Bells for Birds 2026 - a resounding success!

2-10 May 2026 saw the second ever Bells for Birds Week with 9 Derbyshire churches ringing their bells to celebrate returning Swifts! We also shared an interactive map which has seen over 50 Swift sightings across the county! Thank you so much to everyone who submitted a sighting.

Bells for Birds is a growing Derbyshire born tradition inviting communities to celebrate the Swifts' return by ringing bells, sharing sightings, and making more space for these birds in our urban environment. Derbyshire Swift Conservation collaborated with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Derby Nature Collective to promote this campaign.

A HUGE thank you to all the churches who took part to celebrate Swift returning. What a fantastic way to welcome them home!

Our interactive Swift map is still open and we'd love to receive your sightings - the more we know about where Swifts are, the more action we can take to conserve them. Head to https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/ and find it under 'Our Events'.