NEW homes have been put up in Bishop's Castle to help boost the swift population when these birds return next year.

Specially designed swift boxes have just been put up in Bishop’s Castle in an effort to help halt the decline in swift numbers nesting in Britain.

The Shropshire Swift Group is actively promoting the creation of new nesting sites to try to help halt the dramatic decline in numbers of this amazing, acrobatic bird.

Numbers are declining as old buildings with suitable nest holes are demolished or renovated unsympathetically, giving way to modern buildings which are unable to house swifts.

If natural nest sites cannot be preserved then specially designed nest boxes can be mounted under the eaves or near the roofline of domestic or commercial buildings. The group is being helped by Shepherd Hills Furniture where apprentice, Linford Witmer, has volunteered to cut out and shape the various ply-board pieces necessary to make up the boxes.

The boxes have a proven record of helping swifts establish new colonies so the hope is that the sight and sound of their family groups will continue to be seen and heard above Shropshire’s towns and villages.

Now the first boxes are now in place on a building in Market Square in Bishop's Castle. The Swift Group spotted scaffolding up at the building and approached owners, Laurie and Miranda Stanley about putting up some boxes.

Four boxes are now positioned under the eaves at their premises and are awaiting their first inhabitants.

“We are extremely grateful to Linford and Shepherd Hills Furniture for their help with this and would be very interested in hearing from property owners and builders who might be interested in locating nest boxes at their properties or developments,” said Peta Sams, chair of the group.

Shropshire Swifts Group welcomes new members and help with this project. Contact shropshireswifts@gmail.com