A very Green Party thing has been put to West Berkshire Council.
West Berkshire Council is facing a motion from Green Party leader David Marsh, urging the authority to mandate the installation of swift bricks in new developments. Swifts, ancient migratory birds, are losing their nesting sites as natural habitats disappear, leading them to rely on building cavities, which are also diminishing.
Marsh highlights that these iconic birds are now on the RSPB’s ‘red list’ of endangered species. He states, “Swifts just need a brick with a hole in it to nest,” pointing out that incorporating swift bricks—costing around £30 each—into houses could help ensure swifts and other small nesting birds have a place to thrive.
Marsh criticises the Labour Government for failing to fulfil a previous promise to legislate swift brick installations in new constructions. He notes that many local councils, with cross-party backing, are already implementing such policies.
Specifically, he calls for swift boxes to be installed in council properties, with audio lures to attract nesting pairs ahead of the next season in May 2026. Additionally, he proposes that at least 50% of new homes in West Berkshire should include a minimum of two swift bricks, while new commercial units should have at least three swift bricks each. The council will discuss this motion in a meeting on Thursday.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
