I launched the ongoing national swift brick campaign in 2022, almost naked, as a solo, unfunded campaigner with a petition that ended up being the fastest growing government petition at the time, accumulating almost 110,000 signatures (scroll down to the bottom of this page watch the video clip of the speech). Since then, the environmental sector, including Natural England, have unanimously supported mandating swift bricks but successive governments have U-turned on their decisions, despite members from every political party, from the Greens to Reform, advocating for this simple yet vital measure. In January 2026, Scotland passed legislation to mandate swift bricks and the campaign continues seeking to achieve the same legislation in England, Wales and the rest of the world.

Part of the reason why I wrote Nature Needs You - The Fight To Save Our Swifts, is because I am constantly asked to advise people about everything from how to approach their own MPs to local swift conservation. Everything you need to know about swifts, and the campaign, including where to put a swift brick or box, is in the book.

The campaign has many champions from the Environment Minister of Gibraltar, Professor John Cortes (who secured cavity nesting habitat there and stablised swift populations) to the late Dr Jane Goodall, DBE and Jeremy Clarkson, and is led by Former Environment Minister and Life Peer, Zac Goldsmith (shown in the photo, accompanying me to a government meeting).

I am proud to be considered a change maker, included in the ENDS Report Power List of Environmental Campaigners.

Unfortunately Michael Gove did not respond to the plea on the bus when he was Housing Secretary (see video to the right).

If you want to help swifts and other cavity nesting birds, you can help them in the following ways:-

-lobby your MP! Go see them and don’t take no for an answer. Mandating swift bricks is a MUST and Scotland has done it so no excuse.

-get others to also lobby your MP as you will quickly find the tipping point.

-lobby your District Council in the meantime. It’s a longer, more complicated process but if you need help, then join the Swifts Local Network and you will get bespoke guidance.

-install a swift box to your external wall, under the eaves (not on a south facing wall).

-add swift bricks to any new builds (I recommend the ‘S Brick’ by Action for Swifts - it’s 34quid and has facade options to blend in with your materials).

-set up a swift group in your area to help identify existing nesting sites of swifts so you can protect them from people inadvertantly blocking them during renovations such as re-pointing or installing wall insulation.

-lobby local developers and bang on about swift bricks until they put them in.

-if in doubt, read Nature Needs You because it has all the information you need to act, take accountability, advocate effectively and realise that you can make a difference.

Please join the fight to save our swifts.