Swifts in parliamentary spotlight

Swifts nest in the tower of Donnington on Bain church where our daughter lives. 

I can't think swifts ever suffer from over heating, there are hundreds in Spain and Portugal. They only stay in this country for the 10 hottest weeks of the year, the last to come and first to go.

Regards Pete

I stand to be corrected but I am not aware of any place of worship in the Grimsby/ Cleethorpes/ Immingham area being a nesting habitat for swifts, but, in 1864, Grimsby ornithologist John Cordeaux wrote: "The old tower of Grimsby Church has long been a favourite nesting-place for swifts, and seldom a day passes, when at home during the summer months, without my seeing some of these birds hawking over the marshes."

Do swiftbricks need to be re-designed if, as Kerry McCarthy says, they become overly hot in heatwaves to the detriment of nestlings? 

The proceedings of yesterday's debate can be read in full at:

New Housing: Swift Bricks - Hansard - UK Parliament

It's interesting to see which MPs feel strongly about the matter.

It is a shame that Boston/Skegness MP Matt Warman was not given an opportunity to speak, and, as chairman, I should have liked Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) to have concluded with a good word for swifts.

Because the two Frontbenchers were only lukewarm in support, I fear the momentum will soon be lost, inertia will set in and there won't be the political will for any action to be taken.  

Maybe campaigner Hannah Bourne-Taylor has another trick up her sleeve? 
   

Hanna Bourne-Taylor, the activist on behalf of swifts, has been on a couple of news programs this week promoting the use of swift bricks. Also, a community in Cambridge were on telly whose use of nest boxes in their village have significantly increased the local population of swifts. All good news and raising the profile of the plight of swifts. 

Regards Pete

Earlier today, it was good to see so many MPs flying the flag for swiftbricks to be incorporated - compulsorily - into new housebuilding projects.

Among those in attendance were Lincolnshire MPs Sir Edward Leigh, who chaired proceedings, and Matt Warman.

The debate can be viewed at:
Parliamentlive.tv - Westminster Hall