East Sussex housebuilder David Wilson Homes has committed to protecting wild birds at its Rosewood Park development in Bexhill-on-Sea. Swift numbers in the UK have plummeted by 41% in just ten years between 2008 and 2018*. To help support declining bird populations, the housebuilder will be installing a series of specially-designed nest boxes for swifts and sparrows at selected homes at the development.

Changes to roof design and the renovation of older properties has led to established nest sites being lost. To provide bird populations with new places to raise future generations and to encourage residents to live happily alongside nature, David Wilson Homes is installing the bird-friendly nesting bricks into the fabric of the homes at Rosewood Park.

A total of 29 custom-design swift bricks and seven sparrow bricks will be installed at the development. These special bricks have been designed to match the existing framework of the homes, and once installed will create a safe, unobtrusive home for birds. The housebuilder will also be installing 72 integrated bat boxes onsite.

Natalie Perry, Sales & Marketing Director for David Wilson Homes, comments: “As a responsible housebuilder, it is our mission to provide a safe home for nature at our developments. Our longstanding partnership with wildlife conservation charity the RSPB has allowed us to deliver a range of nature-friendly features at our developments, including our latest pledge to provide a home for wild birds. We look forward to seeing the swifts and sparrows move into their new homes over the coming years.”

John Day, RSPB Urban Land Management Adviser, said: “The swifts you see careering around rooftops have flown thousands of miles over rainforests, deserts, and seas. When they arrive, some will find there isn’t anywhere safe and secure to raise their chicks. We are delighted that David Wilson Homes is installing swift bricks to help this amazing bird.

“If you’d also like to give swifts a hand you can make or buy swift boxes of your own or make your area as insect-friendly as possible so swifts and other wildlife have something to eat. You can find out more about how to help swifts and other garden wildlife from our David Wilson-sponsored project, Nature on Your Doorstep: rspb.org.uk/yourdoorstep.”

David Wilson Homes is currently building a selection of three and four-bedroom homes its Rosewood Park development in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. Prices start from £327,995 for a three-bedroom family home.