Our latest newsletter for north London is now available, includes details of this week's talk in Maida Vale by Edward Mayer, and Hannah Bourne-Taylor's national campaign for mandatory swift bricks in new developments 🙂

islingtonswifts.wordpress.com/2024/02/11/feb…

It’s Monday. 15 months of solid campaigning equates to a half hour meeting with the government this afternoon. About our iconic national treasures: swifts where @zacgoldsmith the public and I are simply asking the government to stop them from becoming extinct with a 35quid brick

Hannah Bourne-Taylor will meet with Housing Minister, Lee Rowley MP, next week.

Support the call for Swift bricks to be mandated, write, & add your voice 💌 #TheFeatherSpeech

Edward Mayer coming to talk about Swifts and Biodiversity in 2 weeks in Maida Vale. Email [email protected] to book.
Pass it on! 📦📤
Islington Swifts The Urban Birder - OFFICIAL

Our recent property maintenance works on Southgate Rd introduced new swift box 🐦 during repair works. As a part of our commitment to biodiversity, we incorporate swift boxes in our refurbishment process when possible. Hackney Swifts Islington Swifts #debeauvoir swifts #debeauvoir

Write to Housing Minister Lee Rowley MP, DLUHC 4th Floor Fry Building 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF asking him to #mandate swift bricks.
Why?
Swift bricks are the only safe permanent nesting habitat swifts have anywhere in the UK + are urgently necessary.
📸Robert Booth ❤️

Waxwing in Tufnell Park, north London, this morning #ThePhotoHour BirdGuides Eugene Dillon-Hooper Sam O'Donnell Reuben Braddock David Bradshaw The British Nature Guide London Bird Club

Our winter fair is open until 3! Cake and pizza and St Nicholas in his grotto awaits!

If you have 5 mins spare now help this swift: write to Michael Gove asking for him to mandate #swift bricks. Why? So this bird has a home to return to after 3 years airborne!
✍️💌🪶The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, DLUHC, 4th Floor, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF

So I have started Sawbridgeworth Swifts, a group to raise awareness and protect Swifts in the town and surrounding East Herts villages. Please follow on Facebook if you are interested in updates. Thanks to David M Hutchinson for the profile picture #hertsbirds #Sawbridgeworth

'The House of Lords rang loud with❤️positivity & promises towards making Swift bricks mandatory in all new builds. But we still don’t have any firm commitment.' -RSPB
Write to Michael Gove: ask him to adopt #LordGoldsmithsAmendment aim on #swift bricks
rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-…

🚨UPDATE: Yesterday we heard (again!) Swift bricks being debated in Westminster, this time in the House of Lords. However, it feels a little like déjà vu…

A Thread:

#SwiftBricks are a symbolic act for #Nature2030 . The govt refused to accept the amendment but did NOT reject it. Ask your MP to ask Michael Gove to support ⁦Zac Goldsmith⁩ amendment aim. Ask Michael Gove too. Thank you to peers who stood united for birds. #TheFeatherSpeech

Despite excellent speeches from Kate Hoey and others in favour of the Swift brick amendment in the House of Lords just now, HMG opposes the amendment.

To all of you holding your breath waiting for #swift news. In short, there was no vote which means that we have everything to play for still and this has only just begun. No idea how to explain this right now but will update everyone once I’ve processed. #TheFeatherSpeech

.. I may have just shouted at the top of my voice live on
Times Radio 'COME ON THE LORDS!!!!!!!!' while talking about what will happen TODAY in the House of Lords

thanks to Zac Goldsmith + John Randall (of Uxbridge)
#TheFeatherSpeech #swifts #swiftbricks #birds

The walk during Swift Awareness Week earlier this summer was guided by our neighbour & local swift expert, Mike Priaulx of De Beauvoir Swifts. Additionally, as part of our recent property refurbishment, the estate has installed two swift boxes. thebenyonestate.com/news/2023/new-…

Islington Swifts 3 swifts over Tufnell Park this evening, first seen for some days . #SummerIsOver ?

The swifts of London have almost gone, but there was still one feeding high over Green Lanes last night. Hackney Swifts, or maybe Islington Swifts, right on the border.

Thank you Stonegate Homes supporting Dorking Swifts by adding swift bricks in the new Pixham Mills development and a Swift Tower. Leading the way in Mole Valley by adding swift bricks into new builds amazing! Chris Packham Islington Swifts Hannah Bourne-Taylor #savethedorkingswifts