Outrage as Derbyshire Rail Viaduct Refurbishment Blocks Swift Nesting Holes
Campaigners in Derbyshire are expressing anger after Network Rail sealed swift nesting holes during a £7.5m refurbishment of the Chapel Milton railway viaduct. Nature lovers argue that blocking these ancestral sites could lead to fatal consequences for returning swifts, which often fail to relocate if their specific nests are inaccessible. Despite campaigners providing evidence of at least nine nesting sites, three were filled with mortar in February. Network Rail initially claimed an ecological report found no evidence of nesting but later acknowledged the holes and stated they worked around the birds. The British Transport Police are investigating potential wildlife disturbances. While Network Rail proposes installing new nest boxes, activists insist on reopening the original holes, arguing this would not compromise structural integrity. With Britain’s swift population having declined by 66% since 1995 due to habitat loss, local groups are holding vigils and urging immediate action before the birds return in late April. This incident highlights the ongoing tension between infrastructure maintenance and biodiversity conservation in the UK.
Wire timeline
Outrage as Derbyshire Rail Viaduct Refurbishment Blocks Swift Nesting Holes
Campaigners in Derbyshire are expressing anger after Network Rail sealed swift nesting holes during a £7.5m refurbishment of the Chapel Milton railway viaduct. Nature lovers argue that blocking these ancestral sites could lead to fatal consequences for returning swifts, which often fail to relocate if their specific nests are inaccessible. Despite campaigners providing evidence of at least nine nesting sites, three were filled with mortar in February. Network Rail initially claimed an ecological report found no evidence of nesting but later acknowledged the holes and stated they worked around the birds. The British Transport Police are investigating potential wildlife disturbances. While Network Rail proposes installing new nest boxes, activists insist on reopening the original holes, arguing this would not compromise structural integrity. With Britain’s swift population having declined by 66% since 1995 due to habitat loss, local groups are holding vigils and urging immediate action before the birds return in late April. This incident highlights the ongoing tension between infrastructure maintenance and biodiversity conservation in the UK.
The Guardian