A major residential developer has announced an expanded conservation initiative targeting one of Britain’s most threatened bird species.
Barratt and David Wilson Homes confirmed it will now equip its properties with 10,000 swift nesting bricks by the close of 2027.
The target represents an increase from the company’s earlier goal of 7,000 installations, which had already been achieved ahead of schedule.
The specialised nesting structures are incorporated into the exterior walls of newly constructed properties, offering crucial breeding habitat for swifts during their summer visits to Britain.
The initiative falls within the developer’s broader environmental strategy covering developments throughout Oxfordshire and beyond.
Swifts travel to the United Kingdom each year to nest, but their numbers have plummeted by 60 percent since 1995.
The species now holds red-listed status, placing it among the most pressing conservation concerns domestically.
Campbell Gregg, managing director for Barratt and David Wilson Homes Southern, stated that swifts represent a cherished feature of British summers, yet their populations have suffered a severe downturn in recent decades.
He explained that by embedding swift bricks within their properties, the company can contribute meaningfully to the species’ revival while simultaneously establishing communities where human residents and wildlife coexist successfully.
According to Gregg, reaching the prior milestone marked a significant achievement, and the organisation now aspires to install 10,000 units by the end of 2027, providing considerably more habitat for this remarkable creature.
The housebuilder has maintained a collaboration with the RSPB since 2016 to deploy the nesting bricks across its sites.
The programme operates as part of the Homes for Nature initiative, which was established by the Future Homes Hub.