Four swift boxes have been installed on the new Trowbridge Leisure Centre building currently under construction to create nesting spaces for one of the UK’s most iconic but threatened bird species.
The boxes have been added to the new Trowbridge Leisure Centre following a suggestion from the Salisbury and Wilton Swifts (SAWS) group.
Swifts, which arrive in the UK from Africa from early May, are listed as a red-listed conservation priority after their populations declined by more than half in recent decades.
Read more
Drones deployed as police launch crackdown in town
Cllr Mel Jacob, cabinet member for communities, engagement, and corporate services at Wiltshire Council, said: “This fantastic new leisure centre will be a hugely important facility for Trowbridge, supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities for many years to come.
“We’re also committed to ensuring our developments have a positive impact on the environment.
“Salisbury and Wiltshire Swifts approached us about installing swift boxes, and we were very happy to listen and support the idea.
“It’s great that we’ve been able to incorporate these features into the building, helping to provide safe nesting spaces for swifts and supporting local biodiversity, alongside delivering a modern and sustainable facility for residents.”
The installation of the boxes coincides with Swift Awareness Week, which runs from June 27 to July 5.
The national campaign, led by the Swift Local Network and supported by the RSPB, aims to raise awareness of swift decline and encourage practical support such as installing nest boxes.
Camila Barlow from Salisbury and Wilton Swifts said: “We were delighted that Wiltshire Council agreed to install swift boxes on the new leisure centre.
“It may take a few years before the swifts find the boxes, it has taken eight years for them to find ours, but in the meantime, other small birds, such as the red-listed house sparrow, will hopefully take advantage of them.
“The bricks will also provide a winter roost for small birds and shelter for overwintering insects.
Read more
Community ‘devastated’ as huge fire rips through town’s historic factory site
“The council has been supportive of our work and is including swift bricks in their own housing projects in line with both National Planning Practice Guidance and their own Local Network Recovery Strategy and Wiltshire Design Guide.”
The Trowbridge Leisure Centre, located on Bythesea Road, includes a range of facilities and has been designed with sustainability and accessibility in mind.
It will feature a six-lane, 25-metre pool, a learner pool, a 120-station gym, fitness studios, an immersive cycle studio, a café, and community spaces.