TV presenter Megan McCubbin will join Greater Manchester residents to celebrate the launch of one of the UK’s largest ‘Swift Streets’ – created to help these iconic birds which are amongst our most threatened.
People living on two neighbouring streets in Swinton, Salford – Houghton Lane and Ashley Drive – combined efforts to put up more than 80 specialist nest boxes on their own homes, helping to build a huge Swift neighbourhood. It will provide much-needed spaces for these birds to nest and breed.
With the boxes now all in place, the community is celebrating with a home-coming event on May 17th – around the time these migratory birds are returning to our towns and cities to begin nesting and raising chicks. TV presenter and RSPB Ambassador, Megan McCubbin, will help launch it.
Megan’s Self Isolating Bird Club, in which she posted content about nature online each day during lockdown alongside Chris Packham, provided solace for thousands of people at a difficult time, including Swinton resident Suzanne Pendleton, who began to notice the Swifts on her street, who’d arrived for the summer months.
Whilst on bed-rest after breaking her leg a year later, Suzanne became even more fascinated by the Swifts’ aerial acrobatics, and delved deeper only to find the birds’ numbers have more than halved in recent years.
Discovering that a handful of Swifts nested on her street, Suzanne rallied her neighbours with leaflets and a community WhatsApp group, encouraging more and more people to pledge help. She got in touch with the RSPB, who supported her to get the Swift Street in place.
“I was overwhelmed by the local response with so many families keen to help our Swift population – we had more than 80 box requests!” she said.
“We are so privileged that these incredible urban birds choose our lane as their home and with their nesting places under threat, being able to install boxes is a wonderful opportunity.
“I encouraged my Brownie group to find out more about nature, and they were totally inspired by videos we watched of Megan McCubbin – they were just ecstatic when they realised she was going to be coming along to our event!”
Learners from the Growth Company Education and Skills College in Trafford agreed to make the boxes, and Ryan Cawdron, a local roofer, put them up after they were painted and water-proofed by Suzanne’s Brownie group and local Scouts.
Funding for the Swift project has been made possible thanks to the support of players of Peoples’ Postcode Lottery.
RSPB Ambassador Megan McCubbin, who presents TV’s Springwatch and Animal Park, will officially ’launch’ the new Swift Streets at the event in May.
“Swifts are hands-down one of our most incredible birds but they are facing some enormous challenges,” she explained. “Fewer insects and loss of nesting sites is really impacting their ability to raise young which is essential for the survival of any species.
“I can’t tell you how inspired it makes me feel when I hear stories of Swift supporters up and down the country coming together to take action to help this iconic bird. The efforts of this community are extraordinary and I’m thrilled to be involved in this launch!”
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “It’s incredible to see the power of community action in Swinton come to life through this inspiring Swift Street project. This is a shining example of what can be achieved when communities unite to make a real and lasting difference for wildlife.”
Swifts spend the majority of their life on the wing, flying thousands of miles each year from Africa to the UK, returning to the same nest spot. Numbers have decreased by more than 60% in the last 30 years.
RSPB executive director, Emma Marsh, said: “To hear how this community has come together to make a difference for Swifts is hugely uplifting and we can’t thank everyone enough for the commitment and effort made. Equally inspiring is how it’s involved so many people, from Brownies to learners, local businesses and residents.
“It’s a wonderful example of the big difference communities can make when we all work together, at scale, to protect and restore nature.”
The Swift Streets are part of a wider and continued effort to transform Manchester into a Swift City.
Roshni Parmar-Hill, RSPB’s Greater Manchester community engagement officer, said “By the end of the project in March 2026 we would really like to declare Manchester a Swift City, with a charter signed by residents, local politicians and community and conservation organisations highlighting the city’s pledge to protect the future of the birds.
“We’d also like to see the city commit to providing more nesting sites in the form of Swift boxes and the installation of Swift bricks on new build houses.”
