Swift Tower brings African Sun to Cambridge
Release date: 27th Jul 2011
Until May this year Cambridge residents would have to travel a long way to see the African sun, but now they can see it in their own city.
In the UK and parts of Europe, Swifts are on the decline and they have been placed on the Amber list, making them a bird of ‘Medium Conservation Concern’. The reason for their decline is believed to be a loss of nest sites due to roof renovations, roof insulation and demolition of old buildings.
Swifts are remarkable birds; in particular, they have incredibly good colour vision, being able to see in 4 primary colours with a high density of cones in their retinas.
One morning Chief Operating Officer for UltraVision, John Clamp, noticed a ‘weird object’ had arisen in the field outside the office window. This was the beginnings of the Cambridge Swift Tower, a project built with the involvement of fellow UltraVision Director, Dick Newell.
Dick, a successful Cambridge entrepreneur, is also a keen bird watcher, particularly Swifts. Dick has become a Swift ‘expert’ and was involved in the design of the Cambridge Swift Tower, ensuring that it is suitable for Swifts while not compromising the creativity of artist Andrew Merritt, whose design was inspired by the African Sun. The result is a spectacular tower, providing an attraction for visitors and residents, as well as evocative displays of screaming Swifts in summer - kinetic art at its best.
The tower was paid for by Cambridge City Council, with Section 106 funding from local developers. However, increased costs, particularly the rising cost of steel, meant that there was no money left for a fitting opening event. As a result, UltraVision stepped in to sponsor the opening, involving the Mayor of Cambridge and local councillors. UltraVision’s CEO, J Keith Lomas, who attended the event said, ‘It’s good to be involved in a project that will benefit the environment and particularly an animal that is in decline.’
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