With swift numbers in the UK down by nearly 60% over the past thirty years, a particular concern is the loss of small swift colonies. There are many such colonies in villages across Stroud District and, once a colony is gone, it may be lost forever. Swift projects, led by ‘swift champions’ at the heart of their local community, can spread the word about how best to protect these colonies.

Swifts return to Horsley every May, flying more than 6000 miles from Africa and returning to the same nest site to breed. We know that their numbers locally are declining, so this summer we hope to survey the local nest sites and observe screaming parties to get a clearer picture.

Led by local ‘swift champion’ Gill Cluer and supported by Stroud Swift Group, we’re planning a project to put up swift nest boxes in Horsley for next year.

Stroud Swift Group will have a stall at the Nature mini-festival, with lots of ideas on how you can help swifts in Horsley. We’ll have sample nest boxes, information on swifts and how we can help them, plus local swift experts on hand to chat to about these amazing birds. Gill Stacey is the co-ordinator of Stroud Swift Group. She lives in Brimscombe and currently hosts four pairs of swifts in nest boxes on her house.  For Stroud Swift Group see https://www.facebook.com/groups/1201307147369207/

Gill Cluer is a retired teacher who has lived in Horsley for forty years.  She has always been a wildlife fanatic and at present hosts three nest boxes, one of which now has visitors for the first time in three years.  This will be a good opportunity to help Gill set up a Horsley Swift Project. This is a drop-in information stall.