sorry to be late replying to this. Just thought everybody might need a good news story.

 

In Bedford, a whole estate was being fitted with new PVC soffits by Bedford Pilgrim Housing Association. Thankfully, a local, Jane Kelly, knew about the swifts and lobbied BPHA, who asked the contractors to make holes in the new PVC plastic soffits (costing £3 per hole) – see photo.

 

This means the Fenlake estate still supports Bedford’s large colony of 60+ pairs 😊

 

Laurinda

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CAA%2BULJJZd280CkAtYi-uPc7-Dx3EAbwCvMEnDuL1i-0qVGrntw%40mail.gmail.com.

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. SC037654.

The RSPB is committed to maintaining your data privacy. We promise to keep your details safe and will never sell them on to third parties. To find out more about how we use your information please read our online Privacy Policy:

[Catharine Gale]

Hi Laurinda

That's definitely a good news story.    I'll pass that information, plus the photo, on to the Southampton City Council ecologist.

best wishes

Catharine

Hampshire Swifts

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/DB9PR06MB88425E075B3473D3614C42BCD0CE2%40DB9PR06MB8842.eurprd06.prod.outlook.com.

[Peter Smart]

Hi Alistair,

Unfortunately Bromley Council don't adhere to their own action plan for swifts. They certainly don't automatically make swift bricks a condition for new developments. They don't even have an inhouse ecologist.

We have Swift Champions within the Bromley Local Group of the RSPB who request the inclusion of swift bricks on developments near to existing nest sites, but a condition is frequently not made by the Council when granting permission.

Regards,

Peter