Information for Builders and Roofers

Swifts are nest faithful and can fatally injure themselves trying to enter blocked nests.

Why Your Help Is Needed to Save Swifts

Swifts are experiencing a dramatic decline in the UK, with populations falling by 66% between 1995 and 2022 and continuing to drop by about 7% each year. This decline is so severe that swifts are now classified as a ‘Red Listed’ species, indicating they are at risk of extinction in the UK.

Key Reasons for the Decline:

Swifts are unique among birds in the UK because they rely almost entirely on buildings, especially roof spaces, for nesting, rather than trees or natural sites.
Modern building and roofing practices such as sealing gaps, replacing soffits, and using materials that don’t degrade and which block access, have destroyed or blocked traditional nest sites.
Renovations and roof repairs often remove or seal up the small holes, open eaves, or gaps under tiles that swifts use, leading to a loss of nesting opportunities.

These roofing practices destroy and block traditional nest sites

Why It Matters for Your Business:

Supporting swift conservation can set your company apart, especially as more homeowners and organisations look for ‘swift-friendly’ contractors.
Being recommended as a ‘Preferred Trader’ by Sheffield Swift Network can boost your reputation and attract new clients who care about wildlife and biodiversity.
By adopting swift-friendly practices, you help protect a species in crisis and demonstrate your commitment to sustainability and biodiversity; qualities increasingly valued by customers and communities.

How You Can Help:

Preserve existing nest access during roofing and building works.
Simple actions like leaving eaves open, cutting access slots in soffits, or installing in-soffit boxes.
Retrofit purpose-built swift bricks – as close to the original nest entrance as possible.
Avoid using products that block access for swifts, such as dry verge end caps, eaves comb fillers, or breathable roof membranes that can harm the birds. Use type 1F only.