Latest news with #ofConservationConcern
South Wales Guardian
02-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Guardian
Swift nesting boxes installed at Pontardawe Library
The boxes at Pontardawe Library are part of a nationwide effort to increase swift numbers. Neath Port Talbot Council's Countryside and Wildlife Team collaborated with the council's Library Service to put up the boxes, which will provide additional nesting space for up to 10 pairs of breeding swifts. The boxes are a human solution to the long-term loss of traditional nest sites in buildings, caused by renovations and sealing up of gaps in roofs. They are screwed into the external walls of a building to provide a space in which a pair of breeding swifts can raise their young. These boxes are designed to last decades, and an information panel at the library explains what a swift is and what the boxes are for. Swifts are on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern in recognition of the fact that populations across the UK have declined by 58 per cent since 1995 and by 75 per cent in Wales. Swifts spend the winter in Africa and return to the UK in May to breed. Swifts nest almost exclusively in buildings, making use of holes to raise their young. However, with lots of old buildings being renovated to improve insulation or simply demolished, swifts are losing their nesting sites. The Countryside and Wildlife Team secured funding from the Welsh Government Local Places for Nature Fund to get the boxes. This fund aims to make local areas more nature-friendly and raise awareness of wildlife to residents. Recording by members of the NPT Local Nature Partnership has revealed Pontardawe is a hotspot for sightings of swifts in the county. Councillor Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council's cabinet member for nature, tourism and wellbeing, said: "Providing additional nest sites in this location could provide a vital opportunity to boost the swift population. "Visitors to Pontardawe Library will also be able to enjoy seeing the swift boxes, hopefully the swifts investigating and nesting in the boxes and learn more about this declining bird." The library also has Swift-themed resources for children.
South Wales Argus
01-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Usk County Hall has six-metre swift tower installed
The tower, which is part of the Gwent Green Grid Shared Prosperity Funding, has been set up to help the declining swift population. The tower, which was installed at the Incredible Edible community garden, has bird boxes for up to 12 pairs of swifts. It will provide additional nesting spaces for swifts and other urban nature, to help address the long-term loss of traditional nest sites in buildings. The tower will also serve as a piece of art to inform residents and visitors about the declining urban bird. The swift population in the UK has declined by 58 per cent since 1995, with a 75 per cent decline in Wales. They have recently been put on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. Swifts mostly nest in buildings, but renovations and demolitions have caused them to lose their nesting sites. The swift tower is one way to help these birds. Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) has a Local Nature Recovery Action Plan to help reverse the decline in biodiversity. Councillor Catrin Maby, cabinet member for climate change and the environment, said: "Swifts are on the red list due to declining numbers and so it is vital that we do what we can to support them. "This swift tower is an excellent way to ensure that we continue to see breeding pairs at County Hall for many years to come. "Hopefully it can prove to be a small step towards the recovery of swift populations in the near future." Monmouthshire County Council hopes to support further swift project work through the Welsh Government Local Places for Nature funding during 2025-2027. Anyone who would like to find out more or get involved, can email LocalNature@
