Richmond Community Assembly on Protecting Nature

Members and supporters of The Teddington Society are invited to take part in a community conversation, at York House in Twickenham, about how we can work together to protect nature.

The conversation will explore the question “What more could be done in the borough to improve biodiversity – by the Council, by organisations, and by individuals?”.

The Richmond Community Assembly is being organised by an alliance of local environmental groups (Richmond and Twickenham Friends of the Earth, Richmond and Twickenham Green Party, and Extinction Rebellion Richmond) who are concerned about the effect of the climate crisis on our natural world. The organising team will not take part in the conversation but will, instead, facilitate small group discussions on the topic.

What will happen at the Assembly?
Participants will hear from speakers with specialist knowledge about the problems faced by species and habitats most at risk – and the measures being taken locally to try to halt the decline. Small group discussions will follow, in which residents can consider what they’ve heard and share ideas for further action. At the end of this session, groups will report the outcome of their conversations to the Assembly as a whole.
What will happen afterwards?
The ideas and views of the Assembly will be reported to Richmond Council and to our local MPs, as well as to local media.
Who will be there?
We’re aiming to attract a wide cross-section of residents, representing a range of views. Discussions will be designed to encourage collaboration and respect for others’ opinions. The nature crisis affects everyone, so everyone should have a say in how we tackle it.

The Assembly is timed to coincide with the second weekend of COP 28, the UN climate summit in Dubai. Despite 30 years of conferences on climate change, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries on earth and much of our wildlife-rich habitat has been lost or degraded, while many of our common species are in long-term decline. Few climate scientists and conservationists are optimistic that COP 28 will deliver meaningful action.

The Richmond Community Assembly will celebrate local democracy and initiatives to tackle climate change and conservation, where local government, local organisations and local volunteers do their best to find practical solutions and sustainable practices to support their communities and help them to thrive.

To attend
Anyone wanting to register for a free place at the Assembly should go to this Eventbrite page.