Swifts in Caerwedros

Celebrating community, conservation, and the return of the Swifts in Caerwedros

Guest post by Wayne Lewis

This year has marked an exciting step forward for nature conservation in Caerwedros, thanks to generous support from the Ceredigion Nature Partnership. Their funding will enable us to buy and build 25 new Swift call systems, designed to attract swifts to the nest boxes installed around the village earlier in the year.

CNP’s commitment to Swift conservation has already made history in the area. Earlier this year, they funded Ceredigion’s first-ever Swift tower, unveiled as part of the 75th Anniversary celebrations of Neuadd Goffa Caerwedros. The ‘’official opening’’ of the Tower in April was a really enjoyable event attended by over 100 people who came to hear Edward Mayer, the Founder of Swift Conservation and Jack Gradidge, the Conservation Officer from Folly Farm (aka ‘The Pembrokeshire Rhino Whisperer’) talk about the swifts and the animals these wonderful birds will have seen on their repeat migrations to Afric.

The Caerwedros Swift Group has been at the heart of this movement. What began as a simple effort to support swifts has grown into a network of villagers from all backgrounds—people who may never have crossed paths otherwise—brought together an interest in the natural world around them. This enthusiasm has already sparked wider environmental projects, from wildflower planting and species recording to possible purchase of a piece of local woodland. Our area has even been selected as the starting point for the Ceredigion Barn Owl Project, a testament to the strength and potential of this community-led conservation.

We’re also grateful for the ongoing support of Jack ‘Rhino Whisperer’ Gradidge, who has been involved throughout and will be helping us assemble the new sound systems this autumn. His expertise has been invaluable.

The top of the Swift tower

Perhaps the most pleasing outcome of all has been the way this project has demonstrated that people do care for our surroundings and can come together to make a difference. A perfect example of which was that during the recent heatwaves, villagers independently monitored a fire outbreak in a nearby woodland for over a week to prevent a repeat flare-up —something that simply wouldn’t have happened without the connections first formed through the swift project.

The swifts have brought more than just beauty to the summer skies of Caerwedros. They’ve brought a community together and stimulated an interest in future projects – who knows where this will end. With the support of CNP, we’re excited to continue building on this momentum and welcoming even more wildlife back to the village and its surroundings. Roll on 2027

Local Swift facts – we now know of 13 active nest sites in the village, up from 6 previously. In addition a screaming party of 25 birds was observed hurtling around the village skies in August, the previous ‘record’ having been a party of 15 two years ago.

If you fancy lending a hand to build your very own Swift call system, just drop a line to caerwedrosswifts@gmail.com