SAW Askrigg Swifts

[amandakillip]

Askrigg Swifts held its swift evening last night.

We had heard a few rumours from swifties that a few people were coming so added the main hall to our booking of the back room. Just as well as 78 people turned up. They had tea and swift biscuits (cutter made by husband but he only made 30 biscuits which we thought would be plenty). I gave a 45 minute presentation and after a break where people looked at boxes, bricks a caller and took booklets, and importantly wrote they names on a contact list, 55 stayed for Justin's film. They loved it.

Meanwhile it was raining but cleared enough for 24 people to come on the walk and some bangers put on a terrific display.

One of the National Park Wildlife officers was there. He was really nice. However it seems, upon gentle interrogation, there is no joined up thinking between Planning and Wildlife so swifts are not as I suspected considered by the Park at all when permission for renovations is sought. 

So a great evening, I feel inspired, basically need to quit my job and expand our group to the whole of Wensleydale! It can be done.

I am doing another swift walk Thursday 19.30.

I'll leave you with these quotes from Mr Hodgson's family farm diaries which I used in the presentation: ‘The arrival of summer visitors is eagerly anticipated in other cultures and it is good to know that in Mongolia farmers welcome swallows as we do, recorded in a daily diary over the best part of 100 years’ and also, when I asked him one day which was his favourite ‘Well, swallows are my favourite birds… but I know they are not as extreme as swifts…’

[Barbara Anglezarke]

Barbara Anglezarke reacted to your message:

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From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of amandakillip <amanda...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 01 July 2026 09:01:27
To: swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SLN] SAW Askrigg Swifts

 

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[Tanya Hoare]

amanda-  what a successful event you did, with such great interest.

We are in the YDNP and have a system where I send all swift nest places to the planners. They are put into the 'constraints' layer and if any application is submitted for those places, we are notified. That means I can submit comments etc. It worked very well on one occasion when the top floor of a mill was being demolished and we got a Condition for installation of 36 integral swift bricks.

Maybe message me privately to follow this up, I wonder which officer came to your event.

best wishes

Tanya & Edmund

ta.h...@btinternet.com

 

From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of amandakillip
Sent: 01 July 2026 10:01
To: swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SLN] SAW Askrigg Swifts

 

Askrigg Swifts held its swift evening last night.

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