Ideally,
all new nest-places should be installed out of direct sun. Where
nest-places within direct sun are being replaced, care should be taken
to respect the original dimensions, as these (for example the depth
inside the wall) may have kept the site cool enough to permit
successful breeding.
N.B. Before any of these methods are used construction strength
considerations must be investigated and satisfied by professionals .
Using polystyrene plugs to create nest cavities
Method: The existing
wall is built of stone, rubble and mortar. Repair will usually involve
removing the surface plaster, raking out any loose rubble and mortar,
perhaps partly demolishing the wall if areas have failed, and reserving
the stones for replacement during the repair. It may be possible to
insert polystyrene "bottles", plugs of a minimum size 30 to 40cm long x
15cm wide, with a tapering end of 5 to 6cm round, under stones in the
wall during repair. The stones should be adequate to offer sufficient
structural support to ensure the wall is sound. The base of the plugs
should be tilted very slightly towards the entrance to provide
rainwater and condensation drainage. These plugs are cemented in fully,
just as the stones are. When the mortar is dry and the wall has been
re-pointed or re-plastered, the polystyrene plugs are cut out with a
drill, and the Swift nest holes are ready for use the next summer.
Using terracotta or plastic pipes to create nest places
The wall is typically
built of stones, rubble and mortar, or reinforced concrete, perhaps
finished with a coat of mortar on the facade. Drilling out spaces and
inserting the 15cm wide (or wider) terracotta or plastic pipes, then
cementing them in with mortar, should provide a simple and visually
acceptable result. The pipes may be inserted in lines to create a
pattern.
Method: Ensure the
wall is strong enough to support the use of these pipes without
failure. Insert short lengths (30 to 50cm) of terracotta pipe 15cm wide
or wider into the walls being repaired, between the stones or rubble,
raking out sufficient space as necessary. The pipes should be well
cemented in. The pipes should be used in shaded areas only, and should
be installed at a slight rising angle (5º) to drain out any rainwater
that may be driven in by the wind.
Making a nest space behind stone or brick facings
Method: This method
may be used on walls with stone or fine brick facings. A hole is
excavated in the wall behind the facings,and either left as it is or
else a Swift Brick is inserted in it. Then the facing material is
replaced and a small 5 to 6cm hole is cut in it with a diamond core
drill, in line with the entrance hole in the Swift Brick (if used), and
the facing replaced. The nest bricks or places may be installed in
lines to create a pattern.
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