IN A BID TO PROTECT LOCAL WILDLIFE – PLEASE SIGN PETITION
Challenges Sainsbury’s bid to take away Wildlife superstore SAVE THE BURPHAM HEDGEHOGS.
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A message from Brian May and Amazing Grace Project.
“We are shocked and disappointed to see that grocery giants Sainsbury’s are set to destroy an essential wildlife habitat in Surrey, taking back land formerly set aside for mitigation.
When planning permission is sought for a development that will destroy wildlife habitat, developers are often asked to give over alternate land to mitigate the impact of the building works. This was the case when Sainsbury’s initially built their store in Burpham. If approved it would result in reversal of that protected area and allow a physical development within a section of Local Green Space designated in the Burpham Neighbourhood Plan and involve the loss of 67 trees. This makes a mockery of the whole system that is designed to protect our environment.
Now Sainsbury’s, chasing bigger profits in their highly lucrative lock-down online business, have put in an application to take back much of this vital habitat. At present, Burpham Sainsbury’s is surrounded by a wild buffer area of shrubs and trees that support bats, hedgehogs and thousands of other precious invertebrates and birds. This new plan will destroy it all.
British wildlife populations have declined by over 55% in the last twenty years. One of the most threatened species is hedgehogs. Their decline has been dramatic in urban areas, where they were once a common sight. The Save-Me Trust has been focussing on awareness and protection of the humble hedgehog in recent years, through the “Amazing Grace” campaign, which has inspired a new drive to instigate hedgehog-friendly areas in Surrey, through projects involving villages, schools and the local community. This project will undo much of their good work.
The data we have gathered shows that hedgehogs love this area, and stand a chance of regeneration if their habitat is protected. The new development proposed by Sainsbury’s threatens the hedgehogs’ very existence in this part of Surrey.
Hedgehogs are included in the UK Biodiversity action plan and are on the Red List of International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) for British Mammals. We feel Sainsburys need to be reminded of their obligations in relation to the Red List, and must now think again, in the light of the damage that their new proposal would bring to local wildlife populations. Sainsbury’s profits to March this year were £586 million. The company has made huge profits from feeding humans online during the Pandemic, and now wants to expand its online sales further to respond to new opportunities. But local wildlife will pay a terrible price. Surely an organisation this large and prosperous can re-examine their plans, and find a more suitable place to build ?
Hedgehogs as a species are right on the edge of disappearing forever in Britain. Faced with the effects of climate change, pollution, poisons, and habitat destruction, they really are up against it. The loss of even the smallest amount of wild space brings about a huge decline in their sustainability due to loss of vital foraging and hibernation locations.
What seems like a small space to Sainsbury’s is actually a five star hotel and superstore for wildlife, providing nesting space and food for a wildlife population squeezed into ever decreasing habitats. Wild animals survive in an area because it supplies their basic needs for food, shelter and water. The destruction of any one of those components will cause them to die. They cannot simply relocate. The trees that this development will remove are the natural breeding grounds for essential insects and fungi that support this tiny eco system; the impact of their removal will be catastrophic.
Help us campaign to halt this unnecessary destruction of the only space Sainsbury’s has left them.
Dr Brian May & Anne Brummer”
Please sign our Call to Action right here to save the Burpham Hogs and other wildlife.
HERE: www.gracethehedgehog.co.uk/call-to-action/the-burpham-hedgehog
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PRESS PICKUP:
ANIMAL WELFARE AT HEART
Animal Welfare At Heart Brian May, the Queen guitarist, fights for hedgehogs against planning application by Sainsbury’s
14 October 2020
Sainsbury’s have put in a planning application to extend their Guildford superstore. The extension encroaches on woodland around the store where hedgehogs are often seen. The woods also serves as habitat for bats, birds and other precious wildlife. Brian May, the Queen guitarist, is fighting the corner of the hedgehog against big business. A noble cause.
https://animal-human-relationship.pictures-of-cats.org/brian-may-the-queen-guitarist-fights-for-hedgehogs-against-planning-application-by-sainsburys/
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BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Brian May criticises Sainsbury’s expansion plans ‘which will harm hedgehogs’
13 October 2020
Brian May said he is disappointed by the proposals (Ian West/PA) The Queen guitarist frequently campaigns about wildlife issues. Brian May is calling for Sainsbury’s to scrap plans for building works at one its stores which he says will harm the local hedgehog population. The Queen guitarist has launched a petition calling for a rethink over the supermarket giant’s expansion plans in Burpham, Surrey.
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/brian-may-criticises-sainsburys-expansion-plans-which-will-harm-hedgehogs-39619824.html
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EVENING EXPRESS
Brian May is calling for Sainsbury’s to scrap plans for building works at one of its stores which he says will harm the local hedgehog population.
13 October 2020
The Queen guitarist has launched a petition calling for a rethink over the supermarket giant’s expansion plans in Burpham, Surrey. In a joint statement with Anne Brummer, with whom he co-founded wildlife campaign group the Save Me Trust, May said he is “shocked and disappointed” by the supermarket’s proposals.
https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/lifestyle/entertainment/brian-may-criticises-sainsburys-expansion-plans-which-will-harm-hedgehogs/
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EXPRESS & STAR
Brian May criticises Sainsbury’s expansion plans ‘which will harm hedgehog
13 October 2020
In a joint statement with Anne Brummer, with whom he co-founded wildlife campaign group the Save Me Trust, May said he is “shocked and disappointed” by the supermarket’s proposals.
https://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/showbiz/2020/10/13/brian-may-criticises-sainsburys-expansion-plans-which-will-harm-hedgehogs/
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THE LEADER
Brian May criticises Sainsbury’s expansion plans ‘which will harm hedgehogs’
13 October 2020
In a joint statement with Anne Brummer, with whom he co-founded wildlife campaign group the Save Me Trust, May said he is “shocked and disappointed” by the supermarket’s proposals. https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/leisure/national-entertainment/18791612.brian-may-criticises-sainsburys-expansion-plans-which-will-harm-hedgehogs/
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SURREY LIVE
Queen guitarist Brian May launches petition to block Guildford Sainsbury’s expansion
13 October 2020
Queen guitarist Brian May has launched a petition calling for a rethink over plans to expand a Surrey supermarket. A renowned animal-lover, May said he is “shocked and disappointed” by the supermarket’s proposals. May, 73, is a frequent campaigner on wildlife issues and has previously spoken out against badger culling and fox hunting.He helped to launch the Save Me Trust in 2010.
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/queen-guitarist-brian-launches-petition-19099568
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THE TIMES
Hedgehogs will pay price for Sainsbury’s profits, warns Brian May
14 October 2020
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/hedgehogs-will-pay-price-for-sainsburys-profits-warns-brian-may-l7v8twtf6
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YAHOO FINANCE
Brian May criticises Sainsbury’s expansion plans ‘which will harm hedgehogs’
13 October 2020
Brian May is calling for Sainsbury’s to scrap plans for building works at one of its stores which he says will harm the local hedgehog population.
The Queen guitarist has launched a petition calling for a rethink over the supermarket giant’s expansion plans in Burpham, Surrey
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/brian-may-criticises-sainsbury-expansion-161147868.html