Last updated: October 2021
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) ran a project to turn Belfast into the first-ever “Swift City”. The Belfast Swift City project aimed to bring nature back to the city and protect the swifts (ref 1). The aim was to find out where the birds are nesting, so work can begin to protect them. Additionally, there was said to be potential for the creation of community gardens in the area of residential buildings undergoing regeneration to aid this project. (Ref 2). As thousands of swifts migrate from Africa and nest in crevices in buildings, nesting boxes were put in a few locations like the parliament building to attract more swifts. (Ref 4)
http://ww2.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/348265-belfast-swift-city#GXrQ2wqDIcf7oF1G.99
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Other
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Railroad bank and track greens
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Other
Project objectives
1. Belfast Swift City project is helping locate and protect swifts in Northern Ireland (ref 1)
2. Installation of 'Swift bricks' providing nesting sites. (ref 3)
3. Potential for creation of community gardens in the area of residential buildings undergoing regeneration to aid this project. (ref 2).
Implementation activities
1. Belfast Swift City Survey was completed (ref 1)
2. 'Swift bricks' providing nesting sites have been installed at Parliament Buildings at Stormont, the Crescent Arts Centre and Fold Housing in Belfast, and swift towers installed across the Belfast Hills and at Adelaide rail station. (ref3)
3. Exploring the potential for the creation of community gardens in the area of residential buildings undergoing regeneration to aid this project. (ref 2).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
- Create new habitats
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Means for conservation governance
- Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Main beneficiaries
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private foundation/trust
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Citizen science
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity leading the project. (Ref 1); 'Swift bricks' providing nesting sites have been installed at Parliament Buildings at Stormont, the Crescent Arts Centre and Fold Housing in Belfast, and swift towers installed across the Belfast Hills and at Adelaide rail station. (ref3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Other
Type of funding
- Other
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Other
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
Ref 1. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). (nd.) Belfast Swift City Source link [Accessed 24 September 2020]
Ref 2. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).( nd. )Case studies: Belfast - Swift City. Accessed at Source link [Accessed 24 September 2020]
Ref 3. Stewart L. (2014). Public's swift help needed to record nest sites. Belfast Telegraph. Source: Source link [Accessed 24 September 2020]
Ref 4. Belfast Telegraph (2013) The plan to make our city skies look like this again. Source: Source link [Accessed 24 September 2020]
Ref 2. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).( nd. )Case studies: Belfast - Swift City. Accessed at Source link [Accessed 24 September 2020]
Ref 3. Stewart L. (2014). Public's swift help needed to record nest sites. Belfast Telegraph. Source: Source link [Accessed 24 September 2020]
Ref 4. Belfast Telegraph (2013) The plan to make our city skies look like this again. Source: Source link [Accessed 24 September 2020]