Setting up a community project to help swifts - your advice and expertise needed

[Catharine Gale]

As part of this year's SAW I gave a talk about swifts in Petersfield, Hampshire, where we've been collaborating with the town's Climate Action Network (PeCan) in a 'Swift Streets' project.    After my talk, a member of the audience contacted me.  She's the chair of a well-established volunteer group in a large town in Surrey, committed to protecting and enhancing its biodiversity assets.  The group is keen to help swifts.    In her email to me she said:

 "We would like to put together a community project to help boost local populations of these beautiful birds.  We are very impressed by the work undertaken by the Hampshire Swifts group and would welcome the opportunity to learn from your expertise and experience in how to put together a successful project.  What do you think would be the best way to proceed?  Any tips on what to do/not to do would be very gratefully received!"

I'd like to send her some advice not just from Hampshire Swifts, but also from other SLN members.    If you're running a community swift project and are willing to pass on some tips, please share them.

best wishes

Catharine

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Catharine Gale
Hampshire Swifts
www.hampshireswifts.co.uk

[alofanglia]

Hi Catherine

I was inspired by Dick Newell action for swifts, Edward Meyer Swift Conservation, Mark and Jane Glanville Bristol swifts and lastly Stephen Fitt RSPB volunteer in Devon

So the skills that people have and their enthusiasm will determine the best  way for the project to work. So many ways to help swifts from swift streets to rehab to talks but I guess ultimately it’s all about getting nest boxes whatever form installed into/onto  buildings….

It can go from If you have practical people who can make boxes and put them up which is a simple way to lobbying through the planning system to get integral boxes included in new builds. 

From the perspective of the Devon swift project the stars have aligned and we have a highly able carpenter and swift nut who does the box construction and installation while behind him there is a small team of highly able support who source funding and provide backup as well as those discussions on where and how the project is going. 

Others do rehab others run Facebook groups and well there are so many different ways to help swifts and communicate the dire strait they’re in but with a simple intervention not only will swifts be helped but other species such as sparrows house martins  and insects.

The other thing in my opinion swifts are a long term project so managing expectations has a place….mine is any occupancy wiithin 10 years is quick….

Hope that helps but it does help to formulate how you are going to work, and don’t be afraid to have a go as we all learn from our errors….

All the best for the project which ever way it goes ! 

Oh one last thing swifts are just as much about people too and the joy it brings and connecting people to nature and building community connections! 

Cheers

Alistair 

Kingsteignton Swifts

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On 5 Jul 2025, at 06:09, Catharine Gale <crg...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[alofanglia]

Ooo just another thought!  Putting what you preach into practice also helps so does the person who contacted you have a swift/universal nest boxes on their house ? And then to produce the food a wildlife friendly garden ? 

Not everyone can do it but does help in relating experiences to people…..

Alistair 

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On 6 Jul 2025, at 12:22, alofanglia <alis...@alofanglia.plus.com> wrote:

Hi Catherine

[Catharine Gale]

Thank you very much for this, Alistair.   I'll pass these helpful points on to the person who consulted me about starting a community swift project in her town.

best wishes

Catharine

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/DAF6F93C-1D4C-489E-A6E8-E52BA2B0892A%40alofanglia.plus.com.

[jackylawrence31]

Has anyone come across a 'guide to setting up a swift action community group'? Our South Warwickshire District Councils may consider (financially) supporting the creation of swift groups across the district if I can send them a case study on how to create a swift group for them to put on their - soon to be launched 'community climate and environment action web page'. They know of swift groups in Harbury (Amanda), Shipston (Jacey), Napton (Grania) and Leamington Spa (Joanne). I can write one - but want to check one does not already exist. Jacky