More than 30 swift boxes have been installed on farms across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire to help swifts returning for the summer find suitable places to nest.

The Allenford and Martin Down Farmer Clusters south and south-west of Salisbury, facilitated by Megan Lock, the GWCT’s Farmland Biodiversity Advisor, have installed 31 nest boxes and eight calling speakers.

Swifts migrate from Africa every spring but sadly these red-listed birds are finding fewer and fewer nesting sites as modern houses are built with no places for them to gain access to suitable cavities to nest in. Swifts like to nest below the eaves, in the wall and below the roof. Even old buildings that would have been suitable are being restored and insulated and potential nesting spaces blocked.

During recent surveys, it was noted that swift were nowhere to be seen. When the farmers were told about this, they decided to try to change that and asked for help to entice swifts back to nest on their farms.

Megan Lock, GWCT Farmland Biodiversity Advisor, secured funding from the Swire Charitable Trust through GWCT, Fordingbridge Greener Living and Hampshire County Council.

Megan and volunteers from Hampshire Swifts, who designed and built the boxes and callers, spent three days visiting farms across the area to install the boxes. In total, 31 boxes were installed on farm houses and other buildings.

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