Wild Skies - Cressbrook & Ravensdale Community Project

Our Wild Skies project aims to make Cressbrook village and the nearby hamlet of Ravensdale, a stronghold for resilient and growing populations of swifts, swallows and house martins.

Cressbrook is lucky to boast a population of these iconic and beloved species, however, they are declining rapidly. Residents enjoying the spectacle of 20 swifts in the sky this summer, reminisce of skies full of 100’s of birds returning year on year, and the same can be said for swallows and house martins. Populations of all three species are declining, most likely due to, amongst other factors, a decline in flying insects which is their food source, habitat loss and condition, and a reduction in nesting sites due partially to property improvements.

Wild Skies is funded by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's Wild Peak Community Fund and aims to make Cressbrook and Ravensdale a welcoming and accommodating village habitat for all three species, by:

- ensuring existing populations are protected,

- introducing new nesting sites,

- increasing the food source by improving habitats, large and small, for pollinators and other flying insects.

We are so chuffed to be awarded the Wild Peak grant which will enable us to invite members of Derbyshire Swift Conservation to deliver inspiring talks and walks in the village, explaining why swifts are in decline and what our community can do to reverse it, advise on suitable locations for nesting boxes, and train us to survey existing nesting sites so that we can protect the birds that already have a home here. The grant will also enable us to celebrate the return of the birds with a ‘Welcome Back Party’, organise wildflower planting sessions in our community green spaces and gardens, and buy and install nest boxes.

We moved to the village only last year, just before the birds returned, and were blown away when they filled the skies – they were addictive! We soon learnt how loved the birds are by locals. We hope the project will enable the infectious passion in the village for swifts, swallows and house martins to spread, so more people can become guardians of these extraordinary birds that bring so much joy to people on their return to the Peak District every spring.