Swift Awareness Week 2026

From Saturday 27 June to Sunday 5 July 2026, you can join walks, talks and events with local Swift experts and enthusiasts to enjoy watching these extraordinary birds and find out more about them.

A Swift soaring in an urban environment.

A sky full of Swifts?

Swifts usually arrive in the UK from early May, enlivening our skies with their swooping, diving and exuberant cries. See our Swift migration video below to experience their long journey taken to reach our skies.

Sadly, these aerial masters are on the UK Red list due to their declining numbers here. The reasons behind this loss are complex, but there are two steps we can take to help: providing suitable nesting sites and ensuring that there are plenty of insects for them to feed on.  

One Swift's Migration Journey
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Celebrate Swift Awareness Week

Swift Awareness Week events are run by independent local groups which make up the Swifts Local Network, and RSPB local groups. The details below are correct at the time of publication, but where possible please confirm with the organisers before attending.

Pre Swift Awareness Week | Swift Awareness Week | Post Swift Awareness Week  | How to help

Swift, flying over rooftop where they are actively encouraged to nest in houses
Swift
The Swift Local Network map

The Swift Local Network have produced a google map to show their event locations. You can view the events and the map using the link below.

Pre Swift Awareness Week events

Saturday 13 June to Friday 26 June

Wednesday 24 June

Swift walk in Wimbledon 7:30pm - 9:00pm

  • Meet at The War Memorial, Wimbledon Common SW19 5AZ
  • The event will include a short talk on swifts and a walk in the area. Suitable for anyone. The event will automatically be cancelled should there be significant rain.
  • Free event but booking is necessary
  • Organised by Wimbledon Swifts
  • Contact - Louise Cole - wimbledonswifts@outlook.com 

Swift Awareness Week

Saturday 27 June to Sunday 5 July

Saturday 27 June

Swifties stall at North Cross Rd Market East Dulwich 9:00am - 4:00pm

  • North Cross Road Market, East Dulwich London SE22 9DQ
  • A stall at East Dulwich’s busy Saturday market, to showcase boxes and swift bricks and share fliers. Also giving information about our "blue print" for making your own "swift street" and sharing sustainable building practices and products. We will also be using the stall to advertise the fitting of 20+ boxes to the Dog Kennel Hill Estate in SE5. We are also fitting of 25 local boxes and neighbours are making art work for their windows.
  • Free event - no booking necessary
  • Organised by Ivanhoe Triangle Green Swifties (SE5 London)
  • Contact - Amy ivanhoegreenswifties@gmail.com

Sunday 28 June

Sawbridgeworth Swift Walk 8:00pm - 9:00pm

  • Meet Bell Street Car Park exit CM21 9AN
  • An evening walk around Sawbridgeworth to watch our nesting Swifts, open to all
  • Free event - no booking is needed
  • Organised by Sawbridgeworth Swifts
  • Contact - Graham Knight - gpk593@gmail.com

Swift walk North Road and Sele, Hertford 7:30pm - 9:30pm

  • Meet Hertford North Station, North Road, Hertford, SG14 1NB
  • Swift walk (easy) with Clive & Helen Fleming, Hertford Swift Group.
  • Free event - no need to book
  • Organised by Hertford Swift Group
  • Contact - hertfordswifts@gmail.com

Monday 29 June

Maida Vale Swifts Walk 7:30pm - 9:00pm

  • Meet at Corner of Elgin Avenue and Ashworth Road W9 1NH
  • Guided walk including Swift Conservation representative.
  • Suggested donation £5 - booking is essential. Send email to contact below with your name, phone number & number of people
  • Organised by Brent & Westminster Swifts Group
  • Contact - Mike & Talya, brentandwestminsterswifts@gmail.com

Tuesday 30 June

Litlington Swift Walk 7:30pm - 9:30pm

  • St. Catherine's Churchyard, Litlington SG8 0QL
  • A swift-watching walk through Litlington to see swifts in the village, checking the many new swift nest boxes installed. Hopefully there will be some with swifts in occupation! Learn about swifts, and about the work of the village swift project.
  • Free event - no booking needed
  • Organised by Litlington Swift Group
  • Contact -  Geoff Barlow: 07785 275 740

Swift Walk Hertford Town Centre 7:30pm - 9:15pm

  • Meet Sainsburys Car Park, Hartham Lane, Hertford, SG14 1RD
  • Swift walk (easy, suitable for all), with Clive & Helen Fleming, Hertford Swift Group
  • Free event - no need to book
  • Organised by Hertford Swift Group
  • Contact - hertfordswifts@gmail.com

