Wild Exchanges: For the Birds

This Christmas special edition of Wild Exchanges is for the birds — quite literally!
Join us for an evening of inspiring talks, lively conversations, and festive food, all themed around native birds and how we can help them thrive.

What to expect

Swift Street presentation by Wild NG

In this presentation, Wild NG will share the story of Swift Street — how – from our humble beginnings installing swift boxes onto our own street - our project has gained so much popularity, joy and celebration. Swift Street is a great symbol of community-powered nature recovery.

We’ll talk about the superhero qualities of the Swift bird and how we have maximised this to capture a swell of support, how we engaged our neighbours and schools creatively, how we are aiming to influence a change in policy without confrontation, and how our visibility and tone helps people connect naturally with our message. Expect real stories, practical insights, and the invitation to imagine what could happen if every street went a little wilder and the potential of unlocking neighbourhood support for nature and change.

Swift Dating

After the talk, you’ll be invited to take part in a relaxed and social group discussion — our very own bird-style speed dating!

It’s a light-hearted way to connect with others, share your own bird stories, and swap ideas for helping birds in your garden, street, or local community. Each table will have a different focus or prompt to get the conversation flowing — from simple actions to creative ways of engaging others.

Whether you’re new to birdwatching or already an enthusiast, you’ll come away with new inspiration and connections for taking local action.

Festive Food & Connection

Our café will be serving hearty Yorkshire pudding wraps and seasonal drinks to keep you warm while you mingle, meet local groups, and connect with fellow bird-lovers.

From the robin on a Christmas card to the murmurations of starlings, birds are woven into our lives and landscapes. But many species are struggling. Together, we can make our gardens, streets, workplaces, and community spaces places where birds can thrive.

Who’s this event for?

Everyone! Whether you’re a beginner who just loves hearing birdsong, a volunteer already involved in conservation, or part of a local group — you’ll leave with practical ideas, new connections, and inspiration to take action.

Who is Wild NG and what do they do?

Wild NG is a resident-led movement reimagining how nature can thrive in our city — street by street. We’re not an organisation or a funded project, just neighbours helping neighbours notice and nurture the wild around them.

Through small, visible acts like putting up swift boxes and creating chemical-free streets — we’re connecting habitats and people, turning everyday urban spaces into living nature corridors. Our work shows how community-led action can build both nature recovery networks and neighbourhood networks, growing together from the ground up.

We’ve inspired Nottingham City Council to pilot a stop herbicide spraying in our area, simply by showing what’s possible when residents care for their streets and speak up for healthier neighbourhoods. Everything we do — from bat super flyways to whole-school parades — welcoming our Swifts back home - our volunteering aims to celebrate the idea that change starts locally, and like nature, when we connect, we thrive.

You can find out more about Wild NG here - www.wild-NG.uk

What is Wild Exchanges?

Wild Exchanges is a new quarterly event series from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Each event brings together local community groups, volunteers, and individuals to share experiences, swap ideas, and spark collaborative action for nature.

At our last event in August, attendees voted on which theme to explore next — and birds came out on top! This event has been shaped by those conversations, and we can’t wait to see what ideas take flight next.

This free event is always popular and spaces are limited — book now to avoid missing out!