A tremendous turn out for Darley Dale's Swifts

On Friday 27th March, Derbyshire Dales Swift Project's Community Engagement & Communications Officer, Charly Crump, visited Derbyshire Dales Ramblers at Darley Dale's Methodist Church to give a talk to its members. The talk was supported by one of our very own Swift Champions, and keen rambler, Sue, who is a volunteer surveyor for Darley Dale's Swifts. A huge thanks to Sue for supplying and curating the beautiful display board in the photo above.

A total of 20 people attended including 3 members who'd previously expressed an interest in volunteering. Charly shared the results from the 2025 Darley Dale Swift Surveys and details of Swift 'hotspots' in the area. She also gave information about the Derbyshire Dales Swift Project's latest campaign to install Swift Boxes in these hotspots to create more nest sites for returning Swifts. The ramblers had the opportunity to see and handle Swift boxes from two of our suppliers: Peak Boxes and Action for Swifts.

Following the event, a grand total of 4 people signed up to volunteer as Swift surveyors - 2 in our new area just down the road - Matlock - and 2 for Darley Dale this Summer. A brilliant addition to our existing team of 14 Swift champions in Darley Dale and bringing our total for Matlock to 10. We'd love to stretch this to 12 to ensure sustainability and continuity of surveying over the Summer months. If you'd like to sign up to volunteer to survey Swifts for Derbyshire Dales Swift Project in Matlock this Summer, please complete our sign up form.