Swift Drift - new sculpture in Worcester | Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

A new sculpture, celebrating the return of swifts, has been erected in Worcester

'Swift Drift' has been created for The Worcester Plinth by artist Juliet Mootz in collaboration with the Trust. The artwork is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Worcester City Council.

Juliet Mootz, explained "Swifts travel 14,000 miles to spend their summers with us but their numbers are plummeting. However, we can all help them; residents in Worcester, for example, have been putting up swift boxes to give them space to breed and are planting flowers to support the insects that they need to eat.

Artist Juliet Mootz holding one of her willow swift sculptures in the air — Juliet Mootz holding one of the swift drift sculptures by Sarah Maggie Jones

“Liz Yorke from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust asked me to find a way to reflect the importance of swifts to our environment. Made from willow, the swift sculptures will enable us to develop conversations about the importance of ensuring we protect and enhance the whole food chain that keep these remarkable birds returning to the city. ”

Oliver Carpenter of The Worcester Plinth added “Swift Drift is the second in a series of three sculptures for The Worcester Plinth where a local charity and artist collaborate to reflect or explore the actions of the charity.

"It gives the charity a different way to talk about what it does and to look at the vital role of community organisations to the health of Worcester and Worcestershire. These three works will be funded by money given to Worcester City Council by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (a UK Government fund) and we are very appreciative of the City Council team for selecting this project for funding.”

Willow-woven swifts set against a white backdrop and lit with spotlights — Swift Drift at night by Juliet Mootz

The sixth sculpture to be commissioned and displayed on The Worcester Plinth, Swift Drift, will be displayed on the riverside for around eight weeks and will then move to new homes around Worcester where communities will pack cut wildflower meadow grass between the woven willows. The sculptures will gradually be reclaimed into the earth and wildflowers will grow, providing new habitat and food sources for the insects, which can feed the returning swifts.

It is important for the team at The Worcester Plinth team that all the new works we commission have a long-term home so they can be enjoyed for many years to come. Previous works are on permanent display at the Fish Pass at Diglis, a school in St Johns and the gardens of a multi-sensory centre in Worcester.