Swifts are currently red‑listed as a Bird of Conservation Concern due to significant population declines across the UK and Ireland. In response, the Council has partnered with the RSPB Antrim Local Group to support conservation efforts and raise awareness across the Borough.
Doagh Primary School has three new bird boxes, while Ballyclare Town Hall now features a specially built Swift terrace containing four nest sites. The terrace was funded by the RSPB Antrim Local Group and built by one of its members as part of the Group’s Homes for Swifts project. They also provided a Swift caller system, which plays recorded calls to encourage Swifts to discover and adopt new nesting sites.
The Outgoing Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, said:
“I am delighted to see these new Swift boxes installed at both Doagh Primary School and Ballyclare Town Hall. Protecting our Swifts is a responsibility we all share, and projects like this show how communities, schools and the RSPB Antrim Local Group can work together to make a real difference. These small actions help preserve an iconic species that has been part of our Borough’s natural heritage for generations.”
The Outgoing Deputy Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Julie Gilmour, added:
“I am delighted to see this collaboration. It’s inspiring to see these sites taking practical steps to embed biodiversity into their ethos by protecting our Swifts. The children now have a wonderful understanding of the Swift’s incredible journey, migrating to Africa during the winter months before returning here between May and July to raise their chicks.”
Kate McAllister, Secretary of the RSPB Antrim Local Group and one of the Borough’s Swift advocates, said, “Swifts are extraordinary birds that spend most of their lives in the air. By installing Swift boxes at Doagh Primary School, pupils are making a real contribution to conservation. It’s also fantastic to see the new Swift terrace at Ballyclare Town Hall, helping raise awareness of how we can all protect local wildlife.”
This work forms part of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s ongoing commitment to biodiversity and wildlife conservation through its innovative Positive Planning Note programme. Launched in 2025, the programme aims to protect the rapidly declining Swift population by encouraging sustainable development and safeguarding natural habitats.