Oxford Swift Walk 7:30pm - 9:00pm Meet Central Oxford

  • Meet: Contact organiser for more information
  • The walks (on Saturday and Tuesday) will include watching the swifts around the Natural History Museum tower and a visit to our own Swift Tower in University Parks. It will last around 90 minutes. Places are limited to 20 for each walk.
  • Free event but booking is essential
  • Book places by emailing OxfordSwiftCity@rspb.org.uk specifying which walk - Saturday or Tuesday
  • Organised by Oxford Swift Group
  • Contact - OxfordSwiftCity@rspb.org.uk

Hitchin Swifts Walk 2 Gaping Lane 8:00pm - 9:00pm

  • Meet at corner of Bedford St and Gaping Lane SG5 2JE
  • We’re running a series of evening Swift Walks in Hitchin. Each walk takes place in an area with several nest sites, giving us an excellent chance to watch screaming parties racing around the rooftops and, with luck, see swifts darting in and out of their nests. It’s a brilliant time of year to enjoy these incredible birds. Everyone is welcome.
  • Free event - no need to book
  • Organised by Hitchin Swift Action
  • Contact - Helen Matthews hitchinswiftaction@gmail.com

Wednesday 1 July

Swift walk 7:30pm - 9:00pm

  • Knollmead Playground, Southwood Drive Tolworth KT5 9QN
  • A short talk followed by a walk around the area to look for swifts. If there is significant rain the event will automatically be cancelled.
  • Free event but booking is necessary
  • Organised by Wimbledon Swifts
  • Contact - Louise Cole - wimbledonswifts@outlook.com 

Thursday 2 July

Swift Walk Kingsmead, Hertford. 7:30pm - 9:15pm

  • Meet Hertford East Station, Mill Road/Railway Street, Hertford SG13 7JU 
  • Swift walk (easy, suitable for all), with Clive & Helen Fleming, Hertford Swift Group 
  • Free event - no need to book 
  • Organised by Hertford Swift Group 
  • Contact - hertfordswifts@gmail.com

Friday 3 July

Brent Swifts Walk 7:30pm - 9:00pm

  • Meet at Chelmsford Square south side NW10 3AP
  • Guided walk including Swift Conservation representative.
  • Suggested donation £5 - booking is essential. Send email to contact below with your name, phone number & number of people.
  • Organised by Brent & Westminster Swifts Group
  • Contact - Mike & Talya, brentandwestminsterswifts@gmail.com

Saturday 4 July

Swift stall at Growing Communities Farmers' Market 10:00am - 1:00pm

  • Growing Communities Farmers' Market London N16 7UE 
  • Stall with books, leaflets in English & Italian. Giving info.about Swifts. We will collect names for Swift walks & for installation of Swift boxes. Quiz for children.
  • Free event - just call by 
  • Organised by Hackney Swifts 
  • Contact - Lornatanya@gmail.com

Sunday 5 July

CamSwift at the Shelford Feast - 12pm - 4:30pm

  • The Recreation Ground, Woollards Lane, Great Shelford, Cambs, CB22 5LZ
  • The Shelford Feast Sunday is a village event for the whole community, with many voluntary groups in attendance. CamSwift will be there with our stall promoting swift and house martin conservation.
  • There will be a "modest entrance fee" for the Feast Sunday.
  • Swift stall is organised by CamSwift
  • Contact - helen_harwood_uk@yahoo.co.uk
  • Facebook page
  • Shelford Festival webpage

Post Swift Awareness Week events

Monday 6 July to Sunday 19 July

Tuesday 7 July

Edward Mayer Swift Presentation 7pm - 9pm

  • Hemingford Grey Parish Centre, 33 High Street, Hemingford Grey PE28 9BJ
  • Edward Mayer will be presenting a presentation on Swifts.
  • Prior to the event Edward hopes to walk in The Rampleys from 6pm to look in on our small colony of around 10 pairs. This short walk will be weather permitting.
  • Free although donations to Swift Conservation appreciated.
  • No booking necessary.
  • Organised by Hemingford Swifts
  • Contact - Neil Whitaker - britwhits13@yahoo.com or 07843302858

Thursday 9 July

Royston Swift Walk 7:30pm - 9:00pm

  • Meet Royston Town Hall Car Park SG8 7XB 
  • Peter Tiffin of the Bassingbourn Swift Group will be joining the Friends of Therfield Heath to lead a Swift walk around Royston on Thursday July 9th. Meet at 19.30 at the Town Hall car park. We will then view some of the Swift boxes in Royston, including those known to be used. Peter will also tell us some interesting facts about Swifts. 
  • Free event - no booking necessary 
  • Organised by Friends of Therfield Heath 
  • Contact -  Ray Munden friendsoftherfieldheath@gmail.com