Cleaning Up for the Swifts

Volunteers Prepare Bell Tower for Swift Boxes at St Rumon Church

20th Jan 2025

A dedicated team of five volunteers from Wildlife Groundswell recently tackled a challenging yet essential task at St Rumon Church in Ruan Minor, on the Lizard, Cornwall. Their mission: to clean out the bell tower in preparation for the installation of specially adapted swift boxes, designed to provide a safe haven for these remarkable birds upon their return to Cornwall in the spring.

The work was tough and dirty, as the volunteers removed years of accumulated debris, including old jackdaw nests and other detritus. Over the course of the day, they filled an impressive three hippo bags with the waste, ensuring that the bell tower was thoroughly cleaned and ready for the next stage of the project.

With the space now cleared, the focus shifts to installing the swift boxes, which will offer vital nesting sites for swifts, a species in decline. The clean-up effort has set the stage for these specially designed boxes to be put up, ensuring the church tower will be a welcoming environment for the swifts when they return in the spring.

This project marks another step forward in Wildlife Groundswell’s ongoing commitment to supporting local wildlife and preserving Cornwall’s natural heritage. Thanks to the hard work of the volunteers, the bell tower is now ready to play a crucial role in the conservation of swifts for years to come.

Donations towards this important work are very welcome and can help support future projects like this one. If you'd like to contribute, please consider making a donation easily through this link: Wildlife Groundswell Donations. Your support makes a real difference!

Before, during, and after photos.