Natural environment and biodiversity

Chertsey Meads activities

We are completing tree maintenance and planting activities at Chertsey Meads that will create habitats which benefit biodiversity. This includes arboriculture and wetland works, including planting of 1050 trees and the creation of new hedgerows using locally sourced, native species.

To find out more about Chertsey Meads, including site information, facilities, how to get there, and some of the local nature and wildlife, visit our page dedicated to the site.

• Chertsey Meads activities

River Thames scheme 

Runnymede Borough Council is a stakeholder and active participant in development of the River Thames Scheme (RTS). This will alleviate flooding between Datchet and Teddington and the biggest flood channel is in Runnymede. It will deliver many environmental benefits, and we continue to contribute to its development to ensure they are paramount. The benefits will include improved flood resilience and protection of 15,000 homes and 2,400 businesses including many in Egham, Staines and Chertsey, as well as other areas. The RTS is also due to include the creation of 106 hectares of new public open space, 250 hectares of new and enhanced biodiversity habitat, and 23km of new pathways and cycleways.

• River Thames Scheme

Changing practices in our green spaces 

To support nature and biodiversity, the Council will be mowing certain areas less frequently to reduce impacts on wildlife, and where possible we are reducing dependence on peat-based composts with view to eliminating usage altogether as alternatives become increasingly available. In addition, floral bedding in our parks and high streets will be replaced with herbaceous perennials. This will reduce the use of plastic pots, peat-based composts, and frequent irrigation. It will also crucially provide nectar for many species of butterfly, bees, and other pollinating insects which in turn feed animals higher up the food chain.

The Council has adopted a sustainable planting policy, with key principles that align with the Council’s climate change strategy. The policy and principles will be applicable across all green spaces including existing manned parks, all unmanned green spaces, and all street scene planters. The principles will guide resources whilst facilitating change and adaptation. You can view the policy details and full range of principles included on pages 59-63 of the Environmental Services Committee from November 2022. 

• Environmental Services Committee - November 2022 

For more information on the Councils park and open spaces, including where to find them, visit our park and open spaces page.

• Parks and open spaces

Local authority treescape fund activities

This fund is the key government offer for local authorities to restore tree cover in non-woodland areas which may have been impacted by issues such as disease, habitat degradation or ageing tree stock. The fund is focused on planting and natural colonisation of trees in areas outside of woodlands, including parklands, riparian zones, urban areas, beside roads and footpaths as well as trees in hedgerows and field boundaries (not hedgerows themselves). 

Working with Surrey County Council to access the funding, Runnymede Council has been able to plant approximately 2879 trees at sites including Chertsey Meads, Homewood Park, Thorpe Lea, Bishops Way and Aviator Park since 2021. 

Green and blue infrastructure strategy 

The Council are currently developing a Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) Strategy for the borough. The purpose of the GBI Strategy is to set the framework for the Council’s approach to GBI: identifying the assets and features we have, whether there are any deficits or weaknesses and where/how these could be strengthened through opportunities for improving or enhancing GBI. 

In relation to climate change, the strategy could make recommendations related to provision of multi-functional GBI, projects to help adapt to long term implications for flood risk, cooling & shading, the capture of carbon and projects which could help contribute to delivering 1.2m trees in Surrey. For biodiversity, the strategy could make recommendations related to halting decline, promoting conservation, increasing priority habitats, identifying wildlife corridors and enhancements at catchment/landscape scale.

A high level overview on development of the GBI Strategy, its purpose, and the timeline for development was presented at Community Service Committee on 16 March 2023. 

• Community Service Committee