Dear supporters of Botanic Meadow,

Thank you for kindly signing the petition (over 3,400 signatures) and for sharing news about it with others. 

The Strategic Policy & Resources Committee met last Friday where the Pitches Strategy (under which the decision to convert Lower Botanic Gardens into a sports facility was made) was discussed (Agenda item 3h). Again, this was done under 'Restricted Business', i.e. members of the press and public are excluded from the meeting as during discussion there would be a disclosure of 'information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the council holding that information)'. 

There will be a 'special' Committee meeting this Thursday 30th April morning. The Agenda has not, at the time of writing (Tuesday morning) been published, but we gather that it will discuss a report on whether the UPSURGE project and a pitch can co-exist on Lower Botanic Gardens. It will then make a decision. 

This is a critical week. Please contact local councillors to express your support for keeping the open meadow. Contact details for members of this Committee can be found here.

On a happier note, we were delighted that Botanic Meadow was featured in a recent Country Diary article by Mary Montague in The Guardian (17 April). She writes, "Today, in subtle and transformative ways, this cherished place still provides for and protects local people." 

Thank you for doing what you can, in return, to protect the Meadow and the life that flourishes there.