Local CP School Collab
Tavernspite CP School leads the way with new swift nesting project
Tavernspite CP School is taking an exciting step towards supporting one of Britain’s most remarkable and increasingly threatened birds, with the installation of new swift nest boxes and a specialist call system at the school, the first school in Pembrokeshire to engage in such a scheme.
Our very own Conservation Officer Jack, was instrumental in helping to install the swift nest boxes and call system at the local primary school following our own swift tower installation, The Hafod yr Adar Project.
Jack helped work with the school by donating the swift boxes to be installed at their site and advise on how and why they are used. The initiative is designed to encourage swifts to nest at the school and provide pupils with the opportunity to learn more about these fascinating birds and the importance of protecting local wildlife.
Swifts are remarkable long-distance migrants, travelling thousands of miles between Africa and the UK each year. However, their numbers have declined significantly, with the loss of suitable nesting sites being one of the factors affecting their populations.
The new nest box at Tavernspite School provide specially designed spaces where swifts can potentially establish nesting sites. The accompanying call system plays recordings of swift calls to help attract birds to the boxes and encourage them to investigate the new nesting opportunities.
The school believes the project could be something of a first, with Jack keen to encourage other schools and businesses to consider installing similar facilities and become involved in supporting swift conservation.
Jack has also visited Tavernspite School to speak to pupils in their assembly about the project, explaining how the boxes and call system work and why providing nesting sites for swifts is so important.
“We’re so excited to have assisted Tavernspite School with their conservation project. Swifts, house martins and swallows need all the help they can get.”
Jack, Conservation Officer at Folly
Jack continued;
“Our own swift tower, The ‘Hafod yr Adar’ project, is already in place on the zoo and it’s wonderful to know it’s already inspiring others to make room for these birds by installing nest boxes of their own.
It just goes to show that we can all do our bit to help these birds that have lived alongside us for hundreds of years”.
(MP Henry Tufnell pictured receiving award on behalf of Folly Farm)
For the pupils, the project provides a wonderful opportunity to connect classroom learning with the natural world around them. They’ll be able to follow the progress of the nest boxes and, hopefully, watch as swifts begin to investigate and eventually make the school their home.
“We are incredibly excited to have our new swift nest boxes and call system in place. This is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to learn about the natural world and to play an active role in supporting wildlife.”
Sarah Arthur, Headteacher at Tavernspite School
She added:
“We’re particularly grateful to Folly Farm for donating the nest box and for helping us to make this project possible. We hope that our pupils will enjoy following the progress of the boxes and learning more about swifts and the challenges they face.”
We hope this initiative will inspire other schools in Pembrokeshire and beyond to consider what they can do to support local wildlife.
“If we can encourage other schools to do something similar, then the impact could be even greater.
Sarah Arthur, Headteacher
It’s wonderful for our children to see that a relatively small project can make a real difference, and that they can be part of protecting wildlife for future generations.”
With the boxes now installed and the call system operational, the school community will be keeping a keen eye on the skies in the hope that its new feathered visitors will soon arrive.
For Tavernspite pupils, the wait to see their first swift take up residence promises to be an exciting one — and perhaps the beginning of a new tradition for the school and its wider community.
We’d like to say a huge well done to Tavernspite School for their enthusiasm and commitment to helping native wildlife conservation – and to Jack and everyone involved in bringing this exciting project to life.