--- title: "Welcome Spring and Celebrate Our Feathered Friends at ‘Homes for Swifts: A Derbyshire Dales Celebration’!" description: Celebrate Spring at the Derbyshire Dales 'Homes for Swifts' event on 12 April. Enjoy family-friendly activities, learn about swift conservation, and join the community effort. Free entry! image: https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/hubfs/DDSP%20Launch%20event%20flyer%20A4%20landscape.png --- [Skip to content](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news/welcome-spring-and-celebrate-our-feathered-friends-at-homes-for-swifts-a-derbyshire-dales-celebration#main-content) [![Derbyshire Swift Conservation](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/hubfs/DSC-Logo.svg "Derbyshire Swift Conservation")](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org) - [Our Challenge](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/our-challenge) - [What We Do](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/what-we-do) Show submenu for What We Do - [Our Activities](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/our-activities) - [Get Involved](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/get-involved) Show submenu for Get Involved - [Share Your Swift Nest Sightings](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/nest-survey) - [News & Events](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news) - [Our Challenge](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/our-challenge) - [What We Do](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/what-we-do) Show submenu for What We Do - [Our Activities](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/our-activities) - [Get Involved](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/get-involved) Show submenu for Get Involved - [Share Your Swift Nest Sightings](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/nest-survey) - [News & Events](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news) [Donate](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/donate) # Welcome Spring and Celebrate Our Feathered Friends at ‘Homes for Swifts: A Derbyshire Dales Celebration’! Event Date: 12 April 2026 ![](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/hubfs/DDSP%20Launch%20event%20flyer%20A4%20landscape.png) Are you excited for the arrival of Spring? So are we! As the weather warms up, it’s almost time to welcome back one of our most beloved seasonal visitors: the incredible, high-flying Swift. To kick off the 2026 Swift season and celebrate the second year of the Derbyshire Dales Swift Project, you are invited to a fantastic, family-friendly event: **Homes for Swifts: A Derbyshire Dales Celebration**. Whether you’re a lifelong bird lover or just looking for a wonderful day out with the family, this free event has something for everyone. Come learn, share stories, and connect with fellow nature enthusiasts who care about protecting our local wildlife! ### 🗓️ Event Details at a Glance - **Date:** Sunday 12th April - **Time:** 11:00 to 16:00 (Doors open at 10:30) - **Location:** The Whitworth, Station Road, Darley Dale, DE4 2EQ - **Cost:** FREE! ([Though donations to Derbyshire Swift Conservation are hugely appreciated!](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/donate)) ### What’s on the Agenda? This full-day celebration is packed with activities, talks, and performances for all ages. Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect: - **11:00 – Welcome:** The festivities kick off in the Brunel Room at The Whitworth. Throughout the day, this room will host various stalls for you to browse. - **11:00 to 15:00– Puppet Workshops & Performances:** Also in the Brunel Room, the brilliant *Babbling Vagabonds* will be leading Swift puppet workshops and putting on engaging theatre performances. Perfect for the kids! - **11:30 to 12:30 – Discover the Derbyshire Dales Swift Project:** Head to The Old Library to hear from Claire at Derbyshire Swift Conservation. You’ll learn all about the project’s vital work and even get the chance to sign up as a volunteer. - **14:30 to 15:30 – Expert Talk with Edward Mayer:** Upstairs in the Ballroom, Swift expert Edward Mayer will be giving a special talk. *(Please note: While this talk is free, you do need to select a separate free ticket at checkout to attend!)* ### Why Attend? Swifts are remarkable birds that eat, sleep, and even mate on the wing. However, their numbers have been declining, largely due to a loss of suitable nesting sites. By attending this celebration, you’re not just guaranteed a fun day out; you’re also joining a community dedicated to making the Derbyshire Dales a safe, welcoming home for these speedy birds. ### Secure Your Free Tickets Today! Don't miss out on this fun and friendly community event. Grab your friends and family, and get ready to celebrate the return of the Swifts! 👉 **[Click here to reserve your free tickets on Eventbrite!](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/homes-for-swifts-a-derbyshire-dales-celebration-tickets-1980190567292)** *(Don't forget to select the add-on ticket if you wish to attend Edward Mayer's afternoon talk!)* We can't wait to see you there! ### Related Posts [![A photo of a stand at an event displaying posters about Swifts](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/hs-fs/hubfs/HfS1.jpeg?width=352&name=HfS1.jpeg)](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news/homes-for-swifts) ##### [Homes for Swifts - A Derbyshire Dales Celebration](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news/homes-for-swifts) On Sunday 12th April, Derbyshire Dales Swift Project hosted a celebration of Swifts in... [![](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Nick%20Brown%20at%20Holkham-1.jpg?width=352&name=Nick%20Brown%20at%20Holkham-1.jpg)](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news/celebrating-nick-brown) ##### [Celebrating Nick Brown's Legacy](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news/celebrating-nick-brown) Our founder, Nick Brown recently resigned as a trustee of Derbyshire Swift Conservation after 12... [![](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/hs-fs/hubfs/SAW%20graphic%20for%20blog%20(3).png?width=352&name=SAW%20graphic%20for%20blog%20(3).png)](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news/swift-awareness-week) ##### [SAW events in Derbyshire](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news/swift-awareness-week) UK Swift Awareness Week (SAW) 2026 is almost upon us! Running from Saturday 27 June to Sunday 5... **Sign up to our newsletter to stay in the loop** [Sign up now](https://2fa4ej.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2pZT49CMRT5mRd2-jvy-7Ig) [mailto:info@derbyshireswiftconservation.org](mailto:info@derbyshireswiftconservation.org) - [Our Challenge](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/our-challenge) - [What We Do](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/what-we-do) - [Our Activities](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/our-activities) - [Get Involved](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/get-involved) - [Share Your Swift Nest Sightings](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/nest-survey) - [News & Events](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news) --- Copyright 2026 Derbyshire Swift Conservation | Registered Charity Number: 1206439 [Cookies](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/about/cookies) | [Policies & Procedures](https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/about/policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Derbyshire Swift Conservation", "url" : "https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news/author/derbyshire-swift-conservation" }, "dateModified" : "2026-03-25T15:02:35.689Z", "datePublished" : "2026-03-01T18:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Welcome Spring and Celebrate Our Feathered Friends at ‘Homes for Swifts: A Derbyshire Dales Celebration’!", "image" : [ "https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/hubfs/DDSP%20Launch%20event%20flyer%20A4%20landscape.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/news/welcome-spring-and-celebrate-our-feathered-friends-at-homes-for-swifts-a-derbyshire-dales-celebration", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://derbyshireswiftconservation.org/hubfs/DSC-Logo.svg" }, "name" : "Derbyshire Swift Conservation" } } ```