Support Swift Bricks for Wales

Swifts are extraordinary birds. They spend almost their entire lives in flight, including eating, sleeping and mating – and their evocative calls define our summer. Sadly, those calls are fading out, as swifts are now the fastest declining species in Wales, with numbers having fallen by 75% since 1999. Over half our swifts have been lost in the past decade alone.

Swifts nest in building cavities—often just under rooflines. But renovations and new builds are rapidly removing these crucial nest sites.

Join us in calling on the Senedd to support this petition. Swift Bricks are a small change with a huge impact—for swifts, and for nature in Wales.

Contact your local Member of Senedd (Reference: Petition P-06-1489)

Why Swift Bricks?
Swift Bricks provide safe, long-term nesting sites for swifts and other species like house martins and house sparrows. They:

· Cost as little as £25 per unit
· Require no maintenance
· Last the lifetime of the building
· Are easy to install during construction

Some Welsh housing associations already use them—proving they are practical and effective.
 

Community Support
Across Wales, people are taking action: installing nestboxes, monitoring swifts, and spreading awareness. This includes 13 separate Welsh swift groups, from Chirk to Swansea. But they can’t do it alone—Welsh Government must lead.

A Wider Solution
Alongside nest sites, swifts need insect-rich habitats. Nature-friendly farming and healthy rivers are essential parts of the picture, but Swift Bricks must be one of many necessary steps taken to restore biodiversity.

Let’s Act
Swift Bricks are not a substitute for other measures required by Net Benefit for Biodiversity, but complement it, offering an immediate, measurable gain. The urgency is clear, and the opportunity is there.