Guildford Swift Project

Protecting Guildford’s remarkable swifts through habitat creation, community action and conservation awareness.

62% Swift Decline

UK swift numbers have fallen by 62% since 1995.

243 Swift Boxes

243 nest boxes installed to give swifts safe places to nest in Guildford.

14,000 Miles Travelled

Swifts fly 14,000 miles from Africa to breed here each summer.

Get involved and help protect swifts in Guildford.

Volunteer

Join the team to help put up nest boxes, take part in swift surveys, run awareness stalls at local events, and support swift-friendly projects across the borough.

Host a swift box

Join the team to help put up nest boxes, take part in swift surveys, run awareness stalls at local events, and support swift-friendly projects across the borough.

Attend Events

Look out for the Guildford Swift Project stall at summer fetes and wildlife days to learn more and meet the volunteers.

Report Sightings

Seeing swifts in your area or spotting nesting activity? Report sightings or contact the project with details - every record helps build a fuller picture of the local swift population.

Connect

Follow the project on Facebook @guildfordswiftproject for updates, photos, and opportunities to take part.

Protecting swifts through local action

The Guildford Swift Project, led by Sarah Davis with support from volunteers and the Guildford Environmental Forum, is a community-focused conservation initiative dedicated to supporting the iconic Swifts that nest in and around Guildford.

Swifts are extraordinary aerial birds - they eat, sleep and even mate on the wing, and once fledged, they can stay aloft for up to three years without landing. However, loss of nesting habitat and declining insect populations have led to significant population declines, making their future uncertain.

The project works to:

Install and maintain swift nest boxes on buildings and in green spaces.
Advise on swift-friendly building design, including swift bricks for new developments.
Rescue and rehabilitate fallen swifts and support local rehabilitation efforts.
Survey local swift populations and engage volunteers in monitoring.
Raise awareness at community events and through social engagement.

Follow our Facebook page