Bee Bricks and Swift Boxes are the Future for Preservation

Brighton and Hove City Council have made it compulsory for all new builds in the area to install 'bee Bricks or swift boxes' to aid conservation of wildlife, due to red list concerns.

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Cllr Robert Nemeth announced his success on pushing Brighton and Hove Council to ensure Swift and/or Bee Boxes are installed into every newbuilds in the area.

However, this support for wildlife is not offered in many parts of the UK.

Universal bricks, or swift boxes, are often made from recycled concrete, sit flush into walls of new build properties and have the opportunity to host four types of cavity nesting birds as well as a mass amount of invertebrate species.

However, for existing properties, bee and bird blocks are also accessible to put into gardens and community spaces.

In the UK, there are 250 species of bee, where the 25 types of bumble bee and the one variety of honeybee make honey, and the other 224 types of solitary bee are vital pollinators.

According to the WWF: "90% of wild plants and 75% of leading global crops depend on animal pollination. One out of every three mouthfuls of our food depends on pollinators such as bees."

Alike many bees, swifts are also considered endangered. Swifts are currently on the red list: a list of birds and other animals which are "in urgent need of our help" and need to be prioritised in their preservation.

The swift population has declined by 50% in the last 15 years, mainly due to breeding concerns caused by new infrastructures and insulation.

Author and swift activist, Hannah Bourne-Taylor has started a petition to make swift bricks compulsory in new housing to help the red-listed birds.

She said: "I created The Feather Speech campaign to safeguard swifts, and red listed cavity birds through two aims: to change national legislation to make swift bricks compulsory in new housing, creating a legacy for them, and to raise awareness of these amazing birds, their plight and how we can help.

"Adult swifts return to the exact hole every year, and they live an incredible 20 years (most garden birds are lucky to live to 5 years). Swifts fly all the way from our homes to southern Africa and back without landing, the little holes are the only ground they ever intentionally touch.

"With new housing not having the nooks and crannies cavity nesting birds need, they face a bleak future. And that is why swift bricks are so valuable. Normally developments are destroying the natural world, and anything created is to mitigate the loss.

"Being aware of the negative side of soffits while also knowing about swift bricks may provide safeguarding in individual situations. There are also external wooden swift boxes on the market too, for individual home owners and more advice about bricks and boxes, either for one off, private orders, or bulk company and developer orders can be found at Action for Swifts.

"When the environmental crisis feels overwhelming, and for years I felt helpless, these birds we can all actively help."

The UK Government have currently said they believe it is a matter of authorities, but with the pressure of the petition, the cause will hope to prove a success.

To sign the petition, follow: Make swift bricks compulsory in new housing to help red-listed birds - Petitions (parliament.uk)

Hannah Bourne-Taylor also offers help and information to anyone to support the "irreplaceable birds" and can be contacted via twitter or her website.