In June, Southern Housing staff, along with our dedicated partners, installed 25 swift nest bricks at the St Martin’s Independent Living Scheme in Battle.
This effort, part of our broader commitment to biodiversity, seeks to reverse the declining population of swifts in the area. The campaign was driven by one of our residents, Kim Overington, whose enthusiasm was crucial. Kim’s love for swifts and concern for their declining numbers spurred the initiative forward.
Reflecting on the project, Kim said, “Who can fail to be enthralled by the sight of swifts? Their sickle-like wings and screaming voices denote summer has arrived here in the UK. Southern Housing kindly gave permission to install these nest bricks, and I’m hopeful we’ll see even more support for these red-listed birds in the future.”
In June, Southern Housing staff, along with our dedicated partners, installed 25 swift nest bricks at the St Martin’s Independent Living Scheme in Battle.
This effort, part of our broader commitment to biodiversity, seeks to reverse the declining population of swifts in the area. The campaign was driven by one of our residents, Kim Overington, whose enthusiasm was crucial. Kim’s love for swifts and concern for their declining numbers spurred the initiative forward.
Reflecting on the project, Kim said, “Who can fail to be enthralled by the sight of swifts? Their sickle-like wings and screaming voices denote summer has arrived here in the UK. Southern Housing kindly gave permission to install these nest bricks, and I’m hopeful we’ll see even more support for these red-listed birds in the future.”
The event was also attended by Battle Town Mayor, Cllr Andrew Barton, who expressed his appreciation for swifts and support for the project.
Cllr Barton said, “I’m hoping that today’s installation is the beginning of something much bigger. The work of the residents here at St Martin’s, alongside Southern Housing and everyone else involved, will hopefully preserve swift lives in Battle for years to come.”
Kerry Briffitt, our Biodiversity and Sustainability Lead, emphasised our ongoing commitment: “The swift is one of 30 species we’re focusing on as part of our commitment to nature recovery to stop biodiversity decline across our land ownership.
"We’re delighted to offer swifts new nesting sites and will continue to look for opportunities to support swift colonies through reinvestment and retrofit projects.”
This project aligns with our Sustainability Strategy, particularly our Biodiversity Pathway to 2030 document, co-created with residents.
It’s a testament to what we can achieve when residents, community groups, and contractors unite for a common cause.