Each summer, swifts return to our skies after an extraordinary migration from Africa, reconnecting us with the rhythms of the natural world. Swift Weekend uses the arrival of our local swift colony as a starting point for exploring how we care for the places we share, the wildlife that depends on them, and the communities that make them thrive.
Across three days, you'll find creative workshops, family activities, walks, talks, community action projects and opportunities to learn more about the remarkable birds that return to Margate each year.
The weekend builds on Bon Volks' ongoing Swift Project, which began in 2023 with the installation of swift nesting boxes across the neighbourhood and has since grown into a wider programme of conservation, creativity and community engagement. Through hands-on activities and shared experiences, Swift Weekend invites us all to become active participants in protecting local biodiversity and strengthening our connection to place.
Whether you're a nature enthusiast, local resident, artist, birdwatcher, family, or simply curious about the wildlife above your head, Swift Weekend offers a chance to look up, get involved and celebrate the species that make Margate unique.
Join us as we welcome the swifts back to Margate and imagine a future where wildlife and communities flourish together.
All events are free to attend. Some activities have limited capacity and require booking.
Swift Weekend has been made possible thanks to our crowdfunder supporters and the Don't Miss Margate Community Support Grant.
Bon Volks Swift Weekend 2026
26-28 June 2026
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Swift Soundtracking with Lillian Henley
Join us for a soundtrack music making session with Composer Lillian Henley. Ever wanted to be a composer? Have a go at creating a soundtrack that will help tell the story of the bird and their flight, using tuned percussive instruments. You are also welcome to bring your own portable instrument too!
Duration: 2hr
Age: 7-11 (with accompanying adult)
Lillian Henley has written soundtracks for BFI, National Theatre & was a founding Associate Artist for 1927, regularly scoring silent film at the Barbican, & The Palace Cinema, Broadstairs.
Instagram handle: @lillianhenleymusic
Friday 26th June 5pm at Bon Volks
booking required
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Swift surveys
Join Rachel Boot (representative of the Margate Swift group, part of the Swift Local Network) to conduct a swift nest site survey. This is a chance to connect with nature, learn about local swifts and contribute to conservation efforts, all through the power of observation!
Saturday 26 June, 5am (yes, 5am for this first survey at dawn!)
Saturday 27th June 7pm
Sunday 28th June 7pm
Meeting point (What3words ///quite.kicked.packet): https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet
booking required
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Kids screening - Manou the swift
Join us for a family-friendly screening of Manou the Swift, an animated adventure comedy following a young swift raised by seagulls as he discovers who he really is. A heartwarming story about friendship, courage and finding where you belong.
Saturday 27th June 10am at Bon Volks
booking required
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Swift talk with Rachel Boot
Join us for an illustrated talk celebrating what makes these birds so extraordinary. Swifts spend almost their entire life on the wing, and they need our help now more than ever. Learn about how you can get involved with The Swift Project and help turn your neighbourhood into a home for the Swifts.
Saturday 27th June 12pm at Bon Volks
booking required
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Animation Workshop with Dylan White
Learn how to animate swifts in flight with Bon Volks resident animator Dylan White
Duration: 2hr
Age: 7+ (with accompanying adult)
Dylan is an artist and animator moving between design and direction for music promos, illustration, animation and visual art.
Instagram handle: @ruralidyll
Saturday 27th June 2pm at Bon Volks
booking required
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Headdress Making Workshop with Rebecca Strickson
A fun and imaginative swift headdress-making workshop, where you’ll design and create your very own bird-inspired head piece. Led by artist-illustrator Rebecca Strickson, this hands-on session is a great way to explore nature through creative making. No experience needed - just bring your imagination and get ready to soar!
Duration: 2hr
Age: 7-12 (with accompanying adult)
Instagram handle: @rebecca_strickson_illustration
Saturday 27th June 4.30pm at Bon Volks
booking required
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Music performance by Frankie Knight + Claire Holmes: ‘Dreaming for Swifts’.
Live electronic music from Frankie Knight and Claire Holmes. Dreaming for Swifts is a collaborative music project blending poetry, field recordings and ambient house styled electronica to explore the journey of the common swift. Expect live vocals, visuals and an immersive sound experience which will leave you feeling calm and energised.
Duration: 30 mins
Age: All ages
Frankie Knight AKA Someday Sky is an electronic music producer from Portsmouth and Claire Holmes is a singer-songwriter from Margate, united by a love of nature, birds and re-wilding the dancefloor.
Instagram handle: @somedaysky.music @claireholmesmusic
Saturday 27th June 8.30pm at Bon Volks (Doors open at 8pm)
booking required
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Planter Making Workshop with Circular Margate
Make a simple planter for your garden, using reclaimed materials from the Circular Margate stores. Healthy plant populations can help sustain insect populations, which help swifts find food. Make a planter and we will give you one of our specially propagated plants to get you started!
Duration: 2.5 hours
Age: 18+
Circular Margate redirects unwanted construction materials to community and social initiatives in Thanet
Instagram handle: @circularmargate
Sunday 28th June 11am at Bon Volks
booking required
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Biodiversity walk
Join us for a biodiversity walk exploring the importance of green corridors in highly urbanised areas — the living pathways that help wildlife move, thrive, and connect.
We’ll begin at Dane Valley Woods, wander through the vibrant growing spaces at Windmill Community Gardens, and continue across Dane Park before finishing Bon Volks Studios for some refreshing drinks. Along the way, we’ll look closely at how these green threads stitch our neighbourhood together, supporting everything from pollinators to people.
We’ll also be thinking about what we, as residents, can do to strengthen these corridors — from small garden choices to community projects that boost habitat connectivity across the town.
Come walk, learn, and imagine the greener, more connected place we can build together.
Sunday 28th June at 2.30pm
Meeting point (What3words ///square.glass.warm): https://what3words.com/square.glass.warm
booking required
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Swift celebration drinks
Join us at Bon Volks after the biodiversity walk for a drink, a chance to chat and an opportunity to share what you've discovered along the way. Open to all, it's the perfect way to round off our weekend of celebrations. We'll also announce the winners of the Swift Project raffle!
Sunday 28th June at 4.30pm