Swifts have a new home at Winchester Hospice

THE sight and sound of swifts will become a regular feature at Winchester Hospice thanks to a generous donation and project that will bring benefits to people and the birds.

Catharine Gale, a trustee of the Hampshire Swifts charity, has kindly donated a dozen nesting boxes, and the timely handover meant these were installed on Burrell House, which is being transformed into Winchester Hospice, before the scaffolding started to come down.

Simon Cramp, a trustee of Winchester Hospice Fundraising Charity, said: “The charity is grateful to Catharine for this kind and generous donation of 12 nesting boxes which will add to the natural and calming ambiance of the Winchester Hospice environment.

“We want patients, families, visitors and staff to have the opportunity to connect with the sights and sounds of nature when they are at the hospice, and the addition of these swift nesting boxes are a very welcome feature.”

Catharine, who is Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Epidemiology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton, said: “The Hampshire Swifts charity was formed in 2016 in response to the ongoing and catastrophic decline of this iconic bird across Hampshire and the UK. Recent data shows swifts have declined by 58 per cent in the last 23 years.

“I am delighted to have made this donation which means that swifts will have a home at Winchester Hospice. It is a great pleasure to see the nesting boxes in place. They add to the character of this historic building and will benefit the biodiversity of the site.”