A group set-up to protect the few remaining swifts in Knaresborough has appealed for help finding new nesting sites.

Shan Oakes said the informal swift group was created four years ago “to stop swifts falling into extinction”. She added:

“Every year fewer come back. There were only about 12 in Knaresborough last year. We will be lucky to have any in a couple of years.

“It would be a tragedy to lose them. They are the sound of summer.”

“They are disappearing because people are either knowingly or unknowingly getting rid of their nests.”

Two of the new boxes at Knaresborough Working Men’s Club.

Unlike other birds, swifts occupy nest sites rather than build their own. They therefore seek cavities in old buildings or nest boxes and the loss of many old buildings has been a major factor in their decline.

The group is therefore looking for people in Knaresborough and surrounding areas willing to put up nest boxes on their properties. The sites need to be high with an unobstructed flight path.

Knaresborough Working Men’s Club recently agreed to host four of the Knaresborough swift group’s RSPB nest boxes. Ms Oakes said:

“The building is ideal for them, as it’s high, giving them the swoop space they need . The swifts have now arrived here from Africa and will be searching for nest sites, as well as insects so please keep them in mind.

“The swift group is inviting people to offer space for swifts, so please get in touch if you think you have a suitable building.”

Ms Oakes said volunteers were willing to assess whether sites were suitable and to contact her on 01423549376 or 07769607710.

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Two hundred water voles released in Nidderdale are thriving in their new habitat, surveys have discovered.

Yorkshire Water released two groups of the endangered animals in 2020 and 2021 at Timble Ings Wood in the Washburn Valley.  

Recent surveys suggest they are settling in well to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with signs of the animals up to 1km away from the original release site.  

Surveys of the area have found burrows, droppings, and signs of feeding, such as piles of nibbled grass. There have also been regular checks for the water vole’s main predator, the American mink, which has not been spotted.  

Philip Tennyson, recreation coordinator at Yorkshire Water said:  

“While this is a successful project, water voles are particularly sensitive to disturbance, and the good work we’ve done so far can easily be lost.  

“We would urge visitors to Timble Ings Woods to stay on the paths and keep dogs on a lead away from the ponds and watercourses to protect the fragile water vole population.” 

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• 100 water voles released in Washburn Valley this week
• Nidderdale group offers dog leads to protect nesting birds

Water voles are classed as an endangered species, and have been identified as one of Britain’s fastest declining mammals.  

They have been named as a priority species for protection in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, and conservation efforts like the one in Nidderdale are crucial in preventing their extinction.  

The project is part of Yorkshire Water’s Water Works for Wildlife initiative, which aims to enhance biodiversity in 15 local wildlife sites.