People Power Helps Nature

Last week Richmond residents countered the Dubai COP 28 with a Community Assembly on the 10th December, held at York House. Seventy locals discussed 'What more could be done in the borough to improve biodiversity - by the Council, by organisations and by individuals?' It was funded by the Climate Emergency Fund to show how ordinary citizens can bring about real change. Local experts were invited to speak about how their organisations are responding locally to national biodiversity decline, before participants brainstormed ideas for conserving and improving the Borough's biodiversity, green spaces and endangered species.

Councillor Julia Neden-Watts, (Chair of the Council's Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sport Committee gave a broad outline of the situation in the borough, the Biodiversity Action Plan, and what has been done so far. Mike Hildesley, (Chair of the independent charity Barnes Common Ltd) spoke about their organisation's local actions and what other measures could be taken. Residents learned about innovative projects to improve flood resilience and grow food for Foodbanks and the community, together with inspiring examples of what can be achieved by the collaboration of volunteers, community organisations and local councils.

Among the suggestions that emerged from residents' discussions were finding a way for the Council to fast-track permission for local residents to look after small patches of neglected greenery in their neighbourhoods, increasing tree and hedgerow planting, providing practical information for carbon sequestering, and setting up a competition for "wild gardens" which act as havens for wildlife. Details of the afternoon's response to the motion will be reported to Richmond Council and to local MPs, to be considered when drawing up future policy direction.

A participant said: "It was beautifully run, everyone who came had a chance to speak. There was a lovely feeling of collaboration and people brought nuggets of gold that hopefully local councils take on board…They are in a position of great power, providing a link between royal parks, local and central government and our streets".  Members of the organisation coalition spent 5 weeks inviting residents to attend the Assembly and respond to the motion. The overwhelming majority said they were "terrified" or "seriously concerned" about the nature crisis unfolding in our time.

The Assembly also exhibited art by local primary school children. Entitled 'We Are Listening (Are You, Heads of State?)', local children sent questions about the climate crisis directly to children in Indian schools at the frontline of unseasonal flooding and drought. Paintings, models and poems in the exhibition were our children's response to the moving stories they received. The Assembly was organised by a coalition of environmental groups (local branches of Extinction Rebellion, Friends of the Earth, and the Green Party) to highlight concerns about the loss or fragmented habitats for other species, and timed to coincide, and contrast, with COP 28, the UN climate summit in Dubai.