The plight of swifts, remarkable birds that are emblematic of summer skies, will take centre stage at this year’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. In a poignant display crafted by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in collaboration with the RSPB, the urgency of protecting these aerial acrobats is highlighted. Supported by noted comedian and RHS ambassador Bill Bailey, the garden aims to raise awareness of the alarming decline in swift populations and illustrate how households can contribute to their conservation.

Swifts are fascinating creatures; they migrate an astonishing 3,400 miles from Africa to the UK, where they breed during the summer months. Intriguingly, these birds spend nearly their entire lives in flight – even eating, drinking, mating, and sleeping on the wing. However, over the past 30 years, swift populations have plummeted by an alarming 66%. This dramatic decline renders them “red-listed,” reflecting serious concerns regarding their survival due to factors such as habitat loss, dwindling insect populations, and climate change affecting their breeding and migratory routes.

The festival garden will not only celebrate the birds’ remarkable migrations but will also showcase habitats that swifts frequent, such as meadows, woodlands, and gardens. Representations of nesting sites, including innovative “swift bricks” that can be installed in residential buildings, aim to encourage gardeners to create environments conducive to these birds. Lilly Gomm, the landscape architect behind the design, emphasised the need for community action. “By showcasing habitats rich in biodiversity and the small changes we can all make… I hope visitors will feel inspired to take action for wildlife in their own gardens.”

In 2021, conservationists noted a significant addition to the UK’s red list of endangered species, which has now expanded to encompass 70 species, including swifts and house martins. The decline, particularly among swifts, has been driven by loss of nesting sites resulting from building renovations. Recent findings also highlight that within the last decade, populations of swallows, swifts, and house martins across the UK have fallen by approximately 40%, further underlining the critical need for targeted conservation efforts.

The RSPB executive director, Emma Marsh, pointed out the opportunity the garden provides to educate visitors on the precarious situation facing swifts. “We’ve lost more than 60% of the UK’s swifts in the last 30 years,” she said. As habitat loss and declining insect numbers remain pressing issues, she reinforced that collective action from gardeners can make a substantial difference in supporting swifts and other wildlife.

Community-driven initiatives are also emerging across the UK. For example, in Lancaster, residents have committed to transforming their city into a “swift city” by creating more nesting sites. This includes planting wildflowers to attract insects and installing swift boxes in various buildings. Such efforts align with the RSPB’s long-term vision for conservation, showcasing how communities can play a pivotal role in reversing declining bird populations.

As Bailey aptly stated, swifts are “majestic birds” whose presence signals the joy of summer. The innovative garden at the Hampton Court Palace Festival not only celebrates the beauty of these birds but emphasises the urgent need for conservation action. By engaging the public and promoting biodiversity-friendly gardening practices, there is hope to stem the tide of decline and ensure that these incredible migratory birds continue to grace our skies for generations to come.

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Source: Noah Wire Services