RSPB Swift Academy Meadow Creation Edgbaston AFTERNOON

The RSPB Swift Academy has teamed up with Roots to Fruit Midlands Limited and Birmingham Settlement Edgebaston  - Nature & Wellbeing Centre to deliver a hands-on Meadow Creation Activity afternoon

These practical, half-day outdoor workshops are designed to show how insect-rich wildflower meadows can be created to support biodiversity — and crucially, to increase feeding opportunities for swifts, which rely entirely on flying insects.

This is a practical gardening and conservation workshop, suitable for beginners and those with some gardening experience. During the session, you will:

• Learn how to prepare ground properly for a successful wildflower meadow
• Discover how to sow wildflower seed mixes correctly for best establishment
• Create a bird- and insect-friendly meadow between 1m by 4m
• Understand which flowers best support insect life important to swifts
• Gain practical knowledge on meadow aftercare and long-term maintenance
• Learn how to replicate these techniques at home or in community spaces
  

All activities are guided by experienced tutors, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and learn by doing.

Swifts spend almost their entire lives in the air, feeding exclusively on insects. By creating wildflower meadows rich in pollinators and flying insects, we can directly improve local feeding habitat and help reverse the decline of these iconic summer birds.

This event forms part of a West Midlands–wide initiative led by the RSPB to support swift populations through habitat creation, community engagement, and practical action.

• Duration: Half-day workshop
• Location: Nature and Wellbeing Centre, 79 Selwyn Road, B16 0SL.
• What to wear: Suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear
• Who it’s for: Volunteers, community groups, gardeners, beginners welcome

All tools and materials will be provided.

By the end of the session, you’ll leave with practical, transferable skills you can use in your own garden, school, allotment, or community space — helping wildlife thrive well beyond the event itself.

Date: 11/03/2026

Time:

Afternoon Session 1pm-3pm

Location: Nature and Wellbeing Centre, 79 Selwyn Road, B16 0SL.

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Host or Publisher Roots to Fruit Midlands Ltd