From 23rd April 2025 to 31st May 2025 we will be celebrating the return of our Swifts through a season of events at Lewes Climate Hub, Lewes House, 32 High Street, Lewes. All events are free of charge and no booking is required. Our aims are to raise awareness of Swifts and encourage further small actions that will help to boost biodiversity – and help Swifts and other wildlife to flourish!
Throughout the season at the Hub there will be displays to explain what makes a Swift-friendly town and posters to show the contributions from groups and organisations that have given their support – and an activity so that you may share your contributions to helping our Swifts.
We are launching this season with a “pavement parade” from the Linklater Pavilion at the Railway Land to Lewes Climate Hub. We are inviting you to join us on the parade, perhaps carrying a placard to send a clear message to passers-by. Some suggested images for placards and instructions for making a simple flying Swift along with a poster of the events are below – and we’d love to see your own designs!
| Saturday 26th April The Mayor of Lewes has agreed to lead a pavement procession to welcome back our Swifts. We will be starting at 10.30 a.m. at the LInklater Pavilion on the Railway Land and finishing at Lewes Climate Hub, 32 High Street. It would be wonderful if Friends of Lewes members could join in with logos or other placards of your choice. At 1.30 p.m. Paul Stevens will give his talk: “A Summer with Swifts, Swallows and Martins”. |
| Saturday 3rd May 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. As you know, one of the challenges to Swifts is the fall in the population of the insects and airborne invertebrates that they feed upon. Ponds are great for Insects, invertebrates and other wildlife”! At 1.30 p.m. Pete Birchall, (Pete the Pond), will talk about “The importance of ponds for wildlife”Inviati |
| Saturday 10th May 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. We are proud of being partners in the Lewes Mosaic Project with the Railway Land Wildlife Trust, Wildflower Lewes, Lewes Urban Arboretum, and Common Cause. Helen Meade, (Railway Land CEO), will share information about how you may add to Lewes Mosaic – which is an exact match for our Swift-friendly town! |
| Saturday 17th May 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Dylan Walker from Wilder Life will be presenting the Peoples’ Park for Nature idea of a wider connected mosaic of habitats for nature and people to enjoy.. |
| Saturday 24th May 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Lewes Urban Arboretum will share ideas for increasing biodiversity by adding small trees or hedges to our gardens. 1.30 p.m. Talk by Emily Thrift – “Protecting our Hedgehogs: understanding the impact of plastic” |
| Saturday 31st May 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Buglife research suggests that the population of insects and invertebrates has fallen by 79% since 2004. Since parent Swifts need an estimated 20,000 insects a day when they are feeding chicks, this has the potential to be a huge factor in their decline. We are very pleased to be able to welcome an expert from Buglife to our season! 1.30 p.m. Talk by Alice Parfitt of Buglife: “Why bugs matter”. |
https://e-voice.org.uk/lewesswiftsupporters/lewes-a-swift-friendly-town/
Friends of Lewes 