Kettering Nature Group launches first 'Swift Street' as community installs nest boxes

Established in Tennyson Road, thanks to residents volunteering to host a total of thirteen nesting boxes as part of Kettering Nature Group’s Civic Ecology programme.

Civic Ecology is the organisation’s model for embedding nature recovery directly into the fabric of the town, enabling residents to take coordinated, practical action to restore wildlife habitat where they live.

Adam Riley, founder of Kettering Nature Group, said: “Swift Streets are about restoring something we have gradually engineered out of our towns. Thirteen coordinated nesting spaces on one street create the foundation of a colony. But this is also about systems change. Through our Civic Ecology model, we are building the infrastructure for citizen conservation, where local people are equipped to deliver lasting ecological recovery where they live.”

Swifts spend almost their entire lives in flight, travelling thousands of miles between Africa and the UK each year and returning faithfully to the same nesting sites. But modern building practices have removed many of the small cavities they rely upon. The species is now on the UK Red List following steep national decline.

By coordinating installations across multiple properties, residents on Tennyson Road are recreating the clustered nesting conditions that allow colonies to establish and persist.

The Swift Street initiative forms part of #NaturallyKettering, the town-wide framework developed and led by Kettering Nature Group. Structured around a model known as Citizen Conservation, the programme is designed to make biodiversity recovery practical, measurable and repeatable at street level.

Adam said: “Kettering Nature Group was founded on a simple principle. Nature recovery cannot be left to distant organisations alone. It has to be embedded in the places where people live, learn and work. #NaturallyKettering connects practical action, education and rescue into a coherent framework that can grow over time.”

After attending a talk on swifts by Adam, Tennyson Road resident Agostino D’Agostino was inspired to accept an invitation to serve as the first Street Co-ordinator under the #NaturallyKettering mode.

Each Swift Street begins with a resident willing to take on the role, recruiting neighbours for the programme.

Agostino said: “Defending our local and worldwide natural habitats has been a motivational force within me throughout my life. Having attended Adam’s Swift talk, I was keen to support the introduction of a Swift Street on Tennyson Road. With neighbours working together under the #NaturallyKettering framework, we have been able to take practical action for local wildlife and create something positive for our community.”

Adam has personally made and installed more than 600 nest boxes for a range of species with funding for Tennyson Road being boosted by Green councillor Liane Robinson’s financial support.

She said: “My town councillor ward Initiative fund has supported the materials needed to build thirteen Swift boxes on Tennyson Road. Protecting the species that share our town is one of the many reasons I chose to put myself forward as a councillor.”

Helping with the installation of the boxes is local resident Steve Bailey and colleague Glen Northover of Warkton Roofing.

Swift Streets are one strand within the wider Civic Ecology framework delivered through #NaturallyKettering.

Through WREN, the Wildlife Rescue & Emergency Network, Kettering Nature Group coordinates responses to injured and distressed wildlife across the area.

Greenbank Linear Reserve serves as a flagship habitat restoration site, demonstrating how degraded land can be recovered for biodiversity.

The Wildlife Lodge at Wicksteed Park focuses on environmental education and ecological literacy. Alongside this, a pilot programme at Countryview Nursing Home is engaging residents in conservation activity, while work in local schools introduces children to practical environmental stewardship from an early age.

As #NaturallyKettering expands, Kettering Nature Group is inviting local businesses, grant-makers and community partners to support the next phase of its Civic Ecology programme.

Funding and sponsorship will enable further Swift Streets, expanded habitat restoration at Greenbank, continued development of The Wildlife Lodge, strengthened wildlife rescue provision through WREN, and extended engagement work in schools and care settings.

For further information contact [email protected].