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

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

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 & Talk - Salisbury 8pm - 9:30pm

  • Sarum College, 19 The Close, Salisbury SP1 2EE
  • Come and see the largest swift nesting colony in Salisbury.
  • Suggested donation £5 - no booking necessary
  • Organised by Salisbury and Wilton Swifts
  • Contact - Daniel Kronenburg 07791 849372 or dankron@hotmail.co.uk

Library Display 26 June - 4 July 9:30am - 4:00pm

  • Bradford on Avon library BA15 1BY
  • All welcome to visit the display during library opening hours
  • Organised by Bradford on Avon Swift and House Martin group

Swift walk 8:00pm - 9:00pm

  • Meet Westbury Gardens, Bradford on Avon BA15 1DE
  • Walk round town led by members of Bradford on Avon Swift group. There will be two walks, both involve some steep hill climbs but one will be gentler than the other
  • Free but donations welcomed Booking is necessary, email below.
  • Organised by Bradford on Avon Swift and House Martin group
  • Contact - Rowena on climatechampions@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 Awareness - Dan the Swift man 9am - 12 noon

  • 24 Wilson Avenue, Deal, Kent CT14 9NW
  • Stall with Swift information and chance to see swiftets in their boxes.
  • Free event - no booking necessary
  • Organised by Walmer and Deal Action for Swifts
  • Contact - walmerdealaction4swifts@gmail.com

Pop-Up Stall 10am - 4pm

  • Ringwood Meeting House, 22 Meeting House Lane, Ringwood BH24 1EY
  • Pop-up stall on forecourt of Ringwood Meeting House. Come and ask questions about swifts and find out if you house is suitable for a nest box.
  • Free event - just call in 
  • Organised by Hampshire Swifts
  • Contact - Wendy Reid - wendsreid@gmail.com
  • Hampshire Swifts website

Swift walk around Lewes 8:00pm - 9:30pm

  • Meet top of Needlemakers car park in Market Street BN7 2NZ
  • A gentle walk around some of the Swift colonies in Lewes. Will also be held on June 27 and July 1.
  • Free event - booking is necessary, email below to book a place.
  • Organised by Lewes Swift Supporters
  • Contact - Lewes Swift Supporters lewesswifts@gmail.com
  • Lewes Swift Supporters website

Kent County Show 3rd - 5th July 8:00am - 6:00pm

  • Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone ME14 3JF
  • Stall and talks at Kent County Show
  • Tickets can be bought on the day or in advance here.
  • High Weald Swifts will be there.

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