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To: Surrey County Council

Allow Runnymede roundabout to be a bee and butterfly haven

Runnymede roundabout, and the roadside verges surrounding it, are looking like a wildlife oasis, due to Coronavirus lockdown.

We are asking the Council NOT to mow it, but instead to develop it by adding more wildflowers in the coming years for the benefit of bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.

The cost of this will be easily offset through the reduced mowing schedule.

Why is this important?

A third of British wild bees and hoverflies are in decline, according to a study in 2019. If current trends continue, some species will be lost from Britain altogether, the scientists say. Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47698294

The new analyses provide further evidence of the serious, long-term and ongoing decline of UK butterflies, with 70% of species declining in occurrence (based on the BNM distribution data) and 57% declining in abundance (based on the UKBMS) since 1976. Source: Butterfly Conservation.

If we want to protect the local ecosystem, we must re-introduce habitats.

The Runnymede roundabout, and the surrounding verges, provide an excellent starting point, while also saving the Council money through a reduced mowing schedule.

Runnymede District, UK

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Updates

2020-06-19 17:34:48 +0100

Wow! We've had 300 signatures in 3 days! Thank you to everyone that's supporting this campaign.

This afternoon, I received an email from the Leader of Surrey County Council's office, saying they'll be looking into this, so fingers crossed.

I'll keep you updated on progress.

2020-06-18 16:39:29 +0100

Thank you to everyone that's signed so far. I'm pleased to announce the campaign has received written support from the Leader of Runnymede Borough Council, Nick Prescot, as well as from Cllr Robert King. Thank you to them both. Let's keep up the pressure, by gaining additional signatures, so we get the right response from Surrey County Council too.

2020-06-17 08:22:01 +0100

100 signatures reached

2020-06-16 22:49:45 +0100

50 signatures reached

2020-06-16 21:45:04 +0100

25 signatures reached

2020-06-16 21:13:13 +0100

10 signatures reached