Local Housing Association and Conservation Group Protect Swift Nesting Sites in Devizes

Swift nesting sites have been protected in Wiltshire thanks to a partnership between local housing association Aster Group, local residents, and conservation action group North Wiltshire Swifts (NWS).

The project reflects the housing association’s commitment to biodiversity and protecting the local wildlife around its homes.

Aster was carrying roof renewal works to a block on Hare and Hounds Street, in Devizes when a local resident, aware of the building’s importance for bird nesting, got in touch via NWS.

To save the critical nesting site, Aster worked with NWS to install special nesting boxes on nearby homes, offering the birds an alternative location when they returned from Africa.

Once the building maintenance was complete, Aster put back boxes in the original locations and added a new colony of boxes, creating long-term nesting opportunities for returning swifts.

Swifts have now returned to the area, and there have already been reports of birds investigating the new boxes installed on local customer’s houses.

Darren Brazil, Regional Operations Director at Aster Group, said: “Swift numbers in the UK have dropped by 68% since the mid-1990’s, so when we heard that some of our work could have an impact on a historic nesting site, we were keen to get involved.

“We brought in our ecologist to assess the situation and conduct a specialist inspection. As a result, we developed a plan collaboratively that prioritised both the safety of our customers and the protection of local wildlife.

“We’re proud to support biodiversity alongside our housing mission.”

Sarah Roberts, from North Wiltshire Swifts, said: “It’s very refreshing and heartening to have such a positive response from Aster Group. They demonstrated in excellent fashion that real conservation action is going above and beyond the legal minimum requirements.

“Swift conservation will always require a holistic approach – which should include educational awareness about our climate responsibilities, improving our green spaces where swifts find their insect food, and creating safe nesting locations.”