Re: [SLN] Digest for swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com - 6 updates in 2 topics

[Robert Stark]

Hi All

The old Hull and East Yorkshire group has secured a blanket policy on for box fitting on any reroofs. 

We have had similar support in Scarborough area from ‘Sanctuary Housing Group’ who are going to fit boxes to all reroofed properties in Scarborough. ‘Beyond Housing Group’ have offered to fit boxes provided the sitting tenants agree although none have been done yet. 

I would advise finding out if there is a local council officer responsible for the relevant estate. They will know who to speak to at the housing group. Keep chipping away until you find someone within the social

Housing organisation that is supportive (it may take sometime).

Pre-assembled plastic boxes are available from AfS (I had huge reservations giving busy builders flat packs) or even better a moulded box will be available very soon from AfS. It is the latter we have recommended to Sanctuary. 

Hope that helps. 

Thanks

Rob Stark

robs...@hotmail.co.uk

Scarborough

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From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2024 8:56:33 PM
To: Digest recipients <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SLN] Digest for swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com - 6 updates in 2 topics

 

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• Digest for swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com - 2 updates in 1 topic - 1 Update
• Roof and soffit/fascia work on local authority owned housing - providing substitute nest sites for swifts etc - 5 Updates

Digest for swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com - 2 updates in 1 topic

Banstead Swifts <banstea...@gmail.com>: Jun 16 06:18PM +0100 Dear Catherine   Here in Reigate and Banstead Council Area all the housing stock was passed over to Raven Housing Trust. This is likely the case for the majority of what many would know as 'Council or local authority houses'. Housing Associations or Housing Trusts are now the big landlords. Sorry if you already know all that!   There was no policy with Raven HT in regard of providing homes for swifts or any red listed birds such as sparrows that roost all year round here. Their roosts were mortaored up one autumn, likely with them inside.   Unfortunately surveys of properties prior to work on soffits was, either zero or lacking. So much so that whole swift colonies have been lost in places. A Police wildlife officer was furious on bout another site that also likely had bats, but despite his initial intervention it went nowhere.   We bothered Raven HT for 4 years to put boxes up in one swift colony and they finally did so in 2023, but only after blocking anotherswift nest and others in 2022. It is heartbreaking.   A lot of the old council builds in the borough were 1950s with open eaves and I was told they were full of swifts and swallows until soffits were fitted. We have one brick work nest left here on our site.   Generally there appears to be a complete lack of awareness of the Wildlife Act and property management and upgrade with the housing trust who is responsible for 3000+ properties. I had to highlight their responsibilities but my contact has moved on and I suspect I need to start over. So a long story, but key points:   No policy Unlikely to acknowledge swifts presence let alone the wildlife act. Retrofitting for carbon zero and blocking swift and other red list bird nests off in the process.   Sorry it's not more positive.   Kindest Annie & Barry

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

"@EssendineSwifts" <talya...@googlemail.com>: Jun 16 12:50AM -0700 Wouldn't soffit boxes be the best solution? Tenants would probably prefer this too because they are enclosed, and invisible.

Alistair <alis...@alofanglia.plus.com>: Jun 16 11:20AM +0100 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 <https://www.bromley.gov.uk/conservation/bromley-biodiversity-species-action-plan-swifts>     Alistair

Catharine Gale <crg...@gmail.com>: Jun 16 05:01PM +0100 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

Catharine Gale <crg...@gmail.com>: Jun 16 05:05PM +0100 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   On Sun, 16 Jun 2024 at 08:50, '@EssendineSwifts' via swiftslocalnetwork <

Catharine Gale <crg...@gmail.com>: Jun 16 05:07PM +0100 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

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[Jay iPhone]

Urgent action (petition??) is needed to afford swifts the same legal protections that bats enjoy. LA housing being upgraded re- roofs & eaves is the main cause of the halving of Shipston’s swift population back in 2016. 😔 Jacey. SAS. 

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On 16 Jun 2024, at 20:56, swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com wrote: