Therese has written to the new leader of East Suffolk Council, Cllr Caroline Topping, asking the council to consider putting conditions on new planning permissions to enable the installation of swift boxes and bricks to help turn around their declining population.
Therese said: “The past week has been Swift Awareness Week. Unfortunately, due to a declining population, swifts are now on the red list of birds of conservation concern in the UK and the loss of suitable nesting sites is part of the problem. Supporting swifts is already included in the council’s Local Plan, so it can use its powers to include swift bricks or boxes in new homes, which I’m keen to see.”
Earlier this year, Therese met SOS Swifts campaigners, Eddie Bathgate and Marie Baynham-Davies (pictured) to promote the installation of swift boxes. The Save our Suffolk Swifts campaign point out that the Swift population fell by more than 60% between 1995 and 2021 – and that by putting up a box gives nesting pairs and young fledglings the best chance of survival.
