Greens secure ‘swift bricks’ on new buildings
Plans tabled by the Scottish Greens to require new buildings to install swift nesting boxes have passed in the current stage of the Natural Environment Bill.
The change, secured by Green MSP Mark Ruskell, will ensure that all new buildings over a certain size must include ‘swift bricks’ as part of their design.
According to the RSPB, the UK’s swift population has fallen by two thirds since 1995 with part of the problem being caused by a loss of nesting places. In 2020, they were added to the UK's red list of birds most in need of conservation.
Mark said:
“This is a great day for Scotland’s birds. I am delighted that MSPs from across different parties have backed this small and simple step for nature. The way we treat our animals is the sign of the kind of society we want to be.
“This is a cheap, simple and common sense solution. It will make our communities into better and more welcoming places for nature by supporting these wonderful birds and helping us to reverse years of decline.
“It is unfortunate that the UK government has opposed similar moves in England, but that makes it all the more important that we take action in Scotland.”