A HOUSEBUILDER has partnered with a wildlife charity to create a special brick to encourage nesting for endangered birds.
Research reveals that swift bird populations have declined by 58 per cent between 1995 and 2018, with the birds last year being added to the UK red list of conservation concerns.
David Wilson Homes has launched a new initiative to protect swifts at its developments across the country, including at Ecclesden Park in Angmering.
The housebuilder has teamed up with RSPB to develop a “swift brick”, the first custom-designed nesting brick for swifts that can be safely implemented into the fabric of homes.
Due to changes to roof design, the renovation of older properties and demolition of derelict buildings there has been a loss of swift habitats across the UK.
David Wilson Southern Counties will install a total of 78 swift bricks at Ecclesden Park, in Water Lane, throughout the lifetime of the site.
A total of 4,000 bricks have been introduced across the housebuilder’s developments in the South East since 2016.
A new uprated target of 7,000 has been announced by the end of 2025.
David Thomas, chief executive of Barratt Developments, said: “Swifts are such important birds and we are pleased with the 4,000 swift bricks we have installed so far.
“But, we have to keep on working hard with the RSPB to give these birds even more homes, which is why we are raising our target by another 3,000 swift nesting bricks, aiming to install some 7,000 in total in our homes across the country by 2025.”
The RSPB has also partnered with the Swift Local Network and charity, Action for Swifts, to develop Swift Mapper – a web and app-based platform that allows anyone to record swift activity and nesting sites.
Records submitted to Swift Mapper help people to learn more about the species and target conservation efforts.
Swift Mapper is available for download on the App Store and Google Play Store or can be accessed online.
To find out more about David Wilson Homes, visit www.dwh.co.uk or call 0333 355 8499.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel