Swallows Swoop At Stokesay Castle
Rather than being custodians of our historic buildings, staff at English Heritage’s Stokesay Castle site, near Ludlow, have discovered a new role: guardian to the site’s swooping swallows!
The fairytale castle is currently home to hundreds of baby swallows and staff are on patrol to make sure the nests are safe and mothers can feed their offspring through the nooks and crannies in the castle walls.
“This is something that happens every year, and part of the job that we look forward to – as do our visitors. They come from far and wide to see the swallows bring up their babies here over the summer months and watch the fledgling birds take to the air for the first time,” says Stokesay Castle’s site supervisor Judy Hall.
“We reckon the swallows have been coming to the castle for hundreds of years and because nothing has changed since it was first built in 1250, they keep on coming. There is a pond at the back of the castle that used to feed the moat and they use the mud from that to make their nests. This year one has even set up home on top of one of the fire alarm sounders!”
The swallows usually arrive at Stokesay in late April and herald the start of Spring for the team at Stokesay Castle. “It’s usually very quiet here in the mornings but one morning we get greeted by a loud chattering and we know the swallows are back and Spring is on its way! It’s absolutely lovely. We enjoy watching the mothers swoop in through the shutters and lots of people say seeing the swallows is the best part of their visit!
“Come October the swallows all congregate in a massive flock, which spirals up above the site, circling round waiting for the right wind and then suddenly they’re gone and it’s all quiet and peaceful again,” continues Judy.
Stokesay Castle is England’s finest and best-preserved 13th century fortified manor house. Nestling in the peaceful countryside near the Welsh border, seven miles north west of Ludlow off the A49, it dates back to 1281 and its magnificent Great Hall, with its gabled windows almost untouched since medieval times, retains its original staircase. Grounds include cottage style gardens and a gift shop.
For further press information on other English Heritage events, or to arrange interviews or attendance at the event please contact: Samantha Orange, Footprint Impression Management Ltd, PO Box 4, Leeds, LS15 8WX.
Tel: 0113 251 5694. Fax: 0113 251 5351. Email: sam@fim.org.uk
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