This is a real opportunity to make a much-needed difference to our local swift population. Nationally, their population has plummeted by over 50% in around 20 years, partly due to reducing nest site opportunities. Save Wolverton's Swifts and Martins have, with the support of Wolverton's friends and residents, provided 130+ nestboxes around town since early 2020.

The Agora site developers agreed to incorporate 44 integral swift bricks into their design but despite rebuttal, the council ecology officer has ruled that only 20 will be incorporated in the final design. Their main reason was that south-facing bricks should not be allowed, yet this is not a recommendation of renowned swift experts or widespread experience. They also asserted that the bricks should be at least 500mm apart which is completely contrary to experience, in fact multiple entry-hole versions are available.

We want to make representations to the council to disprove their assertions and achieve more than 20 before building starts.