Four swift boxes have been installed on the new Trowbridge Leisure Centre building currently under construction, helping to create vital nesting spaces for one of the UK’s most iconic but threatened bird species. 

The installation also coincides with Swift Awareness Week (27 June to 5 July), an annual national campaign led by the Swift Local Network (SLN) and supported by the RSPB to celebrate swifts, raise awareness of their decline, and encourage practical action such as providing nest boxes and protecting habitats.  

The boxes were added following a suggestion from Salisbury and Wiltshire Swifts (SAWS), a group dedicated to protecting and supporting swift populations. The installation highlights how partnership working can enhance biodiversity while major developments are delivered for local communities. 

Swifts are migratory birds, travelling thousands of miles from Africa to the UK each year and spending most of their lives in flight, even sleeping, eating and mating on the wing. They usually arrive in the UK from early May, bringing their distinctive calls to the skies. 

However, their numbers have fallen dramatically, with populations declining by more than half in recent decades, placing them on the UK Red List of conservation concern and identifying them as a priority species for protection locally in Wiltshire. 

One of the main reasons for their decline is the loss of suitable nesting sites. Traditionally, swifts nest in small gaps and crevices in older buildings, but modern construction methods and building renovations often eliminate these spaces.  

Swift boxes and bricks help address this issue by providing safe, purpose-built nesting spaces. As well as supporting swifts, these features can also be used by other cavity‑nesting species such as house sparrows and starlings, helping to boost urban biodiversity and bring wildlife closer to people, with proven benefits for wellbeing. 

Residents can also help by installing swift boxes on their own homes, ideally high up under the eaves where swifts naturally nest. As these birds return to the same nesting sites each year, providing multiple boxes in one area can help support thriving local colonies. More information on supporting swifts is available on the RSPB website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-you-can-do/activities/create-a-high-home-for-swifts. Those interested in getting involved locally can also connect with community groups such as Salisbury and Wiltshire Swifts and North Wiltshire Swifts on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/584172192045787 or www.facebook.com/groups/607133399762879/?locale=en_GB. 

Cllr Mel Jacob, Cabinet Member for Communities, Engagement and Corporate Services, 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.” 

Camila Barlow from Salisbury and Wiltshire Swifts (SAWS), 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.   

 “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.  These simple, cheap, integrated bricks are a fantastic way of bringing wildlife into a newly built environment and from feedback we know people thoroughly enjoy watching these little birds as they light up our summer skies with their amazing flying acrobatics.” 

The new leisure centre in Trowbridge represents a major investment in health, wellbeing and community facilities, with a modern and inclusive design at its heart. 

Located on Bythesea Road, the centre will feature a six‑lane 25m swimming pool, a learner pool, a 120‑station gym, fitness studios, an immersive cycle studio, a café, community spaces, an adventure play area, and a Live Well suite with power assisted equipment to provide low-impact exercise.  

The site is designed with sustainability and accessibility in mind, including energy‑efficient systems, solar panels, and improved walking, cycling and wheeling routes connecting the facility to the wider town.  

As well as supporting healthier lifestyles, the inclusion of swift boxes demonstrates how the development is also contributing to environmental sustainability and wildlife conservation. 

For more information about the new Trowbridge Leisure Centre, visit: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/new-trowbridge-leisure-centre.