Bon Volks  Presents: Swift Weekend 2026

Bon Volks is a non-profit arts organisaton in Margate, providing studios, deskspace, community space and a residency programme.

Bon Volks

Bon Volks presents Swift Weekend 2026, a free three-day programme celebrating the return of Margate's swifts and our rich biodiversity.

Bon Volks Studios

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. Programme (more info in agenda below) Friday 26th June 17:00 - 19:00 swift soundtracking workshop with Lillian Henley Saturday 27th June 5:00 Swift survey across MargateStarting point (What3words ///quite.kicked.packet): <a href="https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet" title="https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet</a> 10:00 Kids screening - Manou the swift (animated adventure comedy film, 1h30) 12:00 Swift Talk by Rachel Boot 14:00 Animation workshop with Dylan White 16:30 Headdress making workshop with Becky Strickson From 19:00: Swift survey across MargateStarting point (What3words ///quite.kicked.packet): <a href="https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet" title="https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet</a> 20:30 Music Performance: "Dreaming for Swifts" by Frankie Knight and Claire Holmes Sunday 28th June 11:00 Planter making workshop with Ross Walker from Circular Margate 14:30 Biodiversity walkStarting point (What3words ///square.glass.warm): <a href="https://what3words.com/square.glass.warm" title="https://what3words.com/square.glass.warm" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://what3words.com/square.glass.warm</a> 16:30 Swift Celebration Drinks at Bon Volks From 19:00: Swift survey across MargateStarting point (What3words ///quite.kicked.packet): <a href="https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet" title="https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet</a>

Friday 26th

Join us for a drop-in 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! 

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

Swift Soundtracking Workshop

Saturday 27th

Join Rachel Boot (representative of the Margate Swift group, part of the Swift Local Network) to conduct a swift nest site survey at dawn. This is a chance to connect with nature, learn about local swifts and contribute to conservation efforts, all through the power of observation! Starting point (What3words ///quite.kicked.packet): https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet

Swift Survey Across Margate

Animated adventure comedy film, 1h30. 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.

Kids Screening - Manou the Swift

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.

Swift Talk

Learn how to animate swifts in flight with Bon Volks resident animator Dylan White.
Dylan is an artist and animator moving between design and direction for music promos, illustration, animation and visual art.
@ruralidyll 


Animation Workshop

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!

Headdress Making Workshop 

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! Starting point (What3words ///quite.kicked.packet): https://what3words.com/quite.kicked.packet

Live electronic music from Claire Holmes and Frankie Knight. 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. 
Frankie Knight AKA Someday Sky is an electronic music producer from Southampton and Claire Holmes is a singer-songwriter from Margate, united by their love of nature, birds and re-wilding the dancefloor.
Instagram handle: @somedaysky @claireholmesmusic


Music performance by Claire Holmes + Frankie Knight: ‘Dreaming for Swifts’.

Sunday 28th

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!
Circular Margate redirects unwanted construction materials to community and social initiatives in Thanet
Instagram handle: @circularmargate


Planter Making Workshop

Help us imagine a town where green spaces link up and wildlife moves freely. Join us on a biodiversity walk, to explore our urban green corridors, and talk together about what we can do to strengthen them. Starting point (What3words ///square.glass.warm): https://what3words.com/square.glass.warm

Biodiversity walk

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!

Bon Volks Presents: Swift Weekend 2026

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Bon Volks Presents: Swift Weekend 2026

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