📣 We now have over 4000 Signatures and our petition goes to full Council - THANK YOU

PETITION UPDATE — OVER 4,000 VOICES FOR BURLISH MEADOWS! 

We have now passed an incredible milestone.

More than 4,000 people have signed the petition asking Wyre Forest District Council to protect Burlish Meadows.

When we formally submitted our Petition Evidence Report at the end of the consultation period, the petition stood at 3,257 signatures. 

Since then, support has continued to grow — and we cannot thank everyone enough for signing, sharing and helping us spread the word.

There has been significant news since our original submission too.

The Council received 650 separate objections to the proposed disposal — 640 by email and 10 in writing — in addition to our petition.

And now our petition is going to the Council chamber.

FULL COUNCIL WILL DEBATE OUR PETITION

Because the petition comfortably exceeded the threshold required under the Council’s petition scheme, it will be formally discussed at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday 23 September 2026 at 6pm.

Friends of Burlish Meadows will have the opportunity to address councillors and explain why more than 4,000 people are asking for this land to be protected.

Members of the public can also attend the meeting to observe the debate.

This is an important moment for our campaign.

Our position remains clear: we are not against football or Kidderminster Harriers. This does not need to be nature versus football.

We believe both can be supported without sacrificing part of Burlish Country Park.

The Council itself previously envisaged the former golf course becoming a Country Park providing public recreation while increasing its wildlife value. Its 2019 vision recognised the site’s relationship with Burlish Top Nature Reserve, its distinctive sandy soils and its potential for long-term habitat restoration. 

And the Council’s own later papers recognise the strategic biodiversity significance of the site, likely adverse biodiversity effects and the fact that freely accessible public land would become privately owned.

Burlish Meadows matters to people and wildlife.

It is used by walkers, families, runners, dog walkers, children, older residents and people who simply need somewhere peaceful to spend time in nature.

And it provides habitat and connectivity for wildlife that cannot come to a Council meeting and speak for itself.

One of our petition supporters summed it up perfectly:

“This isn’t nature versus football; there are other sites locally that don’t require losing one to get the other.” 

We also now have an online survey for the users of Burlish Meadows available here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfe5wZM6vF_n5A88JL70BvPhXFVsmv2C5K4L70Ny2S4GA5OvQ/viewform

it is very easy to complete and the report from this will also be submitted to WFDC.

💚 4,000 SIGNATURES — AND WE’RE NOT STOPPING

The consultation may have closed, but the petition remains open.

Please keep signing and sharing it.

Every additional signature strengthens the message we will take into the Council chamber on 23 September:

Protect Burlish Meadows. Protect our wildlife. Protect freely accessible green space. And find a solution that allows nature and football to thrive.

To every one of the 4,000+ people who has already stood with us:

Thank you. Now let’s make sure those 4,000 voices are heard.