A NEW gym in Sedbergh is also helping the local swift population thanks to a local conservation group.

Sedbergh Community Swifts (SCS) has seized the opportunity for an environmental project to help these endangered birds.

The gym is a major extension to the People’s Hall, and also houses changing facilities for the sports teams using the adjacent fields.

SCS organised the incorporation of special hollow swift nest bricks into the walls of the gym while it was being built during the winter.

The project has been supported by Garsdale Design and the YDNP Sustainable Development Fund.

It is the loss of swifts' usual nest sites in the nooks and crannies of old buildings, when renovations and repairs are done, that is believed to be the cause of their serious decline.

There has been a drop of over 40 per cent in the last 20 years - putting up boxes and bricks to provide alternative nest sites is one way to stem this decline.

SCS was set up in 2014 to raise awareness about the plight of swifts. They give advice and help to residents and builders on how to do swift-friendly renovations, which can easily be done without blocking up the entrance holes.

Edmund Hoare of SCS explained: “Swifts are faithful to their nest site, returning to the exact same place year after year. But during renovations the entrance holes may get blocked up, leaving the swifts homeless.”

The Sedbergh gym project has also included the facility to play swift attraction calls - it is believed that this, particularly in mornings and evenings, helps draw in the non-breeding swifts that are prospecting for new nest places.

This is the closest thing there is to a ‘silver bullet’ for attracting swifts to new breeding places.

SCS also plans to survey the areas around Sedbergh and Dent to look for swift nesting sites.

Screaming parties of swifts can indicate that there are swifts nesting nearby, and SCS would like to hear from anyone about the whereabouts of these, or where there may be nesting swifts.

If you would like to be involved in helping swifts or joining in activities, please contact Tanya Hoare on ta.hoare@btnternet.com or ring 01539 824043.