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

Swift Awareness Week

Swift Awareness Week takes place from 27 June to 5 July, celebrating one of the UK's most remarkable summer visitors and raising awareness of how we can help protect them. Join us at ZERO and across Surrey for a series of walks, talks and family-friendly events to discover more about these incredible birds.

Friday 26 June

Swift Walk: An Evening with Haslemere's Swifts

Join local swift enthusiasts for an evening walk to watch Haslemere's swifts in flight and learn about their fascinating lives, migration and the simple actions we can all take to help them. CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Tuesday 30 June

Evening Swift Walk and Talk

Enjoy a guided evening walk to see swifts in their natural habitat while learning about their behaviour, migration and the conservation work taking place locally. 📍 Unstead Wetland Nature Reserve. CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Thursday 2 July

I am Swift – Learn About Swifts

Perfect for families and anyone curious about these amazing birds, this interactive session explores the incredible life of swifts, the challenges they face, and how you can help them thrive. CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Thursday 23 July

Swift Rehabilitation Talk & Film Screening: The Other Taylor Swift

Discover how injured swifts are rescued, rehabilitated and released back into the wild. The evening includes a special screening of The Other Taylor Swift, offering a fascinating insight into the lives of these extraordinary birds and the people working to protect them. CLICK HERE TO BOOK