Perhaps you've heard a bit of screaming above the rooftops, or seen small black birds scything through the air. This means our resident swifts are back, hopefully to find their old nests and breed.

Swifts are on the Red List of UK species, meaning they're in global decline and need urgent action. And you can help! Swifts choose to return to nests they have used before, so if you have had swifts nesting, please don't block up the nest.

If you have a home or work building with a high roof, or are a developer, please fit nestboxes either within the eaves or on the wall under the eaves – this helps swifts quickly find new homes if previous ones have disappeared.

Swifts fly up to 800km a day, and are returning here for the summer after a long flight from Africa – so they're very hungry! So please avoid cutting or mowing green spaces for May (and beyond, if possible) as wildflowers means insects, and insects means food.

More information:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z...

https://www.swift-conservation.org/