Firefighters help community farm install new swift nesting box

The team of volunteers at Swansea Community Farm in Fforestfach have been busy building a swift nesting box – and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s firefighters were able to give a helping hand with installing it on the farm.

Swifts are currently on the red list in the 2021 UK Conservation Status Report, as their numbers have declined by more than an estimated 51% between 1995 and 2015. 

Swifts are happy to nest in cracks and cavities high up on buildings, but as more old buildings are renovated and gaps are closed, swift nest sites are fast disappearing. 

Swift nesting boxes, such as the one at Swansea Community Farm are designed to mimic the sites that swifts are fond of nesting in.

While the firefighters were busy installing the nesting boxes, the volunteers at the Community farm took the opportunity to explore the station’s fire appliance.