Anglo-Saxon London, referred to as Lundenwic, was a significantly quieter settlement compared to today’s bustling capital, with its population ranging between 5,000 and 10,000 inhabitants.
In 960, when Benedictine monks established Westminster Abbey, the cries of swifts would have filled the air each summer.
These remarkable birds, known for their almost constant ability to fly—eating, preening, and even resting while airborne—constructed their nests within old buildings.
However, their numbers have dramatically plummeted, declining by 60% since the mid-1990s, in part due to the rise of modern architecture.
After undertaking the daunting 7,000-mile (11,265km) journey from Africa to breed in the UK, they now find themselves without suitable nesting sites.
To help boost their dwindling population, an ambitious conservation initiative has been launched at Westminster Abbey.
The Abbey’s College Garden has been tended continuously for nearly nine centuries.
In this serene green space, bordered by the Gothic architecture of the Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, the conservation work has commenced.
Swift nesting boxes have been placed on one of the Abbey’s administrative buildings.
“This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with numerous structures classified as Grade I or Grade II,” explains Anna Wyse, the Abbey’s environmental and sustainability manager.
“We painted them red to harmonize a bit better with the historical surroundings.”
Danny Britten, the Abbey’s head gardener, mentioned that to attract fledgling swifts flying over London at summer’s end to the new boxes, they utilized a small device that emits swift calls during dawn and dusk.
“We hope the young swifts that fledged this year will hear the sounds of their peers and perceive it as a sign of a suitable habitat, prompting them to investigate,” he says.
Although there was an initial reluctance to install the boxes, he notes that the Abbey recognized the chance for wildlife preservation.
They have created an environment “even if there’s a slim likelihood” that a swift will discover them.
“With any luck, within next year or in a couple of years, we could have our own roosting colony,” Mr. Britten adds.
Swifts are agile, small birds with dark brown feathers, capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 mph (113 km/h).
These exceptional navigators can detect Earth’s magnetic field, and over their lifetimes, they can fly an astounding two million miles.
They mate for life and return to the same nest each year to raise their young.
Remarkably, they also enjoy long lifespans.
Edward Mayer, founder of Swift Conservation, remarked, “Blackbirds and robins are lucky if they live for two years.
The average lifespan for a swift, which leads a challenging existence, is about seven years, although they can live up to 21 years.”
While advising on the placement of swift boxes at Westminster Abbey, Mr. Mayer has also inspired neighbors in West Hampstead, located in north-west London.
Additional swift boxes have been installed at Chomley Gardens, the 1920s building where he resides, in order to enhance the population of established swifts.
Rod Standing, a resident of the building, shares that “we come to know them very well” when they occasionally zoom in and circle around his living room.
They put on a performance in the evenings “like a cabaret,” adds Keith Moffitt.
And Poppy Kyriakopoulou succinctly states, “They symbolize summer – and they bring hope.”
