Whaley WILD

13/05/2026

TRIUMPH FOR LOCAL SWIFT CAMPAIGNERS AS NETWORK RAIL PUTS NESTING HOLE STRATEGY INTO REVERSE
Following the national outcry, spearheaded by our own Deborah Pitman over the filling in of nest sites with mortar, the transport giant backtracked on its position in which it had stated that there were no signs that the critically endangered birds were living in the Chapel Milton viaduct.
Providing evidence to the contrary, campaigners from far and wide, including members of Whaley WILD, sent emails and petitions to the rail company, and assembled at the viaduct to protest.
As a consequence, Network Rail conceded the mistake and sent out contractors to mitigate the work which had barred swifts from nesting in the structure, by installing nesting boxes on the Victorian viaduct, just in time to accommodate the much-loved birds as they returned to their historic nesting site after wintering in Africa.
It's a huge win for wildlife and illustrates just how much can be achieved when people work together.

Network Rail says it will install new bird nesting boxes at a High Peak viaduct after facing criticism over potential disturbance caused to an endangered species following critical repair work to the Victorian structure.

14/04/2026

⚠️ 💙Urgent support needed💙 ⚠️
Swifts will be retuning to these blocked nests imminently, without prompt action this will result in the loss of more breeding pairs. It’s heartbreaking to see Swifts returning to blocked nests, they desperately try to enter the nest they have flown so far to reach and this often has fatal consequences.
Public pressure is needed to hold Network Rail accountable for the blocking of these three nests and to challenge their lack of action to rectify this. Please write to [email protected] and express the urgency of this matter and demand action

This is ridiculous. Please ask Network Rail to unfill the holes - https://protectthewild.org.uk/swift-petition/

09/04/2026

MESSAGE FROM OUR CO-FOUNDER ABOUT PLIGHT OF SWIFTS AT CHAPEL MILTON VIADUCT
A local colony of the endangered birds who inspired us to set up our group are unfortunately facing adversity locally due to Network Rail having blocked up their historic nesting sites on this great viaduct which swifts have called home for years. The birds will be migrating to the UK any day now, and will shockingly find their nesting holes sealed with mortar by the company's workers.
Please join us in appealing to Jeremy Westlake, CEO of Network Rail to have this obstruction removed as a matter of urgency before the swifts return.
email Mr. Westlake at: [email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DW3rRw5lTtJ/

08/04/2026

With spring on its way, and our swift friends en route from Africa, we've been busy installing nesting boxes on houses in Whaley Bridge in the hope that our favourite birds will take up residence when they arrive.
Many thanks to the householders who have invited us to put up the boxes so that their homes can host these lovely visitors. Hopefully we'll build on this year on year, until Whaley Bridge is the swift capital of the High Peak!🐦
If you'd like to get involved with our work through volunteering, funding, or sponsorship, please drop us a line on [email protected] We'd love to hear from you! 😀

08/04/2026

CALL OUT FOR PARTNERS IN OUR SUMMER ART TRAIL
We're very excited to announce that we're putting together an art trail this summer to promote our work to save swifts and other wildlife in our lovely town, and hopefully to recruit some more volunteers to help us do that.
We'll be showcasing the work of artists who are based in or near Whaley Bridge, whilst encouraging people to visit our amazing shops and businesses. So, we're inviting creative people, working in all sorts of mediums, to produce or loan us artworks inspired by swifts and we'll match your piece with a local venue who will display it over the summer.
At the end of the trail, there will be an exhibition of all the artworks from the trail at Whaley Coworkers from 01 August, where the art can be made available for sale, if the artists wish. We'll be making our own contribution in the form of 'Swoopy,' our mascot, who we made at last year's willow lantern workshop at the Transhipment Warehouse, (pictured below).
If you are interested in getting involved, either as a contributing artist or a host premises, please get in touch with us at [email protected] and we'll give you further details.

08/04/2026

WANT TO MEET THE TEAM?
This coming Saturday, 11 April, we'll be at our stall at the Transhipment Warehouse in the FAB market!
Members of our merry band of volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions about our work to protect local wildlife, as well as our swift nest box installation project that we launched last year.
Find out what we're doing and how you can get involved, and while you're at it, why not treat yourself to something from our selection of promotional items, including greeting cards and plants.
We're looking forward to meeting you!
🐦🦇🐸🐰🦊🦅🦉🐝🐞🦋🪿🦎🦡🦦🐿️🐦‍⬛🐭🦗

06/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AsQHXNYSq/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🌊 Want to make a real difference to your local rivers?
Join us for a FREE Volunteer Information Session with Mersey Rivers Trust! 💙✨
Whether you're passionate about the environment, curious about citizen science, or looking for a meaningful way to get involved in your community, this session is the perfect place to start.
📅 Date: 23rd March
⏰ Time: 19:00 – 21:00
📍 Location: New Mills Town Hall
At the session, you’ll discover:
🔹 How citizen science helps protect and improve rivers
🔹 Volunteer roles you can get involved in
🔹 Training and support available
🔹 Local projects happening near you
No experience needed — just enthusiasm and an interest in your local environment! 🌿💧
👉 Everyone welcome — bring a friend
👉 To find out more about the event visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/river-guardian-information-evening-tickets-1983459522826?aff=oddtdtc

24/11/2025

SUPER-SIZED SWIFT SPOTTED OUT OF SEASON IN WHALEY BRIDGE!
Well, actually this lovingly-crafted beauty is a special lantern, made from willow whips and tissue paper. Three of our members: Rachael David and Jill, popped down to the Whaley Bridge Canal's Transhipment Warehouse yesterday to take part in the lantern-making workshop, run by the Friends of Memorial Park volunteers, where festive 3D lights are created for the town's lantern parade, which precedes the annual Christmas lights switch-on ceremony. We all thought that it would be a great idea to have a lone swift lantern in among all the stars in the procession, in order to publicise the aims of our fledgling group and raise awareness of the plight of our favourite birds, who inspired us to set up the Whaley WILD initiative in the first place.
You can see our swift and meet some of our volunteers this coming Saturday, 29 November at the Whaley Bridge lantern parade, which starts at 4:30pm in the carpark of the Uniting Church, then proceeds down the incline to the canal basin.
If you spot us, come and say hello!
We'd like to thank Jaine from Friends of Memorial Park and Nev at the Transhipment for their help, and for the materials to make our special bird.

16/11/2025

Wow this looks amazing! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/178MC6RU1P/

25/10/2025

BTW I had to nap after the hard work ❤️